Tweeking Senate Bill 412

Over these 30 years we have remained all non-paid volunteers who have dealt with many issues in favor of our Wild Turkeys and especially the natural resources our grandchildren and their children will inherit.

In 1996 the decision was made by the Pere Marquette, Traverse Bay and Ausable River Valley Chapters to form the Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association. The decision was made when the direction of the National Wild Turkey Federation turned from the Wild Turkey resource, to money. During that time the Pere Marquette Chapter received a letter from the NWTF kicking them out with the threat of legal action if they dared to use their name. Collectively we did more to insure the restoration of the Wild Turkey and insuring ethical hunting practices than anyone else in these United States. This was our reward.

A two part report on Senate Bill 412 was published in the March and September 2012 issues of Michigan Turkey Tracks. Reviewing our past history it should have come as no surprise that with Senator Darwin Booher’s assistance the bill was introduced.

Our turkey population throughout the northern lower peninsula was disappearing, yet reported by the DNR as being stable. The cause was and is unknown. The turkey hunting license was established in 1977 restricted to be used for Scientific Research, Biological Work on Wild Turkeys and Other Wild Turkey Management In This State. Obviously if we are to manage Wild Turkeys, a home (habitat) must be provided. We have documented time after time this is not being provided within our state forests. Our money that buys a turkey hunting license is not being used as the law dictates but rather as a slush fund.

The bill as introduced was nothing more than just good wildlife management. The problem arose when the leaders of the Michigan Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation put the hatchet to it, apparently through ignorance or self interest. The national organization, its chapters or members were not responsible.

Many of the news media’s reports on Senate Bill 412 were biased. One that caught our eye was an article by Tom Pink who writes for the Michigan Outdoor News. He called our bill a “Real Turkey” and how it was that the Michigan legislature had better things to do than waste their time on such a bill, etc. etc. The publication has a great deal of readers, many who take his word as gospel. Before making derogatory comments, all that he had to do was to pick up the telephone and find out the facts. Too many of the out-of-doors reporters belong to the Outdoor Writers Parrot Society, reporting on press releases as fact without looking any further.