LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s current rules for young and disabled deer hunters would be protected through a plan introduced this week by Sen. Thomas Albert.
Albert’s legislation would allow young and disabled hunters to continue harvesting deer with antlers during the special “Liberty” and “Independence” hunts each fall. The unelected Natural Resources Commission has opted to make these hunts “antlerless only” starting in 2025, and Albert’s legislation would overrule that misguided decision by putting stipulations maintaining current rules directly in state law.
“If the NRC’s decision stands, the state in effect would be asking kids to do what many adult deer hunters will not do — shoot does exclusively,” Albert said. “Taking away the option to harvest bucks would greatly diminish youth hunt participation and weaken one of the state’s best recruitment tools for the next generation of hunters. There is no public benefit or evidence-based rationale for what the NRC wants to do — especially when considering the effect on future hunter turnout.”
The Liberty Hunt is a two-day season typically held on the second full weekend of September. It is open to hunters 16 and younger and adults with qualifying disabilities. The Independence Hunt typically runs for four days in October and is open to those with qualifying disabilities. The Department of Natural Resources estimates the two hunts combined typically draw more than 20,000 hunters with an estimated harvest of up to 7,500 deer — roughly 2% of the total harvest.
Albert’s legislation is Senate Bill 996. His proposal specifies that eligible hunters would be able to take antlerless or antlered deer during the Liberty and Independence hunts.
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