The Board of State Canvassers has assigned ballot numbers to the two moot anti-hunting referendums sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States through its front group, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected.
The first referendum, which seeks to repeal Public Act 520 of 2012, which originally named wolves as a game species, will be Proposal 1 on the ballot. The second, which seeks to repeal Public Act 21 of 2013, was assigned Proposal 2. This act originally authorized the Natural Resources Commission to name game species. However, both referendums will be meaningless since the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act was passed last week and will take effect in March.
The Board of State Canvassers also approved the language that will appear on the ballot. MUCC’s Drew YoungeDyke spoke before the board and suggested that a specific reference to wolves be removed from the summary of Proposal 2, since the actual act in question is not specific to wolves and applies to multiple species. An attorney for Keep Michigan Wolves Protected asked the Board to insert the word “unelected” before a reference to the Natural Resources Commission. The Board granted neither request.
“The final language reasonably apprises voters of what the legislation does, which is allow the Natural Resources Commission to name game species,” said YoungeDyke. “But it doesn’t tell them that the NRC has to use sound science, which is an important part of the act.”
After the language was adopted, YoungeDyke was asked if MUCC or Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management planned to campaign for a “yes” vote on the referendums.
“We’re not going to waste resources on it,” he said. “No matter what happens in November, there’s not going to be a 2014 wolf hunt because there isn’t time for the DNR to scientifically craft a season structure for it. And no matter what happens in November, there will be a hunting season in 2015, 2016 and every year thereafter as long as it continues to be supported by sound science.”
That’s because the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act will take effect in March. In addition to re-granting the Natural Resources Commission the authority to name game species using sound science, it also reenacts the sections of law that HSUS is trying to repeal. It also contained a $1 million appropriation to protect fisheries from aquatic invasive species, so it is not subject to a third anti-hunting referendum.
Jill Fritz, Michigan director for the Humane Society of the United States and director of Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, told reporters that they would campaign heavily for a “no” vote on Proposals 1 and 2, including television advertisements. The Humane Society’s Legislative Fund spent $750,000 on “media” for Keep Michigan Wolves Protected in late July, according to campaign finance reports.
She also told reporters that they planned to sue to block the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. However, when pressed for a time when a lawsuit might be filed, she declined to answer and said “it depends.”
“That’s because they don’t have a case,” said YoungeDyke. “The legal theories they’ve floated to the press aren’t supported by the Michigan Constitution or the case law applying it. But if HSUS wants to spend their money on what amounts to a one-sided public relations poll and unfounded lawsuits, I’m sure their donors will be happy to know that it didn’t go to pet shelters like most of them probably thought it would. Every dime they spend on this is a dime that won’t help shelter any pets.”
Regardless of how much money HSUS spends on advertising against Proposals 1 and 2 this fall, the future of Michigan’s scientific wildlife conservation model is secure thanks to passage of the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act last week. However, hunters, anglers, trappers and conservationists are encouraged to vote “YES” for the proposals to send an extra message to HSUS that their money can’t buy votes in Michigan.
Don’t fret, Micelle. Maybe you’ve heard of the ESA, Endangered Species Act? It was followed, and continues to be – at least by sportsmen and women – to the letter all along with regard to wolves. We promise to do so into the future, as well.
The days of market hunting are gone; let it go! Please attempt to locate a single game species – such as the modern wolf – that has not been managed to sustainability through regulated hunting and government orders.
We’ve come a long way since then. For example, look at how the turkeys, whitetail deer, bald eagles, and so many more creatures have benefited from the money injected into wildlife management via hunters. It may seem counter-intuitive to the casual, cause-alarmist, but hunting dollars make the animal kingdom flourish. And, yes, even non-game species benefit. And, please do not overlook the fact that man is an animal, too; that he is charged with the responsibility to manage animals in the face of ever-diminishing available habitat. As consumers, we must continue understand this, and thankfully, sensible people do and they make up the vast majority.
Agreed but we can only curtail the bloodshed by minimizing the wolves’ attacks on pets and livestock and wildlife we cherish. We’ve patiently waited for ESA protections to be lifted and now they’ll be managed like the rest of the wildlife – with scientific analysis, not emotional, rhetorical nonsense. Be sure to make your donation today to the money grabbing Humane Society of the U.S. They will appreciate your tears and money so very much.
The HSUS is an urban concentrated vegan cult that wants to change our eating habits and how our food is produced. It raises over 150 million dollar by pretending to take care of dogs and cats while it spends less then 1 cent on the dollar to feed and shelter cats and dogs. The HSUS is being investigated for fraud for the ways it raises money and how it is spent. ( http://protecttheharvest.com/oklahoma-attorney-general-scott-pruitt-wants-hsus-answer-deceptive-practices/ ) It complains about AG Gag bills but it was convicted of racketeering in Florida for paying someone to lie about animal abuse. The HSUS IS AGAINST RODEO AND HUNTING. IT IS FOR A VEGETERIAN LIFE STYLE AND AGAINST EATING MEAT. ( This was posted on a report about a statue of Gandhi that the HSUS helped pay for. “ God bless Sadhu Vaswani and the HSUS for taking this opportunity to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s vegetarian philosophy!”) The HSUS says it spends 79% of its money on “animal welfare programs”, but it does not say what they are. (You probably can assume some of the money went to make a statue to Gandhi) The HSUS has been accused of paying employees to abuse animals and videoing the abuse as proof that meat production should be stopped. The HSUS wants to stop seal hunting, contending someone should pay the hunters to stop, but it will not use any of the 20 million dollars it stashes off shore to pay the hunters. The HSUS is bad for America so don’t applaud its lackeys. If you want to support something think about giving to the child fund, St. Jude, the Wounded Warriors, or you local food bank. If you want to help animals, give money to you local animal shelter. Giving money to the HSUS is throwing money away on a bloated bureaucracy that waste it on salaries and litigation. It claims to do good but if you really look at what it does, it only piggybacks on the work of local organizations.
Protect them please !!!
Don’t fret, Micelle. Maybe you’ve heard of the ESA, Endangered Species Act? It was followed, and continues to be – at least by sportsmen and women – to the letter all along with regard to wolves. We promise to do so into the future, as well.
The days of market hunting are gone; let it go! Please attempt to locate a single game species – such as the modern wolf – that has not been managed to sustainability through regulated hunting and government orders.
We’ve come a long way since then. For example, look at how the turkeys, whitetail deer, bald eagles, and so many more creatures have benefited from the money injected into wildlife management via hunters. It may seem counter-intuitive to the casual, cause-alarmist, but hunting dollars make the animal kingdom flourish. And, yes, even non-game species benefit. And, please do not overlook the fact that man is an animal, too; that he is charged with the responsibility to manage animals in the face of ever-diminishing available habitat. As consumers, we must continue understand this, and thankfully, sensible people do and they make up the vast majority.
Save these animals!!!?
They will be saved, Micelle – just not all of them. And, come to think of it, isn’t that the way with us humans, as well?
Stop the Bloodshed Now, Save Our Wolves & let them Run Free.
Agreed but we can only curtail the bloodshed by minimizing the wolves’ attacks on pets and livestock and wildlife we cherish. We’ve patiently waited for ESA protections to be lifted and now they’ll be managed like the rest of the wildlife – with scientific analysis, not emotional, rhetorical nonsense. Be sure to make your donation today to the money grabbing Humane Society of the U.S. They will appreciate your tears and money so very much.
The HSUS is an urban concentrated vegan cult that wants to change our eating habits and how our food is produced. It raises over 150 million dollar by pretending to take care of dogs and cats while it spends less then 1 cent on the dollar to feed and shelter cats and dogs. The HSUS is being investigated for fraud for the ways it raises money and how it is spent. ( http://protecttheharvest.com/oklahoma-attorney-general-scott-pruitt-wants-hsus-answer-deceptive-practices/ ) It complains about AG Gag bills but it was convicted of racketeering in Florida for paying someone to lie about animal abuse. The HSUS IS AGAINST RODEO AND HUNTING. IT IS FOR A VEGETERIAN LIFE STYLE AND AGAINST EATING MEAT. ( This was posted on a report about a statue of Gandhi that the HSUS helped pay for. “ God bless Sadhu Vaswani and the HSUS for taking this opportunity to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s vegetarian philosophy!”) The HSUS says it spends 79% of its money on “animal welfare programs”, but it does not say what they are. (You probably can assume some of the money went to make a statue to Gandhi) The HSUS has been accused of paying employees to abuse animals and videoing the abuse as proof that meat production should be stopped. The HSUS wants to stop seal hunting, contending someone should pay the hunters to stop, but it will not use any of the 20 million dollars it stashes off shore to pay the hunters. The HSUS is bad for America so don’t applaud its lackeys. If you want to support something think about giving to the child fund, St. Jude, the Wounded Warriors, or you local food bank. If you want to help animals, give money to you local animal shelter. Giving money to the HSUS is throwing money away on a bloated bureaucracy that waste it on salaries and litigation. It claims to do good but if you really look at what it does, it only piggybacks on the work of local organizations.