Take Action! Michigan members are encouraged to contact Gov. Rick Snyder and ask him to sign Senate Bill 1187. Members can contact Gov. Snyder either by phone at 517-373-3400 or by clicking on this link.
Legislation that grants the Michigan Natural Resources Commission the authority to set game species cleared the state senate last week, has now passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 69-39. Senate Bill 1187, sponsored by the Upper Peninsula’s Tom Casperson, also adds wolves to the list of wildlife that may be hunted.
The last-minute legislation was in response to a Michigan Appellate Court’s decision to throw out PA 281, which granted the commission the authority to set game species, in addition to free licenses for military veterans. The court ruled that the law violated the two-subject provision of the state constitution, ruling that the free license provision was not “germane” (related) to the provision regarding the scientific management of wildlife. Because of this ruling, the court ruled PA 281 unconstitutional because it violates the prohibition against laws with two or more subject matters.
In response, on Dec. 1, Sen. Casperson introduced SB 1187, which only contains language about the setting of game species, including wolves. The bill passed the Senate on Dec. 8 by a vote of 27-10. The bill was then referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, which approved the bill with only one dissenting vote.
Wolves continue to be the focal point of anti-hunting groups that object to the management of the species, which have greatly exceeded the population goals that should have triggered a delisting from the federal endangered species list. Instead, a federal court rejected the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to allow states to manage wolf numbers, putting the species back on the list.
Senate Bill 1187 would allow the state to set a hunting season for wolves provided the species is once again delisted. The Sportsmen’s Alliance supports the delisting of wolves and the setting of a hunting season as a tool to manage the population, similar to how other wildlife is scientifically managed.
“Anti-hunting extremists will never accept a hunt for wolves, no matter how much damage the species does to other wildlife, livestock or pets,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “We are pleased that the Michigan legislature takes these issues seriously, and encourage sportsmen to contact the governor in support of Senate Bill 1187.”
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.