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• 1) MUCC passed a Resolution to ban internet hunting, and on Thursday, June 23rd legislation was passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Subcommittee that will do just that. The legislation will now move to the whole Senate for a vote and MUCC will be working to make sure it gets passed.

• 2) Mi. Dept of Ag. is combating the spread of the ash borer, and trying to preserve the ash tree.The Natural Resources Conservation Service has initiated a program to preserve ash seed, and the Rose Lakes Plant Materials Center in East Lansing is seeking volunteers to collect ash seeds from trees throughout Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Regions. Information on identifying the different species of ash trees and how to submit seeds for preservation can be found on the web at: www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/pmc.html. For more information contact John Bricker, State Conservationist, at 517-324-5270.

•  3) Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge now accepting deer hunt applications for its 2005 deer hunt season. These applications will be entered into a drawing based upon a priority point system started in 2001 for the specified hunt period. The Refuge is offering a total of 15 hunts this year, including five archery hunts, two hunts for non-ambulatory hunters, a youth hunt, one shotgun hunt, and six muzzleloader hunts. Hunter information sheets and maps of the various hunt areas may be obtained online at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/shiawassee, click on hunting. You can also apply for Refuge hunts online, beginning in mid-June. Or call the Refuge at 989-777-5930.

• 4) The DNR requests help from wildlife observers to report any sightings of osprey in southern Michigan. The DNR specifically is interested in observations in the Maple River area, which is north of St. Johns, and in southeast Michigan - Oakland, Wayne, Macomb and Livingston counties. The sighting can be reported to the DNR at (248) 328-8113, e-mail: OAKESJ@michigan.gov; the Metropark office at (800) 477-2757, e-mail: moilanen@metroparks.com; Lori Sargent at (517) 373-9418, e-mail: SargenL2@michigan.gov; or online at the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr.
  

April 2005

DNR

• DNR officials announced that hair samples sent to Central Michigan University for analysis has came out positive as Cougar in DNA testing. A motorist reported hitting the cougar on November 2, 2004, in southern Menominee County and gave the DNR Escanaba field office hair samples collected from the bumper.
• According to the MDNR about 5,000 dove stamps were sold to Michigan sportsmen and women for Michigan's first dove season. Of those 5,000 about 17% (~850) were youth hunters.

• The Natural Resource Commission is seeking to pass a regulation, which clarifies concealed-weapon law with relation to Michigan's wildlife law, and regulations.
• Governor Granholm's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 eliminates all general fund support for conservation officers essentially stripping their ability to serve as a peace officer. Conservation officers would not be able to serve as backup to local police agencies or the state police on non-conservation related crisis. They would also not be able to stop a drunk driver.

• April 16 is MUCC's lobby day in Lansing,
  • Hear Lt. Governor John Cherry speak, community.
  • Hear about new conservation bills in Michigan's Legislature this year.
  • Get briefed on the new shooting range bill (see below for details).
  • Meet with the DNR to talk about some of your questions and concerns.
  • Visit your legislator to talk about the issues you are concerned about in your community.
  This event is free and open to all MUCC members. For more information please call Erin McDonough at 517-346-6475 emcdonough@mucc.org

• Michigan Natural Resource Trust and State Park Fund will be virtually eliminated if the Michigan Supreme Court doesn't appeal the Comben vs. State of Michigan ruling or does not overturn the Appeals Court decision.

• At the request of MUCC, various Senators introduced a new bill that would give local shooting ranges immunity from local noise ordinances. Senators VanWoerkom (R, District 34), Kuipers (R, District 30), Cropsey, (R, District 33),Goschka, (R, District 32), and Patterson (R, District 7)
• A new bill has been introduced by Senator Brater (D, District 18) that would limit the amount of phosphorus that can be present in dishwasher detergents within the state of Michigan. This bill would help protect the quality of Michigan's waters.

• The DNR has reopened the Island Lake Shooting Range in Brighton , following a MI Court of Appeals reversal of a Livingston County Circuit Court.
• The DNR estimates 285,000 deer were taken in the 2004 firearm deer season. About 60% were antlered and 40% were antlerless. This is below the 2003 season when 307,000 were taken. The total deer harvest from all seasons this year is expected to exceed 450,000 deer.
• The DNR will increase fishing and hunting state permits $1 within the next two or three years because of flat license sales and increased costs
• As of the beginning of January the MDNR has sampled 14,619 white-tailed deer and 48 elk for signs of tuberculosis. Through a ll of this testing they have found 3 confirmed positive animals (two in Alcona a nd one in Alpena).
• To date over 17,000 deer and 261 hunter-harvested elk have been tested have been tested for CWD without any positives found.
• State and local health officials have confirmed a strain of bovine Tuberculosis (TB) in an Alcona County hunter who was injured while field dressing a white-tailed deer in October 2004.
• DNR Director Rebecca A. Humphries announced more appointments to her management team:
  • William Moritz as chief of the Wildlife Division
  • Ronald Olson as chief of the state Parks and Recreation Division
  • Lynne Boyd as chief of the Forest,Mineral and Fire Management Division.

• The state Dept. of Ag. has added 7 new counties to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine: Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale & Saginaw.
• MDEQ a nd Dow Chemical Company will begin immediate work towards the cleanup of dioxin contamination in Midland, along the Tittabawassee River, the Saginaw River, and Saginaw Bay.

• SB 1148: Allows individuals active in the United States Armed Forces to purchase their discounted licenses at any point of sale vendor.
• SB 1329: Which allows the operation of snowmobiles on limited access highways.
• SB 1278: Which seeks to regulate the operation of airboats in the state of Michigan. MUCC was an integral part in the drafting of this legislation as part of a compromise between the riparian landowners along the Lake Michigan shoreline and airboat enthusiasts. The Bow fishing Association of Michigan, a MUCC affiliate, was an essential part of the legislation.
• HB 6243: Which would regulate non-ferrous mining in Michigan.
• HJR Z: Seeks to place specific restricted funds under constitutional protection as a further barrier from governmental raiding during tight budgetary circumstances.

• Humane Society Merges with Fund for Animals ­ The Humane Society of the United States has merged with the radical animal rights group the Fund for Animals. HSUS President Wayne Pacelle has been quoted as saying that the organizations combined budget of $96 million next year will be used to hire five lawyers for a litigation unit. According to Pacelle the organization will be focusing on agriculture, the fur industry, banning archery hunting and keeping exotics as pets. MUCC will continue to defend OUR outdoor heritage in the coming years as groups like HSUS and the Fund for Animals present themselves and reveal their intentions for Michigan sportsmen.
• Decal Launched to Help Protect the Great Lakes- The Great Lakes Protection Fund decal was recently unveiled by the Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and Senators Jason Allen and Patricia Birkholz and Representative David Palsrok. Proceeds from the decal sales will be earmarked for the Great Lakes Protection Fund. The decals went on sale October 1, 2004 and cost $35.00. Information for ordering the decal can be found on the Department of State's Web site. To ensure that the program is fiscally responsible, a minimum of 2,000 decals must be sold in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 and at least 500 decals must be sold each year thereafter for the program to continue.