MUCC, its 40,000-plus members and 200 member clubs urge you to vote NO on this legislation.
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September 28, 2022
Good Morning Senator,
Last week, the Michigan House of Representatives chose to play politics with Michigan’s natural resources.
HB 6354, which would have decriminalized failure to report a deer harvest by reducing penalties from a misdemeanor and possible jail time to a civil infraction, was unanimously approved as introduced by the House Government Operations Committee. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and the Michigan State Advisory Council of the National Deer Association indicated their support, and there was no opposition.
Only five hours later, it was amended on a voice vote on the House floor with many members of the body, the public or stakeholder groups not having an opportunity to read the amendment.
The bill now removes the Natural Resource Commission’s (NRC) authority to require reporting of a deer harvest — an authority MUCC believes should remain as part of their duty to manage wildlife using sound scientific management.
MUCC was founded in 1937 under the belief that politics should not play a role in managing our natural resources. While the commission’s decision-making process may sometimes be far from perfect, it provides some level of insulation from political winds and is far superior to allowing wildlife management to occur by popular vote.
While Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) remains neutral on the implementation of mandatory deer harvest reporting, we will adamantly oppose attempts by the legislature to subvert the politically-insulated commission process solidified in state law through Proposal G of 1996 and expanded by the 2014 Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.
What are the real-world implications of this decision by the legislature?
Instead of taking the opportunity to fix a problem for the outdoor community, with a bill fully supported by the administration and stakeholders, the choice was made in the House of Representatives to play a game of politics and now hunters could be left to suffer the consequences. The Michigan Senate has the opportunity to correct this course of action and amend the bill to the language as originally introduced.
We urge you not to tie the hands of the NRC, the body that should be making decisions regarding Michigan’s wildlife and fisheries management and vote to amend HB 6354 to its original language.
If that fails, MUCC, its 40,000-plus members, conservationists, hunters, trappers and shooters urge you to vote no on the H-5 version of this legislation.
