Bill > HB5068

This bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by adding mourning doves to the list of game species and explicitly authorizing the establishment of a hunting season for mourning doves. Specifically, the bill modifies Section 40103 to include "mourning dove" in the comprehensive list of game animals, which ranges from badgers and bears to woodcocks and wolves. Additionally, the bill adds a new Section 40110d that requires the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to issue orders establishing an open season for mourning dove hunting by April 1, 2026. The legislation provides a clear legal framework for mourning dove hunting, defining the process by which the commission will create specific hunting regulations for this species. By setting a definitive deadline of April 1, 2026, the bill ensures that mourning dove hunting regulations will be developed within a reasonable timeframe, giving hunters, wildlife managers, and conservation experts an opportunity to prepare and implement appropriate guidelines.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-5068