North Macomb Sportsman’s Club
MUCC Update
April 10, 2025
Thanks to Don Brown for putting together the MUCC Update for April 2025
On March 12, Michigan United Conservation Clubs unveiled its 2025-2026 Legislative Priorities in front of the Michigan House of Representatives Natural Resources and Tourism committee.
After a successful 2023-2024 legislative session the top priorities for MUCC include hunters safety in schools, a modernization of commercial fishing, and the organizational cornerstone protecting Proposal G.
The full recording of the committee hearing can be found HERE.
To view MUCC’s legislative priorities in their entirety click HERE.
2025 fishing season opened Tuesday, April 1st
New regulations take effect for 2025
Heading out to fish? New sportfishing regulations for Michigan’s 2025 fishing season begin Tuesday, April 1, and are in effect through March 31, 2026. Changes this season include modifications to steelhead and muskie size limits and gear restrictions on some waters. Highlights include:
Inland stream rainbow trout (steelhead) possession limit
Steelhead regulations on several Type 3 and Type 4 streams have been slightly modified from last year. Some streams no longer have a 20-inch minimum size limit on steelhead (the daily possession limit of which is one). See Pages 42-65 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations for more specific information.
New single-pointed hook restriction and spearing prohibition waters
The ports of Grand Haven, Muskegon and Whitehall/Montague have new single-pointed hook regulations Nov. 1-30, and spearing or possessing spearing gear is now prohibited in these waters Nov. 1-30. For more information, see Pages 16-17 and 30-31 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Muskellunge size limit regulation
In Thornapple Lake (Barry and Eaton counties) and Lake Hudson (Lenawee County), new 50-inch minimum size limit regulations for muskellunge are in effect. These lakes are important sources of Great Lakes-strain muskellunge, from which the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is developing a population of mature adults for future stocking needs. Find more information on Page 13 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations.
Several other inland waters have undergone minor regulation changes focused on northern pike, bass and trout. Before you hit the water, make sure to review the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations thoroughly to learn any new laws that apply to your favorite fishing spots.
Don’t have your 2025 fishing license yet? Buy your fishing license online or through the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish app and visit Michigan.gov/Fishing for helpful resources including fishing location maps, fish ID information, the weekly fishing report and more.
MUCC Supports House Bill 4212 – Modernizing Commercial Fishing
This bill sets parameters around commercial fishing such as licensing fees, gear used, and allowable species for harvest, and will protect our game fish such as lake trout, walleye, and yellow perch from commercial harvest and bycatch. House Bill 4212 makes a change to commercial fishing that has not taken place in over 50 years. These protections are long past due.”
B 4212 starkly contrasts with HB 5108 of 2023, introduced by Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) in October 2023. HB 5108 would have set minimum quotas for gamefish to be caught by state-licensed commercial anglers, commercializing a resource held in the public trust.
MUCC opposed HB 5108 and started a call to action resulting in 85,000 emails being sent to legislative offices in opposition to the commercialization of Michigan’s game fish, ultimately killing the legislation. A rehash of HB 5108 is expected this session.
Saturday, April 19, 2025 – Clinton River Cleanup
Join On the Ground on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 9 AM to 1 PM as we help clean up the Clinton River! We will be partnering with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council to improve the quality of fish and wildlife habitat by removing trash and other debris from the Clinton River and surrounding areas. This project will help create a cleaner and safer environment by reducing the risk of water pollution and preventing ingestion of trash by fish and other wildlife.
Volunteers will meet at Yates Park located in Rochester Hills, MI (1990 E Avon Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48307). All necessary equipment will be provided including waders, trash bags, and trash grabbers. Volunteers are encouraged to wear waterproof or rubber boots and long pants. This project will take place rain or shine except in the case of severe weather so please dress accordingly. Be prepared to work outside for a minimum of three hours. MUCC will provide lunch and a free appreciation gift to all registered volunteers. Registration closes on April 18 at 2 PM, so get your registration in by then! To register, click HERE.
__________________________________________________________
Spring Turkey seasons starts: Apr. 20 – Jun. 7th
See hunt units and applicable season dates in the Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Summaries
________________________________________________________________________
Key Deer Hunting Rules Changes
The DNR and the state’s Natural Resources Commission are trying to encourage hunters to shoot more does with a few key changes to deer hunting restrictions this year. Broadly, the modifications allow more people to use traditional firearms for longer periods of time and to hunt in more areas than in years past.
- There was already a late firearm season from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1, where hunters are only allowed to take antlerless deer. But now, people can hunt on both public and private land during this time period; previously it was limited to private land.
- In a big change, that season continues for hunters in large swatches of 40 counties from Jan. 2 through Jan. 12, 2025. The counties stretch from Wayne and Washtenaw in southeast Michigan all the way to Muskegon and Montcalm counties in midwest Michigan. See a full list of participating counties on the DNR website.
- Every year, there’s a period in December where hunters can use muzzleloading rifles (think old-school, Revolutionary War-style long guns where an individual ball is loaded in the barrel). But this year, hunters going out in this season through much of the northern Lower Peninsula may use any legal firearm.
- Archery season is extended through the end of January for hunters in Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Macomb and several other neighboring counties.
- There are additional changes for the Upper Peninsula, also available on the DNR website.
9 Deer Hunts Available:
- Liberty hunt: Sept. 14 – 15, 2024
- Early antlerless firearm: Sept. 21 – 22, 2024
- Independence hunt: Oct. 17 – 20, 2024
- Archery: Oct. 1 – Nov. 14 and Dec. 1, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025
- Extended archery season is extended through Jan. 31, 2025, for select counties: Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, Sanilac, St. Clair (except DMU 174), Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne.
- Regular firearm: Nov. 15 – 30, 2024
- Muzzleloading (Zones 1, 2 and 3): Dec. 6 – 15, 2024
- Late antlerless firearm: Dec. 16, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025 on private and public lands in Lower Peninsula DMUs (excluding 115, 145 and 245).
- A new extended late antlerless firearm season: Jan. 2-12, 2025, in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), Shiawassee, Wayne and Washtenaw counties; DMU 311 (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties); DMU 312 (Branch, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties); and DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties).
- A discounted antlerless license for this extended season will be available for $5 per license (in December).
- Unused tags (DMAP, Combos, Deer, Universal Antlerless) are eligible to be used.
- Season bag limit is 10 deer.