North Michigan News

Michigan guitarist and sportsman Ted Nugent is scheduled to testify at a joint committee hearing on Wednesday. The hearing will involve the Natural Resources & Tourism Committee, chaired by Rep. David Martin (R-Davison), the Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord), and the Weaponization of State Government Oversight Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia). Nugent's testimony will address accountability issues within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and recent alleged abuses.

Rep. Ken Borton has expressed concerns about what he perceives as overreaches by the DNR. He recalls being cited in 2010 for a birdfeeder livestream that was misinterpreted as an illegal bait pile for deer hunting, which he successfully contested in court. Since then, Borton has advocated for reducing the DNR’s regulatory enforcement scope and decriminalizing recreational wildlife feeding.

“Michigan residents entrust their government with their tax dollars, hoping they’ll be used in good faith to govern responsibly and keep them safe,” said Borton. “Instead, the state and the DNR collude to weaponize their enforcement power on their own citizens."

Two weeks prior, testimony before Rigas' subcommittee highlighted controversial enforcement actions under the DNR’s Invasive Species Order against pig farmers and game ranch owners. Witnesses described deceptive practices involving undercover agents seizing pigs without compensation if they resembled Russian boars.

Angela Rigas commented on these practices: “It’s baffling to me that this is what our government is doing with our tax dollars,” she said.

David Martin also criticized recent DNR actions: “The recent actions and behavior perpetrated by the DNR are inexcusable,” Martin stated.

Nugent's testimony is set for 10:30 a.m., accessible online or in-person at Room 352 of the State Capitol Building.