UP Gazette

State Rep. Greg Markkanen, joined by Rep. Dave Prestin, announced on Thursday his bill to restore hunters' rights, allowing them to hunt coyotes year-round. The proposed legislation, House Bill 5721, would permit an individual with a fur harvester's license to hunt coyotes throughout the year.

This proposal is a response to the Natural Resources Commission's decision to shorten Michigan’s public coyote hunting season by three months and declare mid-April to mid-July off-limits. "Allowing coyotes to run unchecked is simply not an option," said Markkanen R-Hancock. "These predators don’t care about seasons or regulations; they’re a constant threat to our livestock, pets, and even our children."

Earlier this term, Markkanen and Prestin introduced a legislative package aimed at creating an Upper Peninsula NRC composed solely of U.P. residents who would set hunting and fishing rules for areas north of the Mackinac Bridge. However, this bill has yet to receive a hearing in the Democrat-controlled House Committee on Natural Resources.

"The NRC admitted there are too many coyotes," Markkanen said. "Every member was appointed by Gov. Whitmer, and the law says they have to use sound science. Instead, they caved to political pressure from anti-hunting liberal activists."

Last month in Dearborn, a city with over 100,000 residents, a coyote attacked a sheep at the Greenfield Village open-air history museum. While hunters can still kill nuisance coyotes year-round on private land without a permit under certain emergency situations, Markkanen and Prestin argue that true management is being restricted by the new parameters.

The Natural Resources Commission's decision has been challenged in court by a lower Michigan conservation club and publicly opposed by other groups. "Coyote hunting plays a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and protecting our communities," said Prestin, R-Cedar River. "Coyotes are resilient predators whose populations can quickly grow unchecked, posing threats to livestock and pets."

The bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee for consideration.