NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION

Keith J. Charters, Chair ● Mary Brown ● Hurley J. Coleman, Jr. ● Darnell Earley ● John Madigan ● J. R. Richardson ● Frank Wheatlake

STEVENS T. MASON BUILDING ● P.O. BOX 30028 ● LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7528

www.michigan.gov/dnr ● (517) 373-2329

Great Lakes, Great Times, Great Outdoors!

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

DRAFT

BILL ANALYSIS

BILL NUMBER:	Substitute Senate Bill 633 (PA 60 of 2007) AS ENROLLED, AS INTRODUCED
TOPIC:	Designate pilot deer hunting season for certain disabled veterans
SPONSOR:	Senator SenatorGerald Van Woerkom
CO-SPONSORS:	Senators Richardville, Gleason, Prusi, Allen, Stamas, Jelinek, Kahn, Jansen, Gilbert, Brown, Garcia, and Olshove
COMMITTEE:	Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Analysis Done:	September 20August 6, 2007

POSITION

The Department of Natural Resources (Department) supports Substitute SBenate Bill 633 (PA 60 of 2007),. with changes.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

Deer hunting in Michigan is a popular sport, with over 734,000 individuals purchasing a deer hunting license in 2006. Crowded hunting conditions exist during the regular firearm deer hunting season in many publicly-owned areas of the state, which adds to the difficulty of the hunt for disabled persons. The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) previously established a deer hunting season, exclusively for disabled persons during the third weekend in October, to provide disabled hunters an opportunity to deer hunt without the crowded conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

This bill would expand the youth firearm deer season in Marquette, Mason, and Newaygo Oceana counties to include 100 percent totally disabled veterans, as defined by the United States Department of Military Affairs, in for 2007 as a pilot project.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

The bill would increase recreational deer hunting opportunities by providing 100 percent disabled veterans the option of a firearm deer hunt outside the normal firearm deer hunting season in the three pilot counties. The Department supports increasing recreational opportunities where the resource is not negatively impacted.

Con

None

Senate Bill 633, AS INTRODUCED Page 2 August 6, 2007

DRAFT

Con

The NRC has the authority under Part 401 of PA 451 of 1994 to address the needed changes through an amendment to the Wildlife Conservation Order (WCO). Due to timing requirements for notification and public input when changes are made to the WCO, there is insufficient time to make amendments for the 2007 hunting season.

The bill proposes to amend Part 435 of PA 451 of 1994 which deals with hunting and fishing licenses for the purpose of creating a special season.

The bill references counties as possible pilot project areas, rather than Deer Management Units (DMU) which are used by the Department in deer management and are more recognized by hunters.

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

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

(a) Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

Potential increased license sales would be minimal.

Comments:

None

(b) State

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:

None

Comments:

None

Senate Bill 633, AS INTRODUCED

Page 3

August 6, 2007

None

(c) Local Government

Comments:

NA

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

NA

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Marquette County contains portions of six DMUs of which only two are open to antlerless hunting. Thus, maintaining Marquette County vs DMUs is acceptable.

Amendments to the WCO regarding the appropriate DMUs can easily be made within the legal time requirements to create the desired additional opportunities for disabled veterans in the 2008 hunting season.

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

None

_______________________________

Rebecca A. Humphries

Director

_______________________________

Date

WLD/LED