Senate Bill 1187 (Sen. Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba) was advanced to the full House of Representatives for a possible vote next week. The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act was overturned by the Michigan Court of Appeals last month on a technicality, as the court ruled that the provision to allow free licenses for active military members was not closely-enough related to the rest of the initiative. SB 1187 simply reinstates the remaining provisions of the SFWCA – namely the authority of the Natural Resources Commission to name game species and issue fisheries orders, the $1 million appropriation for Asian carp response, and the addition of wolves to the game species list. It has passed the Senate 27-10.
At the Natural Resources Commission, a MUCC 2016 resolution to allow centerfire rifles at night for certain predators, like coyotes, was approved by the Natural Resources Commission, but with restrictions. The order allows centerfire calibers up to .269, except not in state park and recreation areas statewide and limited to private land only in the southern limited firearm deer hunting zone. This measure was spearheaded by the grassroots group Predator Hunters for Centerfire at Night and supported by the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, which sponsored our supporting resolution this summer at the MUCC Annual Convention. Also at the NRC, former MUCC Executive Director Dennis Muchmore was awarded the Thomas L. Washington Lifetime Conservation Award, named after our other longtime former Executive Director!
Wednesday, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recommended $47.6 million in grants for public outdoor recreation land and development, including the 680-acre Crystal Waters State Game Area project in Monroe County, which was endorsed by MUCC and championed by MUCC Board Member Kris Matthew of Ann Arbor, Sen. Dale Zorn (R-Monroe) and Rep. Bill LaVoy (D-Monroe). Trust Fund grants are funded by the development of state-owned oil, gas and minerals through the landmark compromise between conservationists and the energy industry in 1976.
Additionally, the following legislation was addressed this week:
SB 800: Includes a supplemental appropriation for $1M General Fund for the DNR Wildlife Division to backfill some of what they spent on CWD (Passed by both chambers, heading to the Governor for signing). (MUCC supported)
HB 5215: Penalizes the unauthorized removal of a dog collar (such as from a hunting dog). Passed both chambers and headed to the Governor for signing. (Began as an MUCC resolution)
HB 5868: A bill that would exempt recreational gold panners from having to get a DEQ permit, even if they were using motorized dredges in trout streams. This did not get a vote out of committee either and is dead for this year. (MUCC opposed)
HB 5702: Clarify some language on deer damage and disease control permits. Passed Senate, and should head to Governor. (MUCC supported).
Unfortunately, SB 570 was not advanced past the House Committee on Tax Policy. After a committee hearing last week, there was not enough support on the committee to vote it to the full house in its current form. The bill would have exempted charitable sportsmen’s clubs from local property taxes, if they met specific community service requirements.
It was quite a week! Please support our work to conserve natural resources and protect your rights to hunt, fish and trap by making a tax-deductible donation at www.mucc.org/donate!
