Title 324, NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Sec. 43507. (1) "Senior citizen" means a resident 65 years of age or older. (2) "Slingshot" means a Y-shaped device with an elastic strip attached between the prongs used for projecting a stone or other object. (3) "Small game" includes all species of protected game birds and gam…

Sec. 43508. (1) "Take" means fishing, hunting, trapping, catching, capturing, killing, or the attempt to engage in such an activity. (2) "Trap" and "trapping" mean the taking of wild animals by means of a trap. (3) "Waterfowl" means ducks, geese, gallinules, and mergansers. (4) "…

Sec. 43509. (1) A person 17 years of age or older shall not take aquatic species, except aquatic insects, in or upon any waters over which this state has jurisdiction or in or upon any lands within the state, or possess aquatic species, except aquatic insects, without having in h…

Sec. 43510. (1) Subject to subsection (2), except as provided in section 43513, and except for an individual hunting on a game bird hunting preserve licensed under part 417, an individual shall not carry or transport a firearm, slingshot, bow and arrow, crossbow, or a trap while …

Sec. 43511. (1) Subject to subsection (2), and except as provided in section 43513, during the open season for the taking of deer or elk with a firearm, a person shall not transport or possess a shotgun with buckshot, slug load, ball load, or cut shell or a rifle other than a .22…

Sec. 43513. (1) An individual may carry, transport, or possess a firearm without a hunting license if the firearm is unloaded and either enclosed in a case or carried in a vehicle in a location that is not readily accessible to any occupant of the vehicle. An individual may carry…

Sec. 43514. (1) Until March 1, 2014, a resident, the resident's spouse, and the resident's children may hunt small game without a license upon the enclosed farmlands upon which they are regularly domiciled, at a time and in a manner permitted by law; except that they shall obtain…

Sec. 43515. The department may issue a permit authorizing a developmentally disabled individual or a resident of a home for the aged licensed under article 17 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.20101 to 333.22260, to fish without a license if the developmentally disa…

Sec. 43516. (1) Until March 1, 2018, an individual who has been issued a hunting, fur harvester's, or fishing license shall carry the license and shall exhibit the license upon the demand of a conservation officer, a law enforcement officer, a tribal conservation officer who comp…

Sec. 43517. (1) A parent or guardian of a minor child or a guardian of an adult who has a developmental disability shall not permit or allow the minor child or adult who has a developmental disability to hunt game under the authority of a license issued under this part except und…

Sec. 43518. (1) As used in this section to section 43544, "department" includes a person designated by the department to issue and sell licenses. (2) A license issued under this part is not valid unless it is signed as required by the department.

Sec. 43519. (1) To obtain any license, an applicant shall provide the department with 1 or more of the following as required by the department: (a) Proof of residency or a signed affidavit of Michigan residency. (b) Information required on the license application. (c) The require…

Sec. 43520. (1) Subject to other requirements of this part, the department may issue a hunting license to an adult who has a developmental disability, has a guardian appointed under chapter 6 of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1600 to 330.1644, and is unable to obtai…

Sec. 43521. Notwithstanding any other section of this part, the department may discount the price of a license for the following purposes: (a) For marketing purposes to increase participation in hunting and fishing activities. (b) The price of any license or application fee may b…

Sec. 43522. If a person applying for a license or permit under this part does not possess a Michigan driver license or other identification, the department shall issue a sportcard. A person authorized by the department to issue licenses shall charge a $1.00 fee for each sportcard…

Sec. 43523a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, an individual shall not hunt small game, unless the individual possesses a current base license. A base license authorizes the individual named in the license to hunt for small game, except for animals or birds that requ…

Sec. 43523b. (1) Beginning March 1, 2014, the fee for a resident combination hunt and fish license is $75.00 and shall include all of the privileges conferred by all of the following: (a) Resident base license. (b) Two deer licenses. (c) All-species fishing license. (2) Beginning…

Sec. 43524. (1) An individual shall not hunt wild turkey without a wild turkey hunting license. The fee for a resident wild turkey hunting license is $15.00. The fee for a nonresident wild turkey hunting license is $69.00. Subject to the requirements of section 40113a, the commis…

Sec. 43525b. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, an individual 16 years of age or older shall not hunt waterfowl without a current waterfowl hunting license issued by this state. The annual license requirement is in addition to the requirements for a base license and f…

Sec. 43525c. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an individual 18 years of age or older shall not hunt pheasants without a current annual pheasant hunting license issued by this state. The annual pheasant hunting license requirement is in addition to the requirement…

Sec. 43526b. The department may develop an electronic license that allows an individual to display an electronic copy of his or her kill tag under section 43524, 43527a, 43528, 43528a, 43528b, or 43529 using an electronic device.

Sec. 43527a. (1) Beginning March 1, 2014, only an individual holding a valid base license is eligible to purchase a deer license or an antlerless deer license, pursuant to current regulations. The fee for a deer license or an antlerless deer license is $20.00. (2) Beginning March…

Sec. 43527b. The department may issue deer management assistance permits pursuant to current regulations.

Sec. 43528. (1) An individual shall not hunt bear unless the individual possesses a bear hunting license. However, an individual who goes on a bear hunt with a licensed hunter is not required to possess a bear hunting license if the individual does not carry a firearm, bow, or cr…

Sec. 43528a. (1) A resident shall not hunt moose without a moose hunting license. Beginning March 1, 2014, only a resident holding a valid base license is eligible to purchase a moose hunting license, pursuant to current regulations. The fee for a moose hunting license is $100.00…

Sec. 43528b. (1) An individual shall not hunt wolf without a wolf hunting license. Beginning March 1, 2014, only an individual holding a valid base license is eligible to purchase a wolf hunting license. The fee for a resident wolf hunting license is $100.00. The fee for a nonres…

Sec. 43528c. (1) Beginning March 1, 2024, an individual shall not act as a commercial hunting guide in this state unless that individual possesses both of the following: (a) A valid license issued under subsection (2). (b) A valid base license issued under section 43523a. (2) To …

Sec. 43528d. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the department shall charge a resident applying for a commercial hunting guide license under section 43528c an application fee of $150.00. The department shall charge a nonresident applying for a commercial hunting guide …

Sec. 43529. (1) A resident shall not hunt elk during the elk season without an elk hunting license. Beginning March 1, 2014, only a resident holding a valid base license is eligible to purchase an elk hunting license, pursuant to current regulations. The fee for an elk hunting li…

Sec. 43531. (1) Except as otherwise provided in section 43523(2) or section 43523a(2), an individual shall not trap or hunt fur-bearing animals unless the individual possesses a fur harvester's license. However, an individual who goes on a bobcat hunt with a licensed hunter is no…

Sec. 43531b. Pursuant to current regulations, the department may issue free tags for survey purposes or for the enforcement of harvest limits.

Sec. 43532. (1) An all-species fishing license entitles the licensee to take and possess all aquatic species as prescribed by law. (2) An individual 17 years of age or older shall not take or possess an aquatic species, except aquatic insects, in the waters over which this state …

Sec. 43532a. (1) The department shall charge an additional $1.00 for each of the following licenses: (a) A base license issued under sections 43523a(3) and 43535(2). (b) A combination hunt and fish license issued under section 43523b. (c) Except for those licenses purchased by in…

Sec. 43532b. (1) The Michigan wildlife management public education subaccount is created within the game and fish protection account. (2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the subaccount. The state treasurer shall direct the in…

Sec. 43533. (1) A resident or nonresident may purchase a 24-hour fishing license entitling that individual to take, for a designated 24-hour period, and possess all aquatic species as prescribed by law. The fee for a 24-hour fishing license is $10.00 per designated consecutive 24…

Sec. 43534. (1) The department shall designate a Saturday and the following Sunday during January or February of each year as free winter fishing days. In addition, the department may designate 1 other day or 2 other consecutive days each year as free fishing days. (2) During fre…

Sec. 43535. (1) Until March 1, 2014, a resident of this state who is 65 years of age or older may obtain a senior small game license, a senior firearm deer license, a senior bow and arrow deer license, a senior bear hunting license, a senior wild turkey hunting license, or a seni…

Sec. 43536. (1) A resident of this state who is 65 years of age or older may obtain a senior all-species fishing license. The fee for a senior all-species fishing license is discounted 60% from the fee for a resident all-species fishing license. (2) Not later than March 1, 2018, …

Sec. 43536a. (1) Beginning March 1, 2014, an active member of the military may obtain any license under this part for which a lottery is not required at no cost upon presentation to a licensing agent of leave papers, duty papers, military orders, or other evidence acceptable to t…

Sec. 43537. (1) Until March 1, 2014, a resident who is declared legally blind is eligible to purchase a senior restricted or senior all-species fishing license. Beginning March 1, 2014, a resident who is declared legally blind is eligible to purchase a senior all-species fishing …

Sec. 43538. The department may permit a person licensed under the fishing laws of an adjacent state to fish in the inland lakes and rivers or portions of rivers of this state that constitute a part of the border of this state, if the adjacent state grants similar privileges to a …

Sec. 43539. The department may require each licensed hunter, trapper, and angler to make a report to the department of the number, kinds, and location of game animals, game birds, fur-bearing animals, and fish taken during the respective open season by the licensee. The departmen…

Sec. 43540. (1) An application for 1 or more licenses issued under this part may be made by mail, on-line computer service, or telephone to the department, or to a person designated by the department, who shall forward the license issued to the applicant to an address as directed…

Sec. 43540a. (1) Subject to subsection (4), by January 1, 2007, the department shall implement a program to distribute wild game to people in need. The program shall be known as the sportsmen against hunger program. (2) Under the program, the department shall do all of the follow…

Sec. 43540c. (1) Subject to subsection (2), when a person applies for a license under this part, the department or the department's agent shall ask whether the person would like to donate $1.00 to the sportsmen against hunger program created by the department under section 43540a…

Sec. 43540e. (1) The wolf management advisory council is created within the department. (2) The council shall consist of at least the following members: (a) The director of the department or his or her designee. (b) One member representing an organization that promotes conservati…