LANSING — The Michigan Natural Resources Commission delayed a decision Thursday on overturning one of its own regulations — restrictions on coyote hunting put in place just over a year ago.
Those regulations, which were adopted in March of 2024, prevent hunting from April 16 through July 14.
Opponents of the year-round hunting season say the break is necessary to let coyote populations grow.
“Killing coyotes at this time of year, in the spring, when they made it through winter and they have the additional stress of trying to raise their family now, it makes no sense,” said Trish Marie, a public commenter against the year-round season.
Mitchell Nelson, state director of Humane World for Animals, said that hunters have adequate opportunities to hunt outside of this time frame.
“There’s ample opportunity to hunt coyotes during that time without limits, and landowners could remove problem coyotes at any time,” he said.
Two wildlife groups filed suit after the commission approved the shortened season last year.
Justin Tomei is the policy and government affairs manager for the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, one of the groups that sued.
“Today, the commission had an opportunity to vote to reopen the year-round season, and in our opinion, fix a grievous error from the March of 2024,” he said. “Instead of taking action, they chose to table the amendment for a future month. It could be May, June. It could be a couple of months before they get action.”
Part of the debate hinges on the commission’s authority to make decisions on issues without a clear scientific consensus.
The Department of Natural Resources said last year that the decision would leave the coyote population at a stable level either way, and the commission acknowledged the decision was at least partly based on public opinion.
Tomei says that the regulation exceeded the commission’s authority.
“We felt that they didn’t follow their legal charge and responsibility to follow the best available science, and rather, they closed the season based on social assumptions and unsubstantiated political pressures,” he said.
The commission voted unanimously to delay the issue, but did not say when they would consider the proposal next. That means the 2025 season break will go into effect next week and likely last the full three months.