Hard work and political action by Michigan sportsmen's group, and other like minded, sound thinking people, won a BIG victory over groups like PETA and the American Humane Society.
We managed to get bill passed that affirms that the DNR in Michigan can control hunting and fishing using sound science rather than allowing for emotion driving ballot issues.
These bills were fought hard by the anti's, who seek NOT to help wildlife, but only to destroy it by impeding science based management.
More than 300,000 signatures were collected in the effort to see these bills through.
This is a great win for common sense and a HUGE loss for stupidity!
Michigan Initiative Affirms DNR Expertise, Authority
EDITOR'S NOTE: We can't put it any better than Archery Wire editor J.R. Absher's feature: game and wildlife management must be based on science, not emotion. We wanted to share his insight on the initiative passed last week that assures that the Michigan's wildlife will be managed as is best for the wildlife, not animal-rights advocates
In much-anticipated action last week, the Michigan Legislature affirmed trust in the state Department of Natural Resources Commission for its professional management of fish and wildlife, while effectively blocking attempts by anti-hunting groups to manage wildlife - specifically, gray wolves - via the ballot box.
The citizen initiative, which passed the Michigan House of Representatives Aug. 27 in a bi-partisan 65-43 vote and was supported by the signatures of almost 300,000 registered voters, allows the Natural Resources Commission to name game species and issue fisheries orders using sound science. Spearheaded by a sportsmen coalition called Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management, it passed the Senate Aug. 13.
The Act, as approved, does three things:
- Reaffirms the commission's authorities originally granted in Public Act 21 of 2013 that were subsequently suspended due to the pending general election ballot referendum.
- Ensures the continued provision of free hunting and fishing licenses for active-duty members of the military who have maintained residency in Michigan.
- Appropriates $1 million to the Department in FY2015 for aquatic invasive species (Asian carp) management activities designed to prevent, control, eliminate, or respond rapidly to, the presence of aquatic invasive species.
"We are very thankful to the legislators who voted for sound science, the voters who signed the petition, the organizations who supported it, and the tireless volunteers who collected the signatures of almost 300,000 registered Michigan voters," said Dan Eichinger, executive director for Michigan United Conservation Clubs. "This is an important step to protecting the rights to hunt, fish and trap in Michigan from radical animal rights organizations."
The initiative renders moot the pair of referendums sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a Washington, D.C.-based anti-hunting organization, which sought to repeal two bills that would allow a regulated hunting season for wolves in certain areas of
the Upper Peninsula where they have killed pets, hunting dogs and livestock. The referendums will still appear on the November ballot.
Because the initiative contained an appropriation, it is not subject to a third referendum by HSUS or its in-state front group, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected. It becomes effective 90 days after the end of the current Michigan legislative session, likely in late March or early April 2015.
"Although two pending ballot referendums - seeking to repeal the NRC's ability to declare game species and to remove wolves from the list of game species in Michigan - remain on November's general election ballot, practically speaking the outcome of those proposals is now moot: the NRC will legally regain the authority to declare game species no later than April 2015," wrote Dennis Knapp, DNR Chief of Staff in an Aug. 28 interagency memorandum.
Barring further action, passage of the citizen initiative assures Department of Natural Resources biologists will move forward with science-based wolf management.
"We thought it was important to listen to the will of the 300,000 registered voters who brought this initiative to us," said Representative Jon Bumbstead (R-Newago). "This is about more than wolves. It's about protecting the rights of our constituents to hunt and fish by managing our fish and wildlife with sound science."
The coalition comprising Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management included the Michigan chapters of Safari Club International, the Michigan Bear Hunters Association, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, the Michigan Hunting Dog Federation, the Upper Peninsula Sportsmen's Alliance, U.P. Whitetails, Inc., the U.P. Bear Houndsmen, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited and the United States Sportsmen's Alliance. The act also received the endorsement of the National Wildlife Federation, the Michigan Salmon and Steelhead Fishermen's Association, the Lake St. Clair Walleye Association, the Lake St. Clair chapter of Muskies, Inc., and numerous local conservation groups throughout Michigan.
- J.R. Absher
We managed to get bill passed that affirms that the DNR in Michigan can control hunting and fishing using sound science rather than allowing for emotion driving ballot issues.
These bills were fought hard by the anti's, who seek NOT to help wildlife, but only to destroy it by impeding science based management.
More than 300,000 signatures were collected in the effort to see these bills through.
This is a great win for common sense and a HUGE loss for stupidity!
Michigan Initiative Affirms DNR Expertise, Authority
EDITOR'S NOTE: We can't put it any better than Archery Wire editor J.R. Absher's feature: game and wildlife management must be based on science, not emotion. We wanted to share his insight on the initiative passed last week that assures that the Michigan's wildlife will be managed as is best for the wildlife, not animal-rights advocates
The citizen initiative, which passed the Michigan House of Representatives Aug. 27 in a bi-partisan 65-43 vote and was supported by the signatures of almost 300,000 registered voters, allows the Natural Resources Commission to name game species and issue fisheries orders using sound science. Spearheaded by a sportsmen coalition called Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management, it passed the Senate Aug. 13.
The Act, as approved, does three things:
- Reaffirms the commission's authorities originally granted in Public Act 21 of 2013 that were subsequently suspended due to the pending general election ballot referendum.
- Ensures the continued provision of free hunting and fishing licenses for active-duty members of the military who have maintained residency in Michigan.
- Appropriates $1 million to the Department in FY2015 for aquatic invasive species (Asian carp) management activities designed to prevent, control, eliminate, or respond rapidly to, the presence of aquatic invasive species.
"We are very thankful to the legislators who voted for sound science, the voters who signed the petition, the organizations who supported it, and the tireless volunteers who collected the signatures of almost 300,000 registered Michigan voters," said Dan Eichinger, executive director for Michigan United Conservation Clubs. "This is an important step to protecting the rights to hunt, fish and trap in Michigan from radical animal rights organizations."
The initiative renders moot the pair of referendums sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a Washington, D.C.-based anti-hunting organization, which sought to repeal two bills that would allow a regulated hunting season for wolves in certain areas of
the Upper Peninsula where they have killed pets, hunting dogs and livestock. The referendums will still appear on the November ballot.
Because the initiative contained an appropriation, it is not subject to a third referendum by HSUS or its in-state front group, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected. It becomes effective 90 days after the end of the current Michigan legislative session, likely in late March or early April 2015.
"Although two pending ballot referendums - seeking to repeal the NRC's ability to declare game species and to remove wolves from the list of game species in Michigan - remain on November's general election ballot, practically speaking the outcome of those proposals is now moot: the NRC will legally regain the authority to declare game species no later than April 2015," wrote Dennis Knapp, DNR Chief of Staff in an Aug. 28 interagency memorandum.
Barring further action, passage of the citizen initiative assures Department of Natural Resources biologists will move forward with science-based wolf management.
"We thought it was important to listen to the will of the 300,000 registered voters who brought this initiative to us," said Representative Jon Bumbstead (R-Newago). "This is about more than wolves. It's about protecting the rights of our constituents to hunt and fish by managing our fish and wildlife with sound science."
The coalition comprising Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management included the Michigan chapters of Safari Club International, the Michigan Bear Hunters Association, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, the Michigan Hunting Dog Federation, the Upper Peninsula Sportsmen's Alliance, U.P. Whitetails, Inc., the U.P. Bear Houndsmen, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited and the United States Sportsmen's Alliance. The act also received the endorsement of the National Wildlife Federation, the Michigan Salmon and Steelhead Fishermen's Association, the Lake St. Clair Walleye Association, the Lake St. Clair chapter of Muskies, Inc., and numerous local conservation groups throughout Michigan.
- J.R. Absher