"Hunting is not only a thrilling sport – it is also how many people put food on the table to feed their families," McDowell said. "All Michigan citizens have a right to share in our bounty, but it can be difficult for people with disabilities to navigate through the fields and forests of northern Michigan in November. This legislation will protect the right to hunt for our disabled veterans."
Disabled veterans with hunting licenses currently participate in the regular deer hunting season in November. Under the new legislation, disabled veterans could take part in a two-day hunting season that coincides with the special youth hunting season, which typically comes at the end of September. The pilot program would focus on certain parts of the state initially, including Marquette County.
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan is among the top states in the nation in almost every hunting category with more than 800,000 licensed hunters contributing $2 billion annually to our economy.
"People come from all across the country to hunt deer in the Upper Peninsula," McDowell said. "Because hunters pump much-needed dollars into our communities, this law also benefits all state residents by increasing hunter participation and providing a boost to our state's economy."