2019 MUCC Annual Convention Policy Resolutions Summary

Passed Resolutions

#1: YOUTH CLAY TARGET RESOLUTION

Submitted by: Mark Hergenreder, Chelsea Rod and Gun Club

MUCC will endorse and promote the participation of students in the Michigan High School Clay Target League and will encourage all high schools in Michigan to commit to permitting a high school club to be formed in their district. MUCC will encourage all affiliates to offer a learn to shoot clay target opportunities for youth in their local communities and will encourage the MHSAA to recognize the Michigan High School Clay Target League as a club sport. MUCC will encourage the Michigan DNR to recognize the Michigan High School Clay Target league as an educational program that embraces the recruitment, retainment and reactivation of hunting and shooting sports participants.

#2A: RESOLUTION TO ALLOW TRACKING DOGS TO BE OFF LEASH WHILE TRACKING BIG GAME ANIMALS 

Submitted by: Michael Riepen, Et al., Michigan Deer Track’n Hounds Tracking Club 

MUCC will support an initiative to amend the Michigan Wildlife Conservation order to provide added definition to permit registered trackers to operate one dog at a time off-lead, for the goal of recovering legally hunted big game animals. MUCC will support and work with Michigan legislature to amend any laws contradictory to the suggested changes regarding allowing a registered tracker to operate one dog off lead for the purpose of recovering legally hunted big game animals.

#2B: RESOLUTION TO ALLOW REGISTERED TRACKERS TO DISPATCH WOUNDED BIG GAME ANIMALS 

Submitted by: Michael Riepen, Et al., Michigan Deer Track’n Hounds Tracking Club 

MUCC will support an initiative to amend the Michigan Wildlife order to provide or remove language to allow registered trackers to dispatch a wounded, legally hunted big game animal for the goal of recovering or ending the suffering of already wounded, legally hunted big game animals in two specific cases: (1) the licensed hunter is unable to walk through a densely wooded area due to a temporary or permanent disability or medical condition (2) the life or safety of the tracking dog is in jeopardy. MUCC will support and work with the Michigan legislature to amend any laws contradictory to the suggested changes regarding allowing registered trackers to dispatch wounded big game animals under the 2 specific cases listed above and to provide exceptions for the goal of recovering or ending the suffering of already wounded, legally hunted big game animal.

#3: MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION APPOINTMENT CRITERIA

Submitted by: Paul Rose, MUCC Past President

MUCC will work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, State of Michigan Legislature and Executive office to develop qualification and eligibility criteria which seeks to populate the NRC with members who have a demonstrated interest in both game and non-game fisheries and wildlife, natural resource management, outdoor recreation, a history of personal participation in these activities, and suitable educational and professional background. Consideration for appointment should be given to geographic distribution and the diversity of relevant recreational participation of its membership, as well as a balance among those who have a declared political affiliation. This emphasis on citizen participation should preclude the appointment of former members of the departmental management team of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and members of the Michigan State legislature for a period of eight years subsequent to their most recent date of service or employment.

#4: MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN CWD AREAS (substitute)

Submitted by: Greg Peter, MUCC Vice President & Erik Schnelle MI QDMA State Chapter President

MUCC will encourage and support the funding efforts of the NRC and DNR to perform research into determining the best CWD management approaches for Michigan’s CWD Management Zones, and any additional areas where the CWD threat is identified with surveillance until sufficient data has been generated as to its effectiveness. MUCC should stress the importance of population control, harvest of the most likely to be infected animals, habitat improvement, hunter education and the role of the hunter/conservationist in this effort. MUCC should encourage the issuance of antlerless permits and the establishment of harvest goals, and in-season harvest updates whenever possible, to decrease the density of susceptible deer where appropriate. MUCC should remain informed as to the design of field studies in consultation with the biologists of the DNR and other wildlife disease authorities who are responsible for the scientific management of this valuable resource. 

#6: COMMERCIAL FISHING STATUE MODERNIZATION

Submitted by: MUCC Fisheries Committee

MUCC will work with Michigan legislature to enact legislation that will update commercial fisheries license fees to be commensurate with the oversight that is required of the commercial fisheries. This update to the statute should make improvements that are protective of the fisheries and sport fishing, including: protection of game species (except whitefish) from commercial harvest, governing how often commercial entities check their nets and regulates allowable gear in a manner that also takes into account the time of the year and specificity of the net, increasing penalties for disturbance of commercial fishing nets and requiring appropriate markers for the location of nets. 

#7: TRIBAL TREATY NEGOTIATIONS

Submitted by: Thomas L. Heriter, MUCC Immediate Past President, Saginaw Field and Stream Club 

MUCC will continue to promote and protect hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities in the State of Michigan while also seeking to improve relations with Michigan’s Native American Tribal members and leaders.

#8: USE OF ARTIFICIAL LIGHT TO TRAVEL TO DEER HUNTING SITE

Submitted by: Craig Larson, Dowagiac Conservation Club 

MUCC will work with the Natural Resources Commission or the Michigan Legislature as necessary to change the regulation to allow deer hunters to use an artificial light to aid with the ingress and egress to the hunting location and not be used for spotlighting, two hours before and two hours after shooting hours while carrying an unloaded firearm or bow and arrow or unloaded crossbow when traveling on foot to or from their hunting location.

#9: WATER WITHDRAWAL FROM THE MICHINDOH AQUIFER

Submitted by: Ted LoPresto, Hillsdale County Conservation Club 

MUCC will work with the Great Lakes Water Compact and the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio (who are members of the Great Lakes Water Compact) to ensure that the rules and processes of the Great Lakes Water Compact be employed in this large scale use or diversion of water of the Great Lakes. MUCC will work with the Environmental Protection Agencies of the States and Provinces of the Great Lakes Water Compact and with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the waters of the Great Lakes are protected as dictated by the rules and processes of the Great Lakes Water Compact.

#11: EXPANDED HUNTING OPPORTUNITY WHILE MANAGING FOR A BALANCED DEER HERD

Submitted by: Rob Miller, MUCC Wildlife Chair

MUCC will work with the DNR and NRC to change the following: 1) The current definition of a combo tag to read valid for the take of one buck and one doe or two bucks with any legal method; 2) To continue to allow a combo buck tag option in areas that would otherwise not allow the take of a doe with any means (such as archery); 3) To make available in all other areas either the new combo or single buck tag; 4) To maintain hunter-supported additional requirements in DMUs that have supported such (such as APRs); 5) In areas of special management needs such as disease or high-density areas additional tags can be made available per DNR recommendations or mandates.

#12: SPORT SHOOTING RANGES PROTECTION MODERNIZATION ACT

Submitted by: David Van Lopik, Individual Member 

MUCC will work with the state legislature to pass a law limiting or eliminating new and existing regulatory pressure aimed at sport shooting ranges via local ordinances, prohibitive zoning changes and regulations, planning commission issues, regulations and changing tax formulas and taxes on new or expanding sport shooting ranges:  Provided the sport shooting ranges meet or exceed nationally recognized range standards at the time of development on property they currently lease, own or purchase in the future. New buildings will meet existing building codes. Remodeled buildings will meet building codes in existence when the original structure or structures were built. The legislature will update Michigan Law in regards to firearms ranges, and allow new and existing sport shooting ranges to work under the prior firearms range laws and noise ordinances AND enact new laws to protect existing ranges from nuisance complaints, additional regulatory pressure, excessive local ordinances, prohibitive zoning changes and regulations, planning commission issues, regulations and taxes on new or expanding sport shooting ranges. The legislature should also enact and/or create civil penalties for private citizen nuisance complaints made to any governmental entity toward a sport shooting range in which those complaints or issues are addressed by Michigan Law, or are based in Common Law.

#13: PFAS AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANT

Submitted by: Greg Peter, MUCC Vice President

MUCC will support PFAS education for the public and our affiliates as well as supporting the state agencies to do the necessary research to better address the issue. MUCC will work with other organizations for which this is an issue of concern to better facilitate the objective decision making needed to find solutions to PFAS contamination.

#17: UNATTENDED CAMERA USE (TRAIL CAMS) ON STATE-MANAGED LANDS

Submitted by: Paul Rose, MUCC Past President

MUCC will work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to develop a policy for the use of unattended cameras (a.k.a. Trail Cameras) on State of Michigan-managed lands which seeks to limit their number and duration of use, and further require that each camera deployed include the name and contact information of the owner/user. Unattended cameras used for DNR-sponsored or DNR-approved research shall be subject to a separate policy regarding their use.

#19: SPORTSMEN’S CLUB/SHOOTING CLUB FIREARMS OWNERSHIP

Submitted by: Jack Letho, Individual Member

MUCC will work with the Federal Government, Michigan Legislature and the Governor’s office to enact legislation that will legally allow organized, incorporated sportsmen’s clubs and/or shooting clubs to register firearms owned by the club.

#20: RESOLUTION TO ASSURE FAIR AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS DERIVED FROM GAS TAX

Submitted by: Tim Kobasic on behalf of the Hiawathaland Trail Association

MUCC will support an initiative to change the Michigan Recreational Improvement Account matrix of fund distribution to include only those entities that directly contribute to the account via the gas tax. The Michigan Legislature resolves to also amend the Michigan Improvement Account matrix of fund distribution to establish as fair and equitable sharing of said funds proportionate to the current economic impact by unit sales, and/or permit (license) unit sales, and/or impact on tourism for the State of Michigan. A percentage of all proportionate designated funds shall be put aside for all related remuneration needs and eligible for application and use by those county, state and federal and highway management agencies affected.

#21: COME HOME TO HUNT 

Submitted by: Dawn Levey, MUCC Past President 

Michigan United Conservation Clubs will work with the Natural Resource Commission and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to establish a discounted base hunting license, hunt/fish combo, fishing licenses and the 7-day small game/base for family non-residents, with the exception of animals or birds that require a separate license. Qualified non-resident will mean a son, daughter, mother, father, grandson, granddaughter, step, adopted or natural to a current resident of Michigan.

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Withdrawn Resolution

#5: SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH INTO CWD MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES

Submitted by: Erik Schnelle, Michigan QDMA State Chapter President

MUCC will encourage and support the efforts of the NRC and DNR to perform research into determining the best CWD management approaches for Michigan’s CWD Management Zones, and any additional areas where the CWD threat is identified with surveillance until sufficient data have been generated as to its effectiveness. MUCC should stress the importance of population control and the role of the hunter/conservationist in this effort and encourage the issuance of additional doe permits and the establishment of doe harvest goals, where advisable, to decrease the density of susceptible deer. MUCC will remain involved in the design of any field studies in consultation with the biologists of the DNR and other wildlife disease authorities.

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Failed Resolutions

#10: EXPAND NUMBER OF RODS FOR BOATING ANGLER

Submitted by: Mike Avery, Individual Member

MUCC will work with the Michigan Legislature and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to enact legislation to allow the DNR to expand the number of lines for boating anglers in the Great Lakes only.

#14: MANDATORY DEER REGISTRATION

Submitted by: Rob Miller, MUCC Wildlife Chair

MUCC will work with the DNR and NRC to enact a mandatory deer check system that is supported with penalties for those that ignore this requirement. This system should entertain these or similar steps: 1) Have a simple call in with predetermined questions such as ID, animal description, method of take, area of take; 2) An online system that will complement the call-in system as another means of reporting; 3) Historic drive-in check stations 4) The deer will need to be registered within 24 hours OR 24 hours of returning home from camp (to accommodate where phone/internet access is not viable). 

#15: STATE PARKS ENDOWMENT FUND (SPEF) OVERSIGHT

Submitted by: Greg Peter, MUCC Vice President

MUCC will work to develop a similar governing body for the SPEF to make decisions as to the disbursement of the fund for acquisition, improvement, and restoration (capital expenditures) and not for operations (recognizing that any such project will have a certain % of labor cost and staff time needed above and beyond the normal operating costs of the Division – a percentage to be considered by the suggested board as that which is appropriate to the grant proposal).

#16: ONE BUCK PER HUNTER IN EACH PENINSULA

Submitted by: Charles Felcyn, Paw Paw Conservation Club

MUCC will work with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and the Michigan Legislature if necessary to simplify and restructure the deer license to include one LP buck tag and one UP buck tag eliminating the need for the combo deer license. The DNR and the NRC will manage Michigan’s deer herd for health, buck to doe ratio, and quality and not quantity. The DNR and NRC will provide sufficient antlerless tags available to meet the needs of managing the deer herd in that Deer Management Unit. 

#18:  CENTERFIRE CHANGES TO MICHIGAN’S LIMITED FIREARM ZONE

Submitted by: Charles Felcyn, Paw Paw Conservation Club

MUCC will work with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Natural Resources Commission to change Michigan’s limited firearm deer zone to have the same firearm restrictions and regulations as the rest of Michigan.