H.B. 5834 wolf hunt hearing

[Tallbear]

Concerned Citizens,


At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17, the first step towards returning management of Michigan’s wolf population to state wildlife officials will be taken. It’s crucial that we, as hunters and conservationists, stand together and show strong support for the designation of wolves as a game animal.


The Senate Natural Resources committee will hold a hearing on the establishment of a hunting and/or trapping season for wolves. This is a move that Michigan United Conservation Clubs strongly supports and is necessary to ensure that sound, science-based wildlife management practices are in place in Michigan.


Rep. Matt Huuki, a Republican from the Houghton area, introduced House Bill 5834 which would designate wolves as a game animal, opening the door for sensible, science-based wildlife management of Michigan’s wolf population. Wednesday's Senate hearing is expected to produce a companion bill on the Senate side.


YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!


Michigan United Conservation Clubs will testify at the hearing in support of the bill. We need to bring the voice of as many hunters and conservationists to the hearing as possible. Anti-hunting groups have already vowed to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent any state management from occurring. The time to act is now and your voice is needed.

Show your support for state management of Michigan's wolf population by "signing" our digital petition. CLICK HERE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT. (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/9d05cd8c9e/a1ff9884d1/0e88c74058)


Michigan United Conservation Clubs is the nation's largest state-specific conservation organziation with the mission of protecting and enhancing Michigan's outdoors heritage.

[Kitgun]

Done

[SteveS]

Done. Thanks for posting this.

[mortneff]

Signed, thanks for the heads up!

[Shoots2much]

Never would I support the hunting of wolfs.
There is no logical reason to hunt wolfs, the population has reached levels for healthy multiple packs that can sustain themselves.
Wolfs are magnificent creatures and hunting them for the sake of killing them is a travesty.

We where taught growing up the only reason to hunt an animal was for food, if we shot it we ate it. If we shot something Gramps would make us eat it, so we never shot anything we din't want for lunch.
Killing a wolf for a mount is a waste of a beautiful creature.
There are some few exceptions, such as ranchers defending herds and the like, but for the most part, the only reason I can comprehend hunting wolfs is bragging rights or a manhood enhancement.


I know I'm going to catch a good flaming for my opinion. i accept that if I can pause someone long enough to think about it.

I won't argue or defend myself, I said what I said and I'll stick to it.

[SteveS]

I know I'm going to catch a good flaming for my opinion. i accept that if I can pause someone long enough to think about it.

I won't argue or defend myself, I said what I said and I'll stick to it.

In other words, you have the power to read people's minds and know exactly why they support hunting wolves and you aren't going to listen to logic or reason.

Did you actually read the article?

"House Bill 5834 which would designate wolves as a game animal, opening the door for sensible, science-based wildlife management of Michigan’s wolf population."

Note the words 'sensible' and 'science-based'. I am not sure what enhances your manhood, but I don't see the hunting of wolves doing this.

[Tallbear]

Wolf Digest: S.B. 1350, HSUS Lawsuits


http://img-ak.verticalresponse.com/media/0/d/e/0deb75c8e9/40cc80597c/daaf3d3128/library/grey_wolf1%20%282%29%202.jpg
Wolves, a top priority this fall in Michigan, have made headlines yet again. The Humane Society gave notice of its intentions to file a lawsuit against the USFWS in an attempt to halt the process of adding wolves as a game species. While opposition is ramping up, progress is still being made as Senate Bill 1350 was introduced in the Michigan Senate this month, sponsored by Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba).

Read more about the HSUS LAWSUIT (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/40cc80597c/e1e38c8eaf/8b0b4c717e) and S.B. 1350 (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/40cc80597c/e1e38c8eaf/a2d2f8ae80)

[Downtown]

My opinion is that we need to get this done so that we will have the devices in place for when the wolves numbers get too big. Look what they have done out west. There are vast areas where the elk and deer numbers are way down, or just plain gone.
Wolves are killing machines, at some point they will need to be managed. This is not speculation, it's a fact. Set our emotions aside and understand that we need to be responsible adults.

It is not about killing just to kill.....:coocoo:

[langenc]

Shoots--I think if you really believe that then they should be reestablished in ALL of MI for ALL to enjoy and feed.

We could start with sending the WOLVES to the HILLS--

Irish Hills, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills and all the other hills that other posters can add to the list.

[mp7570]

I am sure this will be an unpopular opinion, but it is how I feel. Why would we want to hunt an animal that has been off the endangered list in Michigan for less than a year. What if in the process of a sensible and scientific hunt, someone kills an alpha and does irreparable damage to a pack. The number of wolves in Michigan is only 700, to me 700 of anything is not enough for a gaming population. I am not opposed to any kind of hunting, my preference is to hunt for food, but I do realize that others hunt for trophies and it is not my place to condemn anyone. My fear is that this species will be seriously mismanaged by the DNR as many others have been. My question is, do we really need to hunt wolves to manage their population, or can we just let nature do her work and quit interfering. Human beings are the most pompous, self centered animals on the planet, we think we need to "manage" everything that may get in our way, the sad thing is we have just about "managed" ourselves out of a planet altogether.

[westcliffe01]

Having the species listed as a game animal is not equal to an extermination order. Like many other states, wolves will be hunted on a quota system, probably by county. The quotas will be based on observed wolf activity and possibly based on livestock predation reports.

There will probably be a lottery to draw a tag, and drawing a tag does not mean that you will get a wolf. Having been predator hunting for a while, I know how hard it is to hunt these animals. Particularly after their first brush with hunters. Predators very quickly adapt to hunting pressure and in the case of wolves, it means 2 things: 1) Fear of humans, which they loose when they experience no danger near humans over extended periods 2) Change of habits from diurnal to nocturnal once they figure out that they do not get hunted at night.

For these reasons alone, a hunt makes sense. We do not want these predators moving fearlessly through our subdivisions or anywhere close to people. Yet this is the natural result of town and city ordinances that prohibit shooting dangerous predators near homes. A few months of activity on a sheep farm reduced coyote activity to a level substantially lower than what I have in my sub division, where they come to within 8 feet of my doors. But if I shoot one in my yard, I might get arrested. This is nothing but liberal Sierra club inspired BS. Instead we should pay government approved agents many thousands of $ per kill to hunt down the offending animals ? Of which not 1 dime goes to any legitimate conservation activity, which is exactly the opposite of what happens when the hunt is managed by the DNR.

[sourdough44]

The WI wolf hunt has gone well. I expect it to close early was we are only 25 or so away from the 116 wolf limit. So far most were taken with traps.


The wolf numbers will NEVER get all that high. They are a top predator, not like deer & such. Look at CA, their Fish & Game' kills more Mtn Lions than a modest season would. Many like it that way though & would NEVER support a hunt.

There is already a wolf season in MI, just not a legal one. The DNR also takes problem wolves out. I know the professionals in game management can't bring reason to many. We just have to meet you in court.

[willforu1]

They should hav enever have been reintroduced or introduced in the first place. I will support the hunt. thank you for posting!

[sonicmatter]

signed

[Tallbear]

Call Today to Ask for YES Vote on SB 1350!
Dear MUCC Members,

MUCC needs your help to support sound wolf management in Michigan! Contact your State Senator today! (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/a54c146838/e1e38c8eaf/f5d91f786d)

Senate Bill 1350 will be up for a vote this week in the Michigan Senate! This bill would designate the wolf as a game animal in Michigan and also authorize the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) to create the parameters for a hunting and/or trapping season.

Anti-hunting organizations, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups, have been active in their opposition to sound wildlife management, which includes regulated hunting and trapping. Their rhetoric is misleading some legislators to believe that the wolf is not recovered and will become extinct if this bill passes. Nothing could be further from the truth; through Proposal G of 1996, we have entrusted wildlife biologists and the bipartisan NRC to use sound science when prescribing wildlife management techniques, using hunting and trapping as a management tool for many of our state’s most treasured wildlife species.

You can help make sure HSUS and the anti-hunting rhetoric does not prevail and support sound scientific management of the wolf by calling or emailing your State Senator today (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/a54c146838/e1e38c8eaf/b8c8ac5b8f) and asking them to vote “YES” on SB 1350.

The recovery of the wolf is a conservation success story. Now that the population has fully recovered and been removed from the federal and state Endangered Species List, the State of Michigan should be allowed to manage the population, particularly to reduce human conflict and its impacts on other domestic and wild animals.

The future of wolf management may depend on our action, so please help protect and defend scientific wildlife management today by contacting your State Senator! (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/a54c146838/e1e38c8eaf/ab56a1dc61)

Vote YES on SB 1350.

Find Your Senator Here! (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/a54c146838/e1e38c8eaf/3500c6c587)

Thank you,

The MUCC Policy Team
Amy Trotter, Resource Policy Manager
Kent Wood, Legislative Affairs Manager

[mishomukwa]

Done. Thanks Mike!

[oif3vetk9]

Shoots--I think if you really believe that then they should be reestablished in ALL of MI for ALL to enjoy and feed.

We could start with sending the WOLVES to the HILLS--

Irish Hills, Farmington Hills, Rochester Hills and all the other hills that other posters can add to the list.

Now that's just mean,,,, to the wolves. lol.

Honestly, can anybody on this board say they've seen a wolf themselves while out in the woods here in MI? I saw A track about 12 years ago in the St. Helen area. That's it, one.

Last I knew as far as ranchers went, they get reimbursed from the govt if any livestock is killed by a wolf. Now that may have changed seeing wolves have made it off the endangered list. If it has changed then ok, I can see ranchers/farmers, that have a problem with wolves killing livestock, killing said wolves.

As far as the rest, quit reading little red riding hood. If you're crying about them killing deer and elk guess what? That's what they do, it's kinda their thing. If anything complain about the govt putting designated seasons that WE are allowed to hunt. Ever think about it that way? They hunt year round, we only get couple weeks to hunt and that's been forced on us.

And as far as them attacking people(oh yeah, I know people think that's going to or will happen if they are left unchecked) I'd be willing to wager that you'll find more attacks from other top predators than wolves, and I mean anywhere in the US.

So really, what is the logical reason to have a hunt? I personally think it's because humans don't want to have to compete with them for the large game. If you can present anything logical I'd like to hear it.

Like the few others, I know this isn't a popular opinion to have, and I don't care. I've stated if they are a threat to somebody's living(livestock) then fine, take care of business, I get it. But if it's the complaint of game, get over it. They were here before us. And how many of you would eat one if you shot it?

I'm no bleeding heart liberal, and yes I hunt. I'm just skeptical of the whole thing. There's probably enough already doing the shoot, shovel and shut up. The stigma about wolves was created due to a childrens story and it has never been proven that they are aggressive towards humans anymore than what any of other top predator is.

If they move into a urban area and become a threat, kill livestock etc, fine, then deal with them. But, also remember, when an area is looking at to be "developed", humans are moving into another area. That affects hunting too amongst other things.

[Tallbear]

House Standing Committee Meeting

Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation, Rep. Frank Foster, Chair

DATE: 12/4/2012

TIME: 9:00 AM

PLACE: Room 307 House Office Building, Lansing, MI

AGENDA:
SB 1008 (Sen. Moolenaar) Water; other; groundwater dispute resolution program; restore.

SB 1350 (Sen. Casperson) Natural resources; hunting; gray wolf; include in game list and authorize hunting season.

SB 1206 (Sen. Casperson) Environmental protection; solid waste; bulk biosolids of exceptional quality; exempt from certain rules concerning cumulative loading, management practices, and reporting.

SB 1261 (Sen. Hansen) Natural resources; other; Michigan civilian conservation corps; modify program and authorize another entity to establish and operate a Michigan civilian conservation corps.

SB 1262 (Sen. Casperson) Natural resources; other; Michigan civilian conservation corps act; modify program and authorize another entity to establish and operate a Michigan civilian conservation corps.

SB 1263 (Sen. Pavlov) Natural resources; other; Michigan civilian conservation corps; modify, and authorize another entity to establish and operate a Michigan civilian conservation corps.

SB 1264 (Sen. Warren) Natural resources; other; Michigan civilian conservation corps; modify program and authorize another entity to establish and operate a Michigan civilian conservation corps.

SB 1265 (Sen. Green) Natural resources; other; Michigan civilian conservation corps; modify, and authorize another entity to establish and operate a Michigan civilian conservation corps.

SB 1057 (Sen. Booher) Natural resources; forests; private forest management; provide oversight from the department of agriculture and rural development and provide for conservation district assistance to owners of forestland.

SB 1058 (Sen. Meekhof) Agriculture; other; Michigan agriculture environmental assurance program; expand to include lands not utilized for traditional or production agriculture such as forest management.

SB 1059 (Sen. Booher) Property tax; classification; qualified forest property tax program; modify.

SB 1061 (Sen. Moolenaar) Natural resources; forests; promotion of forestry and the development of the forest products industry in the state; require of the departments of agriculture and rural development and natural resources.

SB 1062 (Sen. Green) Property tax; exemptions; definition of qualified agricultural property; revise.

SB 1287 (Sen. Booher) Property tax; classification; allocation of qualified forest property recapture tax; modify.

SB 1238 (Sen. Booher) Natural resources; funding; procedures of proposed land acquisitions and developments; modify.

SB 1021 (Sen. Casperson) Property tax; other; payment in lieu of taxes on certain state-owned land; increase, and prohibit prorated payments.

SB 1022 (Sen. Booher) Property tax; other; payment in lieu of taxes on certain state-owned land; revise.

SB 1280 (Sen. Casperson) State agencies (existing); natural resources; economic and recreational activities on DNR-managed land; require DNR to maximize, and impose term limits on natural resources commission members.

HB 5544 (Rep. Foster) Crimes; weapons; prohibitions against carrying certain weapons; revise.

PENDING REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE

SB 1328 (Sen. Casperson) Environmental protection; cleanups; procedures for cleanups and funding; modify.

To view text of legislation go to:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=CommitteeBillRecord

[Tallbear]

Wolf Bill Up In House Natural Resources Committee
Call Your Representative Today!
Dear MUCC Members,

Thanks to your help last week, the wolf management bill, Senate Bill 1350, passed the Senate by a final vote of 23-15. Thank you for your efforts!

But our work is not over yet. Senate Bill 1350 will be up for testimony and perhaps even a vote this Tuesday morning at 9am in the House Natural Resources Committee! We need your help to contact your State Representative and ask for their "YES" vote on SB 1350! (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/0a1e74e3ee/e1e38c8eaf/e1fc20f79e)

Anti-hunting organizations like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are using misleading rhetoric to make sure this bill does not pass. It's not surprising. Groups like HSUS don't want wildlife managed by sound-science. They want wildlife management dictated by politics and emotion.

That is why we need your help in contacting your State Representative (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/0a1e74e3ee/e1e38c8eaf/2564260b0f)to remind them that since proposal G of 1996, Michigan citizens expect that our wildlife management be based on sound scientific principles.

Please help us make sure HSUS and the anti-hunting rhetoric does not prevail and support scientific management of the wolf by calling or emailing your State Representative today (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/0a1e74e3ee/e1e38c8eaf/7beeaab0f0) and asking them to vote “YES” on SB 1350. (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/0a1e74e3ee/e1e38c8eaf/dce402d8f2)

The recovery of the wolf is a conservation success story. Now that the population has fully recovered and been removed from the federal and state Endangered Species List, the State of Michigan should be allowed to manage the population, particularly to reduce human conflict and its impacts on other domestic and wild animals. These decisions should be made by wildlife professionals, not deep-pocketed anti-hunting organizations.

The future of wolf management may depend on our action, so please help protect and defend scientific wildlife management today by (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/0a1e74e3ee/e1e38c8eaf/5498b21281)contacting your State Representative! (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/0a1e74e3ee/e1e38c8eaf/dd145078f2)

Ask Your Representative to Vote YES on SB 1350.

Find Your Representative Here! (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/0a1e74e3ee/e1e38c8eaf/3516ca6363)

Thank you,

The MUCC Policy Team
Amy Trotter, Resource Policy Manager
Kent Wood, Legislative Affairs Manager

[SteelTherapy]

:popcorn:

[Tallbear]

SB 1350 of 2012 (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2012-SB-1350)
Natural resources; hunting; gray wolf; include in game list and authorize hunting season. Amends secs. 40103, 40118, 43503 & 43507 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40103 et seq.) & adds secs. 40110b & 43528b.
Last Action: 12/4/2012 referred to second reading

[coyote wacker]

All you Trolls would be crying the blues if you had wolves in your back yard stalking your wife's little precious pet cat or dog at 9:00 in the morning when it goes out to crap. Your wife would be all for killing all the wolves if she got woke up at 2:00 AM by the screaming death moans of a deer being eating alive 50 feet from your bedroom window by 5 wolves. But you live under the bridge and you want to tell us in the U.P. what to do or not do with the wolves from Lansing.

I see wolf sign and wolves almost daily around my house. They are not afraid of being seen during day light hours. Or a 12 ga. cracker shell shot at them, at 11:00 AM supplied to me by the MDNR to chase the wolves away.

Hunting and trapping will get rid of the dumb ones, putting the fear of humans in the survivors. Controlled hunting and trapping has never eliminated a species.

[Shoots2much]

Having raised Wolfs for twenty two years (before it became illegal in the state) I can say that wolfs are smart, smart enough to be "self aware"

Ranchers and other types of businesses that have property to protect is another matter for a latter discussion.

As for "recreational" wolf hunting, I think it stinks, I't my opinion the only reason an alleged hunter would kill a wolf for sport is related to Frauds theory on the male preoccupation with size.
That somehow shooting a wolf will increase the level of "manhood".

I was taught we shoot what we eat and we eat what we shoot.

There is no reason to kill for the sake of killing.

I know I've offended a few folks, and I'm sorry, I won't argue, I won't defend what I've said, I said it the way I meant it and it stands.

I won't subscribe to the thread and probably won't look at again, I've said my piece and have no interest in an forum urination contest.
Armchair arguing and "pssing" contests don't interest me.

[Tallbear]

Wolf Bill Up For Final Vote!
Dear MUCC Members,

The Wolf Bill is scheduled for a final vote today in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Contact your Rep (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/fd414f4c77/e1e38c8eaf/26333ee8e4) today and tell them that you support science based management for wolves that the people asked for through Proposal G in 1996. Respectfully ask your representative to vote "YES" on SB 1350 when it comes up for a vote on the House floor.

We're almost there. And you can help make history by contacting your State Representative!

Find Your Representative Here! (http://cts.vresp.com/c/?MichiganUnitedConser/fd414f4c77/e1e38c8eaf/96eddb8ba1)

Thank you,

The MUCC Policy Team

[Tallbear]

SB 1350 of 2012 (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2012-SB-1350)
Natural resources; hunting; gray wolf; include in game list and authorize hunting season. Amends secs. 40103, 40118, 43503 & 43507 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40103 et seq.) & adds secs. 40110b & 43528b.
Last Action: 12/12/2012 returned to Senate

[Tallbear]

SB 1350 of 2012 (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=2012-SB-1350)
Natural resources; hunting; gray wolf; include in game list and authorize hunting season. Amends secs. 40103, 40118, 43503 & 43507 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40103 et seq.) & adds secs. 40110b & 43528b.
Last Action: 12/14/2012 ORDERED ENROLLED

[kgvall]

Detroit Hills??
Just askin! They already have packs of hyenas!

[Mr Mudd]

What does the proposal entail? From what I've heard, wolf population in Michigan is critically endangered. Not an animal I'd want to hunt to extinction.

[huronbay]

I live on the northern shores of Lake Superior in Baraga County. The wolf is not endangered in the U.P. If it is managed as a game animal it will be here for generations to come. Any animal that is managed the way the wolf has been managed, that is by politics, and at the expense of other species, will not endure. There are parts of the U.P. that deer have been wiped out due to the wolf packs. I hunt some of these areas and have since 1962. One thing I,m sick of is people who have no first hand knowledge including some biologist (not all) tell me wolf have no meaningfull impact on other big game animals.

The truth is, wolf will be managed by wildlife managers using sound principles or they will be mangaed locally. The former will ensure their future, the latter will ensure their doom.