LANSING, Mich. — Ted Nugent testified at the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday, asking lawmakers to examine what some hunters and business owners are calling an overreach in the Department of Natural Resources' authority.
- Three GOP-led House committees heard testimony from hunters and business owners about Department of Natural Resources practices.
- Complaints included inconsistent enforcement, overreach, and excessive fines related to state conservation laws.
- Nugent urged lawmakers to make changes to improve hunting regulations in Michigan.
Three Republican-led House committees listened to concerns from hunters and business owners regarding Michigan's conservation laws.
WATCH: Ted Nugent testifies about DNR authority concerns at Michigan Capitol
During the hearing, hunters and business owners voiced their frustrations about inconsistent enforcement, overreach, excessive fines, and other issues with the state's conservation laws.
Nugent asked lawmakers to make changes to "make hunting great again in the state of Michigan."
"Because right now, we are going down the toilet of abusive power and violations of science," Nugent said.
I reached out to the DNR for comment. The Department's Public Information Officer sent a statement saying "The DNR is mandated to use sound science to the greatest extent possible in all its management activities. The agency is committed to science based natural resource management and the fair application of the law. Our Conservation Officers are focused much more on education and helping people comply with the law than on writing tickets or making arrests. In fact, 98% of CO contacts result in no enforcement action. Our COs conduct general law enforcement activities, in addition to enforcing natural resources regulations, and are a critical part of the state’s law enforcement network, regularly saving lives. They are highly professional and rigorously trained law enforcement officials."
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