By STEVE CARMODY
After spending months collecting signatures, hunting groups plan to deliver their petitions to the Secretary of State’s office tomorrow.
The petition is aimed at cementing a wolf hunt in Michigan law.
In November, voters will decide two ballot questions challenging state laws allowing the state to authorize a wolf hunt. Last year, nearly two dozen wolves were shot and killed by hunters in the Upper Peninsula during a state sanctioned wolf hunt.
Wolf hunt opponents say the hunt is unnecessary for a species just recently removed from the endangered list.
But hunting groups disagree.
Their petition would create the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The act gives the legislature and Natural Resources Commission the authority to name ‘game’ species. The commission would have sole authority to set a hunting season. The act also calls for specific funding, which would mean anti-wolf hunt groups couldn’t challenge it with a ballot question.
If there are enough signatures on the hunters’ petition, the legislature could vote to approve it without the need of a vote of the people.
The same legislative maneuver was used last year for a new state law about insurance for abortions.