Policy
Bipartisan bill introduced to provide hunter’s safety in schools
Bipartisan legislation was introduced in both chambers of the legislature this week that would create an elective program for Michigan school districts to host hunter and firearms safety programs within their schools. Senate Bill 664, sponsored by Sen. Jon Bumstead (R-North Muskegon), and House Bill 5334, sponsored by Rep. Curt Vanderwall (R-Ludington)are both supported by …
Read MoreMUCC-led commercial guiding legislation heads to the governor’s desk
The Michigan Senate concurred on stakeholder-led commercial guiding legislation today, after passage in the house late last night. The legislation now heads to Gov. Whitmer’s desk. Commercial guiding in Michigan is woefully unregulated – nothing currently exists in statute to prevent serial poachers from posing as legitimate guides. The bipartisan package, sponsored by Senators John…
Read MoreNovember 2023 NRC Recap
Commissioners adopted an amended version of the Nyberg Amendment, changing the bag limit for steelhead on 11 streams across Michigan. In addition to lowering the bag limit on certain streams, the adopted amendment to Fisheries Order 200.23A clarified boundaries to streams in the amendment and removed immediate effect. The amended order, as passed, will now…
Read MoreNovember NRC Preview
Michigan United Conservation Clubs board voted to oppose lower steelhead bag limits at the upcoming November Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting. The meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 9:30 am at Lansing Community College. Commissioners will consider one order: the MUCC-opposed amendment to proposed Fisheries Order 200.23A that would lower the bag…
Read MoreCoalition to Protect Michigan’s Resources will appeal adoption of Great Lakes Consent Decree
The Coalition to Protect Michigan’s Resources (CPMR), a sport fishing organization focused on protecting the fishery in the Great Lakes, filed an appeal opposing entry of the 2023 Great Lakes Consent Decree in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The order to accept the decree, given in August by Judge Paul Maloney, entered the five…
Read MoreOctober NRC Recap
An update on the legal status of wolves in Michigan, as well the steps going forward were debuted at the October Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting in Escanaba Thursday. NRC Chair Tom Baird requested the update several months ago. The presentation went into detail on both the current legal status of wolves, including where it…
Read MoreHB 5108 introduced, puts Michigan’s fishing heritage at risk
MICHIGAN’S SPORTFISHING HERITAGE IS AT RISK New legislation dropped today in the Michigan House would put Michigan’s $2.3 billion dollar annual recreational angling industry and our fishing heritage at risk. HB 5108, sponsored by Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), would allow for the state-licensed commercial take of game fish, including lake trout, smallmouth, panfish, walleye,…
Read MoreOctober NRC Preview
A wolf management decision tree requested by commissioners will be unveiled at the October Natural Resources Meeting in Escanaba. The Oct. 12 meeting is scheduled to begin with Coffee with Commissioners from 8 to 9 a.m. The agenda for the meeting can be found here. While in the UP, commissioners will have pike, warm water…
Read MoreBiden will decide funding fate for archery, hunters’ safety programs in schools
In early August, conservation and shooting sports organizations learned of an improper interpretation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) that prevented schools from receiving federal funding if they have archery or hunter safety programs. Knowing how important these programs are to childhood maturation and safety, conservation nonprofits across the country immediately called for a…
Read MoreSeptember NRC Recap
September’s Natural Resource Commission meeting was the first for new director Scott Bowen. Bowen introduced himself to those in attendance, highlighting his experience at other state agencies, stating that the DNR will by far be the most interesting. Commissioner Dave Nyberg spoke on a fisheries amendment related to steelhead he is working on and intends…
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