Policy

Before the Legislature went on Spring Break last week, it introduced a bill package that increases the penalties for poaching elk, moose, bear and many other species, building upon legislation passed last session increasing trophy deer poaching penalties that was based on a member-introduced MUCC resolution. A similar MUCC resolution supporting this current legislation is…

Think of where you were a year ago. I know where I was: Sweating every signature, wondering if we’d get enough to submit the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to the Legislature. Even though we ended up with over 375,000 raw signatures, it was a slow build – a crescendo – and at about…

The Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that a new fishing license season begins Wednesday, April 1, which coincides with the new regulation cycle. All 2014 fishing licenses are good through March 31, 2015.  Anglers have five options to choose from when making their purchases. All fishing licenses are good for all species. Resident Annual – $26…

by Phil Taylor, E&E Reporter Click here for the original article from E&E Publishing  USFWS The National Wildlife Federation might support legislation in Congress to delist the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes. The organization’s state affiliates will vote this weekend on a resolution supporting a “narrow fix” to a federal judge’s decision last…

 Drew YoungeDyke, Public Relations Mgr. It’s not often that a bill package can protect fair chase hunting principles while at the same time preventing hunter harassment, but that’s exactly what Senate Bills 54 and 55 do by banning the use of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) to assist or harass hunters. Yesterday, the bill package passed…

It’s no secret that we have seen in Michigan and around the country an increased desire among local units of government to grow their taxable base to raise revenue. In doing so, some have claimed that public lands are a barrier to economic development; but on the other hand, there are also local units of…

You know the story… Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Goldilocks and 3 bears–and a quest for porridge, a chair, and a bed that was “Just right”. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources uses many factors in determining recommendations for the local Bear Management Unit (BMU) license quotas to meet the…

There is a lot of chatter online about the bass fishing regulations currently under review here in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Division has made a recommendation to the Natural Resources Commission (NRC), which is up for information this month and could be acted on by April 9. We’ll attempt to cut through…

by Lia Biondo, Policy Intern The Conservation Coalition is a group of statewide hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation organizations across Michigan that gather to work on “big picture” issues in the outdoors. The Coalition has regular quarterly meetings with top leaders in Lansing, including the Governor’s office and Department of Natural Resources leadership. The group…

MUCC is encouraging its members to support the new wolf management plan, using sound science as the basis for management options, including hunting.  DNR PRESS RELEASE: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has completed a draft update of the 2008 Michigan Wolf Management Plan and is seeking public comment during a 30-day period beginning today,…