http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238672
And, from another forum:
As you may be aware, both the Natural Resources Commission and I have been working on changes to Michigan law regarding crossbows. The Natural Resources Commission has been working on a proposal to change the way that a person may qualify for a permanent disability under current law. I have introduced House Bill 5741 which would allow any senior citizen over age 69 to automatically obtain a permit.
The House Natural Resources Committee held testimony on HB 5741 yesterday. What we learned in committee is that based on the principles of sound scientific management, there is very little reason to restrict crossbows only to people who are permanently disabled. The opposition to expanding the use of crossbows appears to be based mainly on a personal dislike of crossbows by some bow hunters and fears about an over-harvest of deer during the fall archery season. Data from all other states that have expanded crossbow use does not support this fear.
Based on this data and the expensive and cumbersome process of obtaining a crossbow permit, I have decided to pursue a revised version of HB 5741 that would simply eliminate Michigan's crossbow permit and allow any Michigan hunter to use a crossbow to take game during any season in which he/she has a license to take game with a bow. Allowing full inclusion of crossbow use by eliminating the need for a permit also reduces administrative burden on the DNR. Full inclusion has worked very well in all other states that have adopted it in both retaining hunters and recruiting new hunters without negatively impact deer herds.
The House Natural Resources Committee will vote on this revised version on Tuesday, June 17. The full House of Representatives will likely vote on the bill later next week. I would appreciate your support for this revised version of HB 5741 by e-mailing the members of the committee and your own state representative. You can locate their e-mail addresses at the links below. I have also included a sample letter for you to use although you may wish to personalize it to make it more effective. Thank you for your support of HB 5741.
Sincerely,
Joel Sheltrown
State Representative
103rd House District
And, from another forum:
As you may be aware, both the Natural Resources Commission and I have been working on changes to Michigan law regarding crossbows. The Natural Resources Commission has been working on a proposal to change the way that a person may qualify for a permanent disability under current law. I have introduced House Bill 5741 which would allow any senior citizen over age 69 to automatically obtain a permit.
The House Natural Resources Committee held testimony on HB 5741 yesterday. What we learned in committee is that based on the principles of sound scientific management, there is very little reason to restrict crossbows only to people who are permanently disabled. The opposition to expanding the use of crossbows appears to be based mainly on a personal dislike of crossbows by some bow hunters and fears about an over-harvest of deer during the fall archery season. Data from all other states that have expanded crossbow use does not support this fear.
Based on this data and the expensive and cumbersome process of obtaining a crossbow permit, I have decided to pursue a revised version of HB 5741 that would simply eliminate Michigan's crossbow permit and allow any Michigan hunter to use a crossbow to take game during any season in which he/she has a license to take game with a bow. Allowing full inclusion of crossbow use by eliminating the need for a permit also reduces administrative burden on the DNR. Full inclusion has worked very well in all other states that have adopted it in both retaining hunters and recruiting new hunters without negatively impact deer herds.
The House Natural Resources Committee will vote on this revised version on Tuesday, June 17. The full House of Representatives will likely vote on the bill later next week. I would appreciate your support for this revised version of HB 5741 by e-mailing the members of the committee and your own state representative. You can locate their e-mail addresses at the links below. I have also included a sample letter for you to use although you may wish to personalize it to make it more effective. Thank you for your support of HB 5741.
Sincerely,
Joel Sheltrown
State Representative
103rd House District
