MINOR CHILD HUNTING AGE CHANGE H.B. 5711:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 5711 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Triston Cole
House Committee: Natural Resources
Senate Committee: Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to revise the conditions under which a minor child may hunt game.
Under the Act, a parent or legal guardian of a minor child may not allow the child to hunt game under the authority of a license except under one of the following conditions. A parent or legal guardian may allow a child to hunt under the authority of a license if the child is less than 10 years of age, provided he or she hunts only with a mentor in compliance with the Mentored Youth Hunting Program established by the Natural Resources Commission.
A child also may hunt if he or she hunts only on land which a parent or guardian is regularly domiciled, or a parent, legal guardian, or another individual at least 18 years old authorized by a parent or guardian accompanies the minor child. This condition does not apply under any of the following circumstances: a) the license is an apprentice license; b) the minor child is less than 14 years old and the license is a license to hunt deer, bear, or elk with a firearm; or c) the minor child is less than 10 years old. Under the bill, the condition would not apply if the license were an apprentice license or if the minor child were less than 10 years old.
A parent or legal guardian may allow the child to hunt game under the authority of a license if the license is an apprentice license, and a parent or guardian, or another individual at least 21 years old authorized by the parent or guardian, who is licensed to hunt that game under a license other than an apprentice license accompanies the child. If the minor child is less than 14 years old, and the apprentice license is a license to hunt deer, bear, or elk with a firearm, the minor child must hunt only on private property. The bill would eliminate the latter restriction.
In addition, a parent or legal guardian may allow the child to hunt game under the authority of a license if the minor child is less than 14 years old and the license is a license to hunt deer, bear, or elk with a firearm, the child hunts only private property and a parent or guardian, or another individual at least 21 years old authorized by the parent or guardian, who is licensed to hunt that game under a license other than an apprentice license accompanies the child. The condition does not apply if the license is an apprentice license or if the child is less than 10 years old. The bill would eliminate this condition.
MCL 324.43517 Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an unknown, but likely positive fiscal impact on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and no fiscal impact on local units of government. The bill would generally expand hunting opportunities to minors which could result in increased sales of hunting licenses. Hunting license revenue is credited to the Game and Fish Protection Fund, which, including all of its subfunds, receives revenue of about $75.0 to $80.0 million each year. The Fund is primarily used by the DNR to manage State land for the benefit of game species.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.