Trapline Journal Weblog

Legislation was unanimously passed earlier this week by the Michigan Senate to help protect
trapping, hunting and fishing.

“The livelihoods of hunting and fishing face risk today unless we can encourage more Michigan residents to appreciate and support these outdoor activities,” said Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe. “This legislation will help promote the importance of these recreational activities and will provide protection by the Department of Natural Resources and state Legislature.”

Senate Bill 441 states that it is the mission of the Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Commission and Legislature to protect and promote the rights of hunting, fishing and trapping for Michigan residents and tourists. This mission statement will be inserted throughout key portions of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Michigan is third in the nation for licensed hunters and eighth in the nation in licensed anglers. These groups provide $1.3 billion and $2 billion annually to the state’s economy.

It appears that bear trapping in Maine will continue. LD1635, “An Act to Prohibit Recreational Bear Trapping” was voted out of committee May 11th as “Ought Not To Pass”. If this bill had passed, it would have reversed a public vote to allow bear trapping.

The bill now moves to the House, but with the “Ought Not To Pass” recommendation from the committee, will likely be voted down.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife made several policy changes in attempt to settle the concerns of the groups against bear trapping.

Several pro-hunting groups were aligned with the groups against bear trapping. The groups and politicians that sponsored this bill (again, after a public vote last year to continue to allow bear trapping) will never be satisfied until all consumptive use of animals is outlawed. They will not stop at trapping. As usual, their campaign consisted primarily of misinformation, including posting a video on YouTube of a hunter that appears to shoot a bear baited with a box of donuts.