Policy
Commercial Fishing Legislation Brought Up in Senate Committee
The Michigan Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard its third round of testimony on House Bills 4567, 4568 and 4569 Wednesday. The three bills seek to protect game fish and update rules that have not been changed since 1971 for state-licensed, Great Lakes commercial fishers. The tie-barred, three-bill package would update decades-old statute by keeping…
Read MoreNew NRC Commissioners Appointed
Gov. Whitmer announced three appointments to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) on Tuesday. The seven-member body is tasked with regulating the take of game and sportfish and is authorized to name new game species and establish the first hunting season. The body is also required to remain bipartisan, meaning that no more than four members…
Read MoreU.S. Senate Passes Monumental Public Lands Package
The United States Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) on Wednesday, which will address deferred maintenance on our public lands and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Federal land management agencies have accumulated a deferred maintenance backlog in excess of $19 billion, while LWCF has only been funded at…
Read MoreNRC Tables Deer Regulations, Requests Revisions at June Meeting
The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) tabled 2020 deer regulations and is seeking a revision to proposed hunter orange requirements before their July meeting. The NRC met virtually on Thursday, June 11 to consider a number of agenda items. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosted the meeting, and a recording can be viewed using…
Read MoreMUCC Advocates for Expanding Hunting and Fishing Access
The United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) is considering an expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands, starting in the 2020-21 seasons. Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, all system lands are closed to hunting and fishing unless explicitly opened by the Secretary of Interior. This…
Read MoreFall 2020 Deer Regulations Up for Action
The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) will take action on deer regulations, including hunter orange on blinds, doe tags and season changes at their next meeting. NRC members will meet virtually at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 11 to weigh a number of agenda items that will impact Michigan hunters next fall. The Michigan Department of…
Read MoreU.S. Senate Takes Up Historic Public Lands Package
The United States Senate will act on the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) next week, which would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and address infrastructure concerns on public lands. LWCF has only been funded at full capacity (~$900 million) one time since it was first passed in 1964, and federal…
Read MorePheasant Release Called Off for 2020, Hope for Stamp Still Stands
A second year of a pheasant release pilot program in Michigan will not happen in fall 2020 due to economic implications from COVID-19, but hope for a long-term funding source is not gone. Given Michigan’s projected budget shortfall of about $7 billion over the next two years from COVID-19 fallout, state departments are being forced…
Read MoreMichigan House Considers New Commercial Guiding Rules
Last week, members of the Michigan House Committee on Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation approved three bills regarding commercial hunting and fishing guide rules. Currently, Michigan has limited rules for commercial guides. This allows convicted poachers, trespassers or other bad actors to guide hunters and anglers into Michigan’s outdoors, leaving customers vulnerable. This proposed legislation…
Read MoreNRC Discusses Deer Regulations, Small Game Rules at May Meeting
Written by Charlie Booher, MUCC State Conservation Policy Fellow The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) weighed hunter orange requirements, doe tags and muzzleloader season changes ahead of expected action in June. The NRC met virtually on Thursday, May 14 to consider a full agenda. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hosted the meeting, and a…
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