The Michigan Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (MI BHA) is actively working to protect and strengthen the future of hunting and fishing in our state. House Joint Resolution C (HJR-C), introduced by Representative Jim DeSana (District 29), seeks to enshrine the right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest wildlife in Michigan’s constitution—ensuring these traditions are protected for future generations. We are directly engaging with Rep. DeSana and legislative leaders to ensure that sportsmen and women have a voice as this resolution moves through the legislative process. This is a critical opportunity to secure the outdoor heritage that defines Michigan.

HJR-C has been referred to the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee, where it is expected to be brought up for discussion in the next week or two. This is a crucial step in the legislative process, as committee members will review the resolution, hear testimony, and decide whether to advance it for further consideration. MI BHA is closely monitoring this process and will be prepared to advocate for its passage at the committee level and beyond. We encourage our members to stay engaged and be ready to make their voices heard as this resolution moves forward.

Michigan has a long history of protecting its conservation funding, yet the rights that these funds support remain vulnerable. In 2006, voters overwhelmingly approved Proposal 06-1, amending the state constitution to establish the Michigan Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund. This ensured that revenue from hunting and fishing licenses, as well as other outdoor-related fees, could only be used for their intended conservation and recreation purposes. While these funds are constitutionally protected, the very activities they are meant to sustain—hunting and fishing—are not. This creates a significant loophole. It makes little sense that the financial foundation of our fish and wildlife management is secure, but the rights of Michiganders to engage in these activities remain subject to shifting political influences. HJR-C would close this gap and ensure that both the funding and the traditions it supports are protected for future generations.

Across the country, we’ve seen what happens when hunting and fishing rights are not constitutionally protected. In states like Washington and Colorado, hunting and fishing opportunities have been steadily eroded through restrictive policies, politically motivated commission decisions, and ballot initiatives driven by well-funded special interest groups. Traditional hunting methods have been banned, and hunting and fishing regulations have been altered without scientific backing. These changes have occurred despite opposition from sportsmen and biologists alike, proving that without constitutional protections, our outdoor traditions can be undermined by shifting political tides.

HJR-C would provide Michigan with a safeguard against similar challenges by establishing hunting and fishing as constitutional rights, ensuring that wildlife management decisions remain rooted in science rather than political pressure. While Michigan currently has strong laws supporting these activities, statutes can be amended, repealed, or influenced by changing administrations. A constitutional amendment provides long-term stability, preventing future efforts to curtail access to our state’s public lands and waters.

Enshrining the right to hunt and fish aligns directly with MI BHA’s mission of protecting public land access, science-based wildlife management, and fair chase principles. Hunting and fishing are not just pastimes—they are essential conservation tools, annually contributing billions of dollars to the State’s economy through tourism and jobs; and millions of dollars to habitat restoration, wildlife research, and land stewardship through license fees and excise taxes. This resolution would ensure that these contributions continue, benefiting all Michiganders, whether they participate in these activities or not.

As HJR-C progresses, MI BHA will remain engaged with lawmakers, advocating for its passage and ensuring that the voices of hunters and anglers are heard. We encourage our members to stay informed, contact their representatives, and be ready to support this resolution as it moves through the legislature. Together, we can ensure that the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife is permanently protected in Michigan’s constitution, securing our outdoor legacy for generations to come.