(The Center Square) – A Michigan lawmaker wants to restore what he calls a hunter with a fur harvester license’s right to hunt coyotes all year.
State Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock recently introduced House Bill 5721 that he says would give that right back to hunters.
The bill was created by a group of house Republicans after the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted 4-2 to end the coyote hunting season from mid-April to mid-July, after it had been year-round from 2016 to 2020.
“Allowing coyotes to run unchecked is simply not an option,” Markkanen said. “These predators don’t care about seasons or regulations; they’re a constant threat to our livestock, pets, and even our children. We can’t afford to tiptoe around the issue. It’s time to face reality: we need to hunt coyotes year-round, no excuses, no exceptions.”
Michigan United Conservation Clubs in Ingham sued the Michigan Natural Resource Commission’s restrictions on coyote hunting were not grounded in science.
“The record is unambiguous: the commission has not heard or cited any scientific literature or rationale justifying the closure,” MUCC CEO Amy Trotter said. “Meanwhile, there were hours of public testimony on the practical benefits of coyote hunting during the spring season, while being reinforced with cited literature.”
While the current coyote hunting season would still allow property owners to shoot nuisance coyotes during the spring and summer, the bill sponsors argue it would not account for issues on public property. Markkanen referenced an incident at Greenfield Village last month, where a coyote attacked a sheep at the outdoor history museum, despite being within an urban population.
“Coyote hunting plays a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and protecting our communities,” said co-sponsor and Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River. “Coyotes are resilient predators whose populations can quickly grow unchecked, posing threats to livestock and pets. By supporting year-round coyote hunting, we uphold our responsibility to manage wildlife populations responsibly.”
The shortened season stems from a memorandum issued Jan. 16 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to the NRC. The notice argued that while there was no significant increase in coyote hunting when there was a year-round season from 2016-2020, they had concerns about public perception.
“There is concern about social perception and future loss of management tools if the open season continues to allow coyotes to be taken when there are dependent young present,” the memo reads. “The proposed change will result in not allowing coyote harvest while female coyotes have dependent young. However, the coyote hunting season will still be one of the most liberal seasons in the state, open for nine months.”
While the memo claims most members of the “Furtaker User Group” agree with the decision, groups mentioned within the memo, such as the Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association actually publicly denounced the season closure. Since then, the MTPCA has filed their own lawsuit against the NRC through the Mackinac County Circuit Court.
“The NRC admitted there are too many coyotes,” Markkanen said. “Every member was appointed by Governor Whitmer, and the law says they have to use sound science. Instead, they caved to political pressure from anti-hunting liberal activists. Their order is pure politics.”
Markkanen’s bill has been referred to the Government Operations Committee, where it will wait for further consideration.
