Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus

03/04/2020

Good information shared yesterday in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for the DNR on the Michigan Wildlife Council.

11/14/2019

HB 4687, to reinstate deer baiting and feeding, passed the Michigan Senate with two amendments.

Those amendments to HB 4687 are as follows:

1. An individual shall not engage in deer or elk feeding in any county or deer management unit of this state where the department of agriculture and rural development and the department have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the United States Department of Agriculture requiring the limitation or banning of baiting or feeding.

2.(a) Uses no more than 5 gallons of bait spread over at least 400 square feet at each baiting site.
(b) Uses bait that is no larger than a sugar beet.
(c) Uses no more than 1 baiting site per hunting site.
(d) Places a 2-year sunset on the reinstatement of deer baiting and feeding.

The bill now must go back to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

11/12/2019

November 11, 2019

Senate Government Operation Committee
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey
Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich
Senator Dan Lauwers
Senator Aric Nesbitt
Senator Stephanie Chang

RE: HB 4687 (H-1) and SB 37

Dear Senate Government Operations Committee members,

Michigan United Conservation Clubs is the largest state-specific conservation organization in the nation. With over 200 affiliate clubs and 40,000 members, MUCC advocates positions adopted through a grassroots policy development process open to all members.

Proposal G, a 1996 ballot referendum, was adopted by a 2-1 margin of Michigan voters to give the Natural Resources Commission authority of the manner and method of take for our game species. By supporting Proposal G, Michigan United Conservation Clubs and its members advocated to keep natural resources regulations in the hands of a bi-partisan commission working closely with biologists.

HB 4687 and SB 37 attempt to circumvent Proposal G and the use of sound, scientific research to manage our game species by allowing the use of baiting and feeding for white-tailed deer and other cervids in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has compiled a list of 162 scientific studies related to chronic wasting disease, 42 of which have shown that baiting increases incidence of chronic wasting disease.
Regardless of your position on the baiting and feeding issue, this legislation sets a precedent of wildlife management that is in direct opposition to the will of the citizens of our state. The people of Michigan have voiced their opinion at the ballot box, and it overwhelming supports sound scientific management of our fish and wildlife populations.

Michigan United Conservation Clubs, along with the undersigned conservation organizations, strongly oppose HB 4687 and SB 37 and urge you to oppose this legislation.
Thank you for your consideration.

Organizations opposing HB 4687 and SB 37 include:

Alpena Sportsmen’s Club
Anglers of the Au Sable
Ashley Sportsmen’s Club
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
Bowfishing Association of Michigan
Cadillac Sportsman’s Club
Chelsea Rod and Gun Club
Coopersville Sportsman’s Club
DeLodder’s Conservation Association
Ducks Unlimited
Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association
HeadWaters Land Conservancy
Huron Valley Conservation Association
Kalamazoo Rod and Gun Club
Lake St. Clair Walleye Association
Livingston County Wildlife and Conservation Club
Macatawa Bay Waterfowl Association
Michigan Bass Federation
Michigan Bear Hunters Association
Michigan Bow Hunters Association
Michigan Environmental Council
Michigan Hunting Dog Federation
Michigan Quality Deer Management Association
Michigan State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation
Michigan State Fox Hunters Association
Michigan State United Coonhunters Association
Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fishermen’s Association
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Mid-Forest Lodge
Mid-Michigan Branch of Quality Deer Management Association
Montmorency County Conservation Club
National Wildlife Federation
Northwest Michigan Quality Deer Management Association
Oceana Archers, Inc.
Presque Isle Sportsmen’s Club
Richmond Sportsman’s Club
Straits Area Sportsmen’s Club
Tomahawk Archers
Tri-County Sportsmen’s League
Upper Black River Council
Upper Peninsula Bear Hunters Association
West Shore Branch of Quality Deer Management Association
Western Michigan Brittany Club

02/14/2019

The first Sportman's Caucus Breakfast of 2019 was a great success.

The Co-Chairs for 2019 are:

Senator Jon Bumstead
Senator Adam Hollier
Representative Triston Cole
Representative Leslie Love

Please stay tuned for announcements for the next breakfast and other upcoming events.

02/23/2017

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and Michigan Technological University have received a Consumers Energy Foundation grant of $117,175 to support efforts to bring back the extirpated Arctic grayling to Michigan waters.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/188ad9f

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and Michigan Technological University have received a Consumers Energy Foundation grant of $117,175 to support efforts to bring back the extirpated Arctic grayling to Michigan waters.

02/21/2017

After 99 years, Michigan’s elk herd is flourishing:

http://www.freep.com/story/sponsor-story/michigan-wildlife-council/2017/02/20/michigan-elk-herd-is-flourishing/97965928/

99 years after reintroduction into Michigan, elk herds are flourishing and can be viewed in Ga***rd, Michigan.

02/02/2017

Michigan will be hosting the 2017 National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) Sportsmen-Legislator Summit. "No event does more to support legislative sportsmen’s caucuses at the state level than the annual NASC Summit." This event brings together legislators from across the country to share ideas and identify strategies to ensure that our outdoor heritage will continue to be passed from one generation to the next.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation protects and advances the rights of hunters, trappers and recreational shooters and anglers. We provide a voice for sportsmen with elected officials, land and wildlife agencies, NGOs and sportsmen allied groups.

03/11/2016

The Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus had a very informative presentation yesterday from the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association. We would also like to thank the Michigan Historical Museum for hosting our legislative breakfast.

02/11/2016

There was a great turnout for the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus breakfast this morning. Ducks Unlimited gave an excellent presentation about their conservation efforts in our state.

05/05/2015

Please join us for our Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Breakfast on Thursday at 7:30!

02/25/2015

Please join us for our 2015 Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus Kick-Off Breakfast!

09/03/2014

We hope you can attend!