State of Michigan DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Lansing
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor		REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER:	House Bill 4757, AS INTRODUCED
TOPIC:	Taking of raptors for falconry
SPONSOR:	Representative Goeff Hansen
CO-SPONSORS:	None
COMMITTEE:	Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources
Analysis Done:	April 21, 2009

POSITION

The Department of Natural Resources (Department) supports this legislation.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

In 1999, legislation was passed to allow the take of wild raptors in Michigan for falconry purposes. In the same year, the Department added regulations to the Wildlife Conservation Order governing this activity. Prior to this, only captive reared raptors and raptors captured outside of the state could be used for falconry in Michigan.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

This legislation would remove the sunset date on the state statute governing the take of wild raptors in Michigan for falconry purposes, remove the maximum harvest levels and other species restrictions, remove the requirement to initiate a raptor education program, and remove the requirement to institute a study to establish raptor survey protocols.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

Authority would explicitly be given to the Department to allow the take of wild raptors for falconry purposes, designate allowed methods of take, and determine appropriate harvest levels. The sunset date on previous legislation to allow the take of wild raptors for falconry was January 4, 2009. The absence of an explicit authority for the Department to regulate this take is currently reducing recreational opportunities for Michigan sportsmen which they had enjoyed prior to January 4, 2009.

Con

None

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

Are there revenue or budgetary implications in the bill to the --

(a) Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

None

Comments:

None

(b) State

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

None

Comments:

None

(c) Local Government

Comments:

None

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

None

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

None

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

Rules can be promulgated to provide for administration of the act.

_______________________________

Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

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Date

WLD