Act No. 70

Public Acts of 2009

Approved by the Governor

July 9, 2009

Filed with the Secretary of State

July 9, 2009

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 9, 2009

STATE OF MICHIGAN

95TH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2009

Introduced by Senators Allen, Barcia and Birkholz

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 483

AN ACT to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled “An act to protect the environment and natural resources of the state; to codify, revise, consolidate, and classify laws relating to the environment and natural resources of the state; to regulate the discharge of certain substances into the environment; to regulate the use of certain lands, waters, and other natural resources of the state; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and officials; to provide for certain charges, fees, assessments, and donations; to provide certain appropriations; to prescribe penalties and provide remedies; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending sections 43523, 43528, and 43531 (MCL 324.43523, 324.43528, and 324.43531), as amended by 2008 PA 347.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 43523. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, a person shall not hunt small game unless the person possesses a current small game license. A small game license authorizes the person named in the license to hunt for small game except for animals or birds that require a special license.

(2) If authorized in an order issued under part 401, a resident possessing a current small game license may take specified fur-bearing animals by means other than trapping during the open season for hunting these fur-bearing animals. However, a person who goes on a bobcat hunt with a licensed hunter is not required to possess a small game license if the person does not carry a firearm, bow, or crossbow and does not own dogs used to chase or locate a bobcat during the hunt.

(3) The fee for a small game license is as follows:

(a) Subject to subdivision (b), for a resident, $15.00.

(b) For a resident or nonresident minor child, $1.00.

(c) Subject to subdivision (b), for a nonresident, $69.00. However, a nonresident may purchase a limited nonresident small game license entitling that person to hunt for a 3-day period all species of small game that are available to hunt under a nonresident small game license. The fee for a limited nonresident small game license is $30.00.

(4) A small game license is void between the hours of 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise with the exception of coyote hunting.

Sec. 43528. (1) A person shall not hunt bear unless the person possesses a bear hunting license. However, a person who goes on a bear hunt with a licensed hunter is not required to possess a bear hunting license if the person does not carry a firearm, bow, or crossbow and does not own dogs used to chase or locate bear during the hunt.

(2) The fee for a resident bear hunting license is $15.00. The fee for a nonresident bear hunting license is $150.00.

(3) The department may issue a tag with, or as a part of, a bear hunting license. Section 43526(2) applies with respect to a bear hunting license.

(4) In addition to the license fees in subsection (2), the department shall charge a nonrefundable application fee not to exceed $4.00 for each person who applies for a bear hunting license.

Sec. 43531. (1) Except as otherwise provided in section 43523(2), a person shall not trap or hunt fur-bearing animals unless the person possesses a fur harvester’s license. However, a person who goes on a bobcat hunt with a licensed hunter is not required to possess a fur harvester’s license if the person does not carry a firearm, bow, or crossbow and does not own dogs used to chase or locate a bobcat during the hunt.

(2) The fee for a resident fur harvester’s license is $15.00. The fee for a resident or nonresident who is 12 years of age through 16 years of age for a fur harvester’s license shall be discounted 50% from the cost of the resident fur harvester’s license.

(3) The department may issue a nonresident fur harvester’s license to a nonresident of this state if the state, province, or country in which the nonresident applicant resides allows residents of this state to obtain equivalent hunting and trapping privileges in that state, province, or country. The fee for an eligible nonresident fur harvester’s license is $150.00. Nonresident fur harvester’s licenses shall not be sold or purchased before November 15 of each year.

(4) A person who holds a fur harvester’s license may hunt fur-bearing animals during the season open to taking fur-bearing animals with firearms and may trap fur-bearing animals during the season open to trapping fur-bearing animals.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor