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

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER:	House Bill 4897, SUBSTITUTE H-2
TOPIC:	Modify use of hunter orange
SPONSOR:	Representative Joel Sheltrown
CO-SPONSORS:	None
COMMITTEE:	Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources
Analysis Done:	May 21, 2009

POSITION

The Department of Natural Resources (Department) supports the bill as currently written.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

The law currently gives an exception to the hunter orange requirement for archery hunters during the archery season which does not include hunting with a crossbow during that season. This bill would allow crossbow hunters to fall under this exception during the archery season. The use of hunting blinds can take away the effectiveness of wearing hunter orange. Requiring hunter orange on the exterior of hunting blinds would address this safety issue.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

This bill would create an exception to the hunter orange requirement for crossbow hunters during the archery season, a person engaged in the sport of falconry, and a person who is stationary and is hunting bobcat, coyote, or fox. It would also create a requirement for a person hunting deer with a firearm from a blind to have 144 square inches of hunter orange visible on all exterior sides of the blind.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

The Department is in support of an exception to the hunter orange requirement for crossbow hunters during the archery season and a person engaged in the sport of falconry. Archery hunters are currently afforded this exception. This would address the recent changes in the crossbow status, making an exception to the hunter orange requirement for crossbow hunters during the archery season. Also, there are some hunting activities, such as falconry, that do not necessitate the need of a hunter orange requirement for safety. The Department is also in support of the requirement for a person hunting deer with a firearm from a blind to have 144 square inches of hunter orange visible on all exterior sides of the blind. This would address the safety issue of hunting blinds taking away the effectiveness of wearing hunter orange.

Con

The use of hunter orange has been instrumental in reducing hunting-related injuries due to its high visibility. The hunting season for coyote and fox occurs during October 15 – March 1, and July 15 – April 15, respectively. These seasons are during times when small game and firearm deer hunters are also afield. This could create difficulty in enforcing the hunter orange requirement for small game hunters. A person might claim to be hunting coyote while hunting under the authority of a small game license, whether hunting coyote or not.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

None

_______________________________

Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

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Date

LED/WLD