May 2025 NRC Preview

Justin Tomei • May 6, 2025

May 2025 NRC Preview

The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will act on fall turkey regulations, small game regulations, and deer regulations at Thursday’s meeting.  


The meeting takes place at Lansing Community College West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Dr. Lansing, MI, beginning at 9:30 a.m. 

There are no new orders for the director or the NRC to consider.  


The commission, at the April meeting, chose to table an order re-opening coyote season, ignoring their legal charge and responsibility under Proposal G. The order could be brought back up for action and voted on this week. The order has no timetable for action and can remain on the table indefinitely.

  

In response to the commission's failure to act, MUCC launched the Coyote Coalition, a petition of Michigan hunters, landowners, and citizens, who believe the commission is failing its constituents with its inaction and not following their legal charge. Sign the petition today to have your name included when we present it to the commission Thursday. 


Up for action is Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment #6 Small Game Regulations, Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment #7 Fall Turkey Regulations, and Wildlife Conservation Order Amendment #8 Deer Regulations. 


There are three amendments to orders that will be up for action, but at the time of writing the text was not provided. One is likely the amendment requested by Commissioner Walters to open archery opportunities for antlerless deer in the high snowfall zone of the UP. 


MUCC reviews all land transactions exceeding 80 acres, of which there are two.  


Land Transaction Case #20240130 is an exchange of 80 acres, this exchange consolidates state ownership in a deer wintering complex.  


Land Transaction Case #20240213 is an exchange of 160 acres of state-owned land under a conservation easement, for 139.5 acres of private land that offers better Pigeon River access and the same amount of river frontage. 


MUCC will be streaming the meeting on our Facebook and YouTube as technology allows. 



To ensure our natural resources remain protected and managed thoughtfully and our outdoor heritage defended, join Michigan United Conservation Clubs today: http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC.       


 


 


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May 2025 NRC Recap

By Justin Tomei • May 8, 2025
The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) met for their May meeting today at Lansing Community College West Campus. The commission voted to return antlered opportunities to the Independence and Liberty hunts at the May Natural Resources Commission meeting. The amendment to restore this opportunity passed after Commissioner Walters withdrew his amendment from April to only partially restore antlered opportunity during these hunts. MUCC testified for the complete restoration of antlered opportunity during these two hunts, per a member passed policy from our 2025 Annual Convention. The commission also voted on, and ultimately accepted, a proposal to allow archery antlerless take in the high snowfall zone in the Upper Peninsula. Additionally, the commission also chose to leave on the table and postpone indefinitely the order to reopen the illegally partially closed coyote season. This prevents the order from dying after today's meeting and makes it eligible for action at a later date. This amendment will remain postponed until the June meeting at the earliest.  MUCC has created the Coyote Coalition to assist in unifying the voice of conservationists in support of Proposal G. To join the Coyote Coalition, visit https://www.mucc.org/coyotecoalition . The commission did adopt proposed fall turkey regulations unanimously. The June commission meeting is Thursday, June 12 in Bay City. To ensure our natural resources remain protected and managed thoughtfully and our outdoor heritage defended, join Michigan United Conservation Clubs today: http://bit.ly/JoinMUCC .

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