Washington, DC – Governor Rick Snyder (Mich.) signed Senate Bills 288 and 289 into law today at a ceremony attended by many Safari Club International members. The new laws 1) state that the Natural Resources Commission has the authority to designate game species and 2) protect the right to hunt and fish. SCI’s Michigan Chapters, along with other sporting organizations in Michigan, advocated for final passage of both of these bills during this legislative session.
“The out-of-state forces, like the Humane Society of the United States, had attempted to undercut the authority of biologists and professional wildlife managers with their elaborate campaign to prevent hunting in the state of Michigan,” said SCI President John Whipple. “I am very proud of SCI’s Michigan Chapters for their continued efforts to advocate for hunting and conservation in their state. I would like to personally thank Gov. Snyder and every elected official who supported S.B. 288 and 289.”
S.B. 288 extends the Natural Resources Commission (NRC)’s authority and sound science mandate to naming animals to the game species list. At the same time the bill retains the Legislature’s authority to do the same as well as its exclusive authority to remove game species from the list. S.B. 288 also grants the NRC the exclusive authority to issue fisheries orders, which currently rests with the director of the Department of Natural Resources, and also provides free licenses to active-duty members of the military. S.B. 289 establishes the rights to hunt and fish in state law, and makes protection of those rights a purpose of Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.
“Without the grassroots backing of all those who support hunting, and those that understand the valuable role hunting plays in wildlife conservation and management, this important legislation would never have passed. Every hunter that called their elected official should be proud of sharing in the success of S.B. 288 and 289,” concluded Whipple.
Conservation groups herald the bills as an extension of voter-approved Proposal G of 1996, which granted the Natural Resources Commission exclusive authority over game management and required it to use sound science in its wildlife management decisions.
