Senator Phil Pavlov's Hunting Update
2013
HUNTING UPDATE DEAR FRIEND:
As the days get shorter and the leaves rustle underfoot, it’s time to plan for one of our state’s most time-honored traditions – a fall hunting trip! Whether you hunt deer, turkey, small game or waterfowl, Michigan has some of the best hunting opportunities around. Michigan’s hunting heritage is deep and enduring. Yet, increasingly, there are some who want to infringe on this great outdoor tradition. That’s why I recently supported a resolution to add the right to hunt, fish and trap to Michigan’s Constitution. Along with news on this issue and other legislation, I want to send along some hunting information, including season dates, the Pure Michigan Hunt and more. I hope it is useful to you. I will continue working to protect our hunting, fishing and other sporting rights. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns – I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes for a safe and successful hunting season! Sincerely, S TAT E S E N AT O R
PHIL PAVLOV
SENATE DISTRICT 25 TOLL FREE 866.305.2125 VISIT www.SenatorPhilPavlov.com
2013 MICHIGAN HUNTING AND TRAPPING DIGEST Consult the Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest for major regulation changes (new antler point restrictions), seasons, license information and more. This guide, along with other specialized hunting digests, is available online at www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests.
2013
HUNTING UPDATE
ANTLER POINT RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED TO NRC
ANTI-POACHING BILLS CLEAR SENATE
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that the Lower Peninsula Deer Management Initiative (LPDMI) has submitted two different deer antler point restriction (APR) proposals to be considered for the 2014 deer season. The first proposal calls for a minimum three-point APR for a portion of the northern Lower Peninsula. The second proposal calls for a four-point APR for all of Hunting and Trapping Zone 3 and all other counties to the south. With limited exceptions, an APR requires that antlered deer have the minimum number of points on at least one side. New APR’s need approval by the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and will only be brought before the NRC if the DNR has no biological concerns and if at least 66 percent of hunters in the proposed area support it based on an upcoming DNR survey. Landowners in the affected areas may email their comments on the proposals to DNR-wildlife@ michigan.gov. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
I have sponsored legislation that fights for outdoor integrity and guards Michigan’s wild resources. The anti-poaching bills, Senate Bills 171 and 172, have passed the Michigan Senate and are currently being reviewed in the House of Representatives. The bills would increase existing fines for illegally killing a protected animal and impose additional penalties for poaching a trophy buck. From St. Clair to Escanaba, poaching and quality deer management are serious concerns for property owners and sportsmen alike. Protecting our wild resources is important to all of us who enjoy Michigan’s great outdoors, and we must do more to deter violators who do not play by the rules. Offenders would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per deer, additional restitution based on antler size, possible misdemeanor fines and up to 90 days in jail. Offenders could also have their hunting privileges revoked for the remainder of the year convicted and three subsequent years. Fines would be deposited into the state’s Game and Fish Protection Fund.
DEER HUNTING UPDATE A LOOK AT LAST YEAR
A LOOK AHEAD – 2013 SEASONS
In 2012, an estimated 654,100 hunters spent more than 9 million days afield. Those hunters harvested about 418,000 deer.
INDEPENDENCE HUNT (special disabled firearm hunter) .Oct. 17-20
Statewide, 46 percent of hunters harvested a deer; about 15 percent harvested two or more deer.
MUZZLELOADING
Nearly 12 percent of the license buyers were younger than 17 years old. About 142,500 hunters used a crossbow during the archery season and 36% of those hunters harvested a deer.
ARCHERY..................... Oct. 1-Nov. 14 & Dec. 1-Jan. 1 REGULAR FIREARM........................................ Nov. 15-30
Zone 1 (UP) (10 days starting 1st Friday in December)....... Dec. 6-15
Zone 2 (NLP) (10 days starting 2nd Friday in December).. Dec. 13-22 Zone 3 (SLP) (17 days starting 1st Friday in December)..Dec. 6-22
SAFE HUNTING IS NO ACCIDENT Michigan’s 2012 hunting season was one of the safest in the past several years. There were 15 incidents with 1 fatality. Let’s set a new record! Remember to hunt
LATE ANTLERLESS FIREARM....... Dec. 23-Jan. 1
with safety in mind and follow all
*Consult the 2013 Hunting & Trapping Digest for restrictions, major changes, areas and more information.
firearm safety rules.
STATE SENATOR
PHIL PAVLOV • Toll-Free: 866.305.2125
HUNTINGUPDATE 2013
PAVLOV BACKS LAW TO BOLSTER SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT OF GAME I supported a new law to strengthen the scientific management of Michigan’s game and fish resources. In 1996, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum requiring the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) to manage our state’s wildlife according to sound scientific principles. That’s the way it should be – our valued natural resources should be managed and guided by science rather than special interests! Public Act 21 of 2013 now expands the authority of the NRC to add species to the game list. This summer, the NRC named the wolf a game species and authorized a limited public wolf harvest in three distinct regions of the Upper Peninsula to manage the state’s wolf population. You can find more information about the Wolf Management Plan by visiting www.michigan.gov/wolves. The law also gives the NRC the authority to regulate the taking of fish as they regulate the taking of game. Another important part of the law allows active military members, who were Michigan residents at the time they enlisted, to obtain hunting and fishing licenses free of charge. It’s a small way to say thank you to the men and women who serve our country and defend our freedom.
WE MUST PROTECT AND SECURE OUR HUNTING HERITAGE This spring, I voted in support of a resolution to add the right to hunt, fish and trap to Michigan’s Constitution. Senate Joint Resolution S received the required 2/3 support in the Senate. If the measure is considered and receives 2/3 support in the House, the proposed language would be put before the voters at the next general election.
TRANSPORTING FIREARMS, CROSSBOWS, AND BOWS AND ARROWS IN MICHIGAN These rules apply whether your vehicle is parked, stopped, moving or is on private or public property. Firearms must be unloaded in the barrel, and all arrows must be in a quiver when a hunter is afield outside the legal hunting hours. At all times when carried in or on a motor vehicle, including snowmobiles: • Rifles, shotguns, muzzle loading and other firearms must be unloaded in both barrel and magazine and enclosed in a case or carried in the trunk of a vehicle. • Crossbows, slingshots, and bows and arrows must be enclosed in a case or unstrung or carried in the trunk of a vehicle These rules do not apply to a pistol carried under authority of a concealed pistol license. Check the Hunting & Trapping Digest at www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests for other rules.
VISIT: www.SenatorPhilPavlov.com • STATE SENATOR PHIL PAVLOV
HUNTING UPDATE DEAR FRIEND:
As the days get shorter and the leaves rustle underfoot, it’s time to plan for one of our state’s most time-honored traditions – a fall hunting trip! Whether you hunt deer, turkey, small game or waterfowl, Michigan has some of the best hunting opportunities around. Michigan’s hunting heritage is deep and enduring. Yet, increasingly, there are some who want to infringe on this great outdoor tradition. That’s why I recently supported a resolution to add the right to hunt, fish and trap to Michigan’s Constitution. Along with news on this issue and other legislation, I want to send along some hunting information, including season dates, the Pure Michigan Hunt and more. I hope it is useful to you. I will continue working to protect our hunting, fishing and other sporting rights. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns – I look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes for a safe and successful hunting season! Sincerely, S TAT E S E N AT O R
PHIL PAVLOV
SENATE DISTRICT 25 TOLL FREE 866.305.2125 VISIT www.SenatorPhilPavlov.com
2013 MICHIGAN HUNTING AND TRAPPING DIGEST Consult the Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest for major regulation changes (new antler point restrictions), seasons, license information and more. This guide, along with other specialized hunting digests, is available online at www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests.
2013
HUNTING UPDATE
ANTLER POINT RESTRICTIONS PROPOSED TO NRC
ANTI-POACHING BILLS CLEAR SENATE
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that the Lower Peninsula Deer Management Initiative (LPDMI) has submitted two different deer antler point restriction (APR) proposals to be considered for the 2014 deer season. The first proposal calls for a minimum three-point APR for a portion of the northern Lower Peninsula. The second proposal calls for a four-point APR for all of Hunting and Trapping Zone 3 and all other counties to the south. With limited exceptions, an APR requires that antlered deer have the minimum number of points on at least one side. New APR’s need approval by the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and will only be brought before the NRC if the DNR has no biological concerns and if at least 66 percent of hunters in the proposed area support it based on an upcoming DNR survey. Landowners in the affected areas may email their comments on the proposals to DNR-wildlife@ michigan.gov. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
I have sponsored legislation that fights for outdoor integrity and guards Michigan’s wild resources. The anti-poaching bills, Senate Bills 171 and 172, have passed the Michigan Senate and are currently being reviewed in the House of Representatives. The bills would increase existing fines for illegally killing a protected animal and impose additional penalties for poaching a trophy buck. From St. Clair to Escanaba, poaching and quality deer management are serious concerns for property owners and sportsmen alike. Protecting our wild resources is important to all of us who enjoy Michigan’s great outdoors, and we must do more to deter violators who do not play by the rules. Offenders would be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per deer, additional restitution based on antler size, possible misdemeanor fines and up to 90 days in jail. Offenders could also have their hunting privileges revoked for the remainder of the year convicted and three subsequent years. Fines would be deposited into the state’s Game and Fish Protection Fund.
DEER HUNTING UPDATE A LOOK AT LAST YEAR
A LOOK AHEAD – 2013 SEASONS
In 2012, an estimated 654,100 hunters spent more than 9 million days afield. Those hunters harvested about 418,000 deer.
INDEPENDENCE HUNT (special disabled firearm hunter) .Oct. 17-20
Statewide, 46 percent of hunters harvested a deer; about 15 percent harvested two or more deer.
MUZZLELOADING
Nearly 12 percent of the license buyers were younger than 17 years old. About 142,500 hunters used a crossbow during the archery season and 36% of those hunters harvested a deer.
ARCHERY..................... Oct. 1-Nov. 14 & Dec. 1-Jan. 1 REGULAR FIREARM........................................ Nov. 15-30
Zone 1 (UP) (10 days starting 1st Friday in December)....... Dec. 6-15
Zone 2 (NLP) (10 days starting 2nd Friday in December).. Dec. 13-22 Zone 3 (SLP) (17 days starting 1st Friday in December)..Dec. 6-22
SAFE HUNTING IS NO ACCIDENT Michigan’s 2012 hunting season was one of the safest in the past several years. There were 15 incidents with 1 fatality. Let’s set a new record! Remember to hunt
LATE ANTLERLESS FIREARM....... Dec. 23-Jan. 1
with safety in mind and follow all
*Consult the 2013 Hunting & Trapping Digest for restrictions, major changes, areas and more information.
firearm safety rules.
STATE SENATOR
PHIL PAVLOV • Toll-Free: 866.305.2125
HUNTINGUPDATE 2013
PAVLOV BACKS LAW TO BOLSTER SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT OF GAME I supported a new law to strengthen the scientific management of Michigan’s game and fish resources. In 1996, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum requiring the Natural Resource Commission (NRC) to manage our state’s wildlife according to sound scientific principles. That’s the way it should be – our valued natural resources should be managed and guided by science rather than special interests! Public Act 21 of 2013 now expands the authority of the NRC to add species to the game list. This summer, the NRC named the wolf a game species and authorized a limited public wolf harvest in three distinct regions of the Upper Peninsula to manage the state’s wolf population. You can find more information about the Wolf Management Plan by visiting www.michigan.gov/wolves. The law also gives the NRC the authority to regulate the taking of fish as they regulate the taking of game. Another important part of the law allows active military members, who were Michigan residents at the time they enlisted, to obtain hunting and fishing licenses free of charge. It’s a small way to say thank you to the men and women who serve our country and defend our freedom.
WE MUST PROTECT AND SECURE OUR HUNTING HERITAGE This spring, I voted in support of a resolution to add the right to hunt, fish and trap to Michigan’s Constitution. Senate Joint Resolution S received the required 2/3 support in the Senate. If the measure is considered and receives 2/3 support in the House, the proposed language would be put before the voters at the next general election.
TRANSPORTING FIREARMS, CROSSBOWS, AND BOWS AND ARROWS IN MICHIGAN These rules apply whether your vehicle is parked, stopped, moving or is on private or public property. Firearms must be unloaded in the barrel, and all arrows must be in a quiver when a hunter is afield outside the legal hunting hours. At all times when carried in or on a motor vehicle, including snowmobiles: • Rifles, shotguns, muzzle loading and other firearms must be unloaded in both barrel and magazine and enclosed in a case or carried in the trunk of a vehicle. • Crossbows, slingshots, and bows and arrows must be enclosed in a case or unstrung or carried in the trunk of a vehicle These rules do not apply to a pistol carried under authority of a concealed pistol license. Check the Hunting & Trapping Digest at www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests for other rules.
VISIT: www.SenatorPhilPavlov.com • STATE SENATOR PHIL PAVLOV
