State of Michigan

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Lansing

JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM

governor

REBECCA  A. HUMPHRIES

director

 

BILL ANALYSIS

 

BILL NUMBER:

Senate Bill 483, AS INTRODUCED

TOPIC:

Participation license for bear and bobcat hunting when using dogs

SPONSOR:

Senator Allen

CO-SPONSORS:

Senators Barcia and Birkholz

COMMITTEE:

Hunting, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation

Analysis Done:

May 21, 2009

POSITION

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is neutral on this legislation.

PROBLEM/BACKGROUND

Recent legislation eliminated the "no kill tag license" (commonly referred to as the "participation license") for people involved in chasing bears with hounds during the open hunting season.  The intent of that legislation was to remove the necessity for people who do not own hounds involved in the chase to possess a hunting license. 

DESCRIPTION OF BILL

Senate Bill 483 removes ambiguity about who needs a no kill tag license when they are participating in a bear chase that involves the use of hounds.  It states that the owner of the dogs is the only person, in addition to the kill tag holder, who must have a bear hunting license (in this case, a no kill tag license).         

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

Pro

Clarifying that only the person who owns dogs involved in a bear chase must have a no kill tag license may encourage people to participate in bear chases if they would otherwise decline the opportunity if they were required to purchase a license.

Con

People who participate in bear hunts with dogs and do not purchase licenses are enjoying the recreation without supporting the system that supports that opportunity.  In addition, if participants in a bear chase borrow someone else’s dogs for the event, there may be no licensed individual who is responsible for the dogs involved in that chase.

 

FISCAL/ECONOMIC IMPACT

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

(a)     Department

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:   

Some minimal level of license revenue will be lost as a result of this change.    

Comments:

None

(b)     State

Budgetary:

None

Revenue:   

None

Comments:

None

(c)     Local Government

Comments:

None     

OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS

None

ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

None

ADMINISTRATIVE RULES IMPACT

Rules can be promulgated to provide for administration of the act.

 

 

_______________________________

Rebecca  A. Humphries

Director

 

_______________________________

Date

WLD/LED