State of Michigan
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor	DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Lansing	K. L. COOL director

July 11, 2003

1. Bill Number and Sponsor:

Senate Bill No. 605

Senator Cameron Brown

2. Purpose:

To authorize a local referendum regarding whether to repeal the local act which prohibits hunting on Sunday in Hillsdale County.

3. How Does This Legislation Impact Current Programs in the Department?

This legislation would bring hunting rules in this county in line with 78 other Michigan counties and reduce the intensive use of public lands for Sunday hunting.

4. Introduced at Agency Request?

No.

5. Agency Support?

Yes.

Comments: The Department believes that all lands, both public and private, should be open to all for hunting on Sunday, as is the case in other Michigan counties.

6. Arguments Against the Bill:

None.

7. Arguments For the Bill:

Most hunters have only the two days of the weekend to hunt. This bill would allow landowners the option to hunt or permit hunting on their lands on Sunday just as they do on any other day of the week.

8. State Revenue/Budgetary Implications:

Negligible.

9. Implications to Local Units of Government:

As proposed, Hillsdale County would have to pay for a local referendum.

10. Administrative Rules Implications:

None.

11. Other Pertinent Information:

Seventy-eight of Michigan’s 83 counties do not restrict Sunday hunting.

For many hunters, weekends provide their only opportunity to hunt, so a Sunday closure cuts their hunting season in half. During Michigan’s small game hunting season, September 15 through March 31, the Sunday closure eliminates 28 days of hunting opportunity.

Act No. 396 of 1994 authorized a vote to repeal Sunday hunting laws by citizens in Hillsdale, Huron, Lapeer, Lenawee, Macomb, St. Clair, Sanilac, Tuscola, and Washtenaw counties if the repeal of the local act is submitted within two years of the enactment of that act (December 29, 1994). Hillsdale County voters retained the local act in a vote held on August 6, 1996.

During the 1997-98 legislative session, Senate Bill No. 1021 was introduced to repeal the local acts that limit Sunday hunting. During the 1999-2000 legislative session, Senate Bill No. 186 and House Bill No. 4665 were introduced to repeal the local acts that limit Sunday hunting. During the 2001-2002 legislative session, Senate Bill No. 43 and House Bill Nos. 4018 (Public Act 128 of 2001), 4697, and 6348 were introduced to repeal some local acts that limit Sunday hunting. During the 2003-2004 legislative session, House Bill Nos. 4011, 4599, and 4854 were introduced to repeal some local acts that limit Sunday hunting.

12. User Groups/Customers that Support this Legislation:

Michigan United Conservation Clubs

K. L. COOL

DIRECTOR

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

WI/LE