North Michigan News

State Rep. Greg Markkanen, along with Rep. Dave Prestin, announced on Thursday his bill to restore hunters' rights, permitting them to hunt coyotes throughout the year. The proposal, House Bill 5721, allows an individual holding a fur harvester's license to hunt coyotes all year round. This legislation is a response to the Natural Resources Commission's decision to shorten Michigan's public coyote hunting season by three months and declare a period from mid-April to mid-July off-limits.

"Allowing coyotes to run unchecked is simply not an option," stated 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. 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."

Earlier this term, Markkanen and Prestin introduced a legislative package aiming at creating an Upper Peninsula NRC. According to their proposal, the newly formed NRC would consist only of U.P. residents and would set hunting and fishing rules for everything north of the Mackinac Bridge. However, the 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. Their order is pure politics."

Last month saw a coyote attack on a sheep at the Greenfield Village open-air history museum in Dearborn—a city home to over 100,000 people—triggering concerns about wildlife management in populated areas. While hunters can still kill nuisance coyotes year-round on private land without needing a permit, Prestin and Markkanen pointed out that this provision only covers certain situations, such as emergencies. They argue that true management is being restricted by the new parameters. The Natural Resources Commission's decision to limit the coyote hunting season has been legally challenged by a prominent lower Michigan conservation club, with other groups publicly opposing the decision.

"Coyote hunting plays a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and protecting our communities," Prestin, R-Cedar River, stated. "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 bill has now been referred to the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee for consideration.