Michigan’s shortened coyote hunting season stands, judge rules
- A judge said the Michigan Natural Resources Commission’s decision to shorten the coyote hunting season to protect pups is OK
- State regulators voted in March of last year to ban coyote hunting from April 15 to July 14
- Two hunting advocacy groups sued the state, saying the decision was not based on science
Michigan’s shorter coyote hunting season is legally sound, an Ingham County Circuit Court judge ruled this week.
In March of last year, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission voted 4-2 to shorten the recreational coyote hunting season from 12 months to nine to protect newborn pups. Coyotes cannot be hunted from April 15 to July 14.
Two hunting advocacy groups, Michigan United Conservation Clubs and Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association, sued the commission, saying its decision was not based on science.
Judge Morgan Cole said in her opinion that “science exists, was reviewed and was utilized accordingly.”
United Conservation Clubs CEO Amy Trotter said she was unhappy with the ruling.
“The commission violated their legal charge and responsibility when they partially closed the coyote season,” Trotter said. “By focusing on unsubstantiated social and political pressures, they committed a grave disservice to conservationists across Michigan and put us on the path of anti-hunting states …”
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The plaintiffs can appeal the decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Conservation Clubs emailed its supporters, soliciting donations and saying, “We would need your support to do it.”
Since the lawsuit, the Natural Resources Commission has considered extending the coyote hunting season again, but has made no decision.
It wasn’t clear how Cole’s ruling could impact those deliberations. A representative of the commission could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
A majority of hunting and trapping organizations on a state advisory group initially recommended the shorter season, believing that allowing hunting while pups are in the den could give coyote hunters a bad reputation, leading to anti-hunting policies.
Conservation Clubs told Bridge Michigan the lawsuit was less about coyotes specifically and more about avoiding a precedent in which Michigan hunting regulations could be set that weren’t backed by science.
Kelly House contributed to this story.
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