In a world where not much seems to make a hell of a lot of sense, a decision out of Michigan is falling right into line and making waves among hunters of all ages. After approving changes last month to help with the state’s booming deer population, a wave of controversy has swept over the Great Lake State as changes to the state’s youth and disabled hunts leave those hunters with antlerless only tags.
Prior to this year’s changes, the state’s Liberty and Independence hunts allowed participants to kill both bucks and does. Going after these small, limited hunts has drawn criticism from many who think the new regulations are going to end up hurting the prospect of future hunters in Michigan.
“Many youth in my district would prefer you told them Santa was not coming for Christmas this year rather than telling them they could not harvest a buck this September,” state senator Thomas Albert said in a letter to the Natural Resources Commission. “The establishment of an early season for youth to hunt deer was a successful way to get our next generation excited about hunting and being outdoors. Limiting this hunt to only does will crush enthusiasm and drastically reduce the effectiveness of this great tool.”
The DNR also came out in opposition to the new regs put forth by the Natural Resources Commission.
“With the declining trend in hunter numbers, these hunts provide training opportunities and chances for hunters to harvest deer during less crowded hunting conditions. They also give hunters the opportunity to harvest a deer when weather is likely to be less challenging and provide a more focused mentoring and assistance opportunity for those who choose to participate,” the DNR said in a memorandum to the Natural Resources Commission. “The Department has always maintained that youth mentors are more suited to assisting youth in harvest decisions during the Liberty Hunt than changing regulations. With no options to harvest an antlered deer during these hunts, participation may decrease.”
The state, ultimately, is in a delicate position. With booming populations of whitetails and declining hunter participation, the changes to the Independence and Liberty hunts were not an attack on young hunters, but instead an attempt to shift the minds of hunters to better managing does. With most hunters in Michigan admitting that they place a higher value on shooting bucks, state officials are trying to turn the tide and get more hunters, those that are left, interested in shooting does, particularly in the southern Lower Peninsula.
That said, the rule change is one of those things that may end up hurting more than it helps. The question in Michigan that remains is; how on earth are we going to promote hunting to the next generation of shooters without the potential for these kids to hang one on the wall?
It sounds like we’re going to have to band together and make deer hunting great again. At least in Michigan.
