LANSING, MI — Rock legend, hunter, and proud Michigander Ted Nugent is turning up the volume—this time not with a guitar, but with a call for reform in Michigan’s wildlife management policies.
In a fiery op-ed published this week, Nugent blasted state bureaucrats for abandoning proven conservation practices and urged the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to return to science-based, common-sense hunting and wildlife management.
“Wild game and wildlife are thriving across North America as a direct result of this proven conservation model,” Nugent wrote. “Out-of-touch, even corrupt bureaucrats…are a very dangerous scourge that good, caring people must be ever vigilant of and willing to push back and stop at all costs.”
Mismanagement in the Crosshairs
Nugent’s criticism focused heavily on the DNR and the Michigan Natural Resource Commission, accusing both of ignoring science and pushing ideologically driven policies. Among the specific grievances: restrictions on deer baiting, lack of hunting seasons for Sandhill cranes and mourning doves, insufficient bear harvest tags, and inadequate deer population control.
“The evidence is irrefutable that the science-abandoned mismanagement by the bureaucrats has put the whitetail deer in the liability column instead of the asset column,” Nugent wrote, pointing to overpopulation and vehicle collisions as glaring signs of failure.
He also blasted policies that ban hunting over bait—despite evidence that Chronic Wasting Disease cannot be transmitted to humans—and restrictions that force the USDA to cull deer populations instead of allowing hunters to do the job.
Simple Solutions, Big Impact
Nugent outlined a series of proposals he says would not only restore balance to Michigan’s ecosystems but also stimulate local economies.
His suggestions include:
- Expanding deer archery season statewide from Sept. 1 to March 1 with no tag requirements in overpopulated areas.
- Legalizing Sandhill crane and mourning dove hunting to reduce crop damage and generate license revenue.
- Doubling black bear tag allotments and introducing a spring bear hunt.
- Repealing the state’s ban on baiting deer.
He emphasized that Michigan already has more mourning doves and Sandhill cranes than many states that allow hunting them, calling the bans “dishonest” and “unforgivable.”
“The great hunting families of Michigan will buy licenses, calls, decoys, gas, food, lodging, groceries, supplies, sporting goods, beer, ice, hire guides, and hit restaurants and bars,” Nugent argued, framing the issue as both ecological and economic.
Nugent’s Capitol Visit Sparks Gun Debate
Nugent’s campaign for change included in-person testimony before a joint session of Michigan House committees on June 25. But headlines weren’t just about his conservation message—Nugent also entered the Michigan Capitol while armed, setting off renewed debate over Capitol carry rules.
The Capitol’s weapons detection system flagged Nugent’s firearm after he had already passed security. Michigan State Police said Nugent “complied immediately” once informed of the Capitol’s gun ban. The type of firearm was not disclosed.
Under current Michigan Capitol Commission rules, the “only ones” are restricted to lawmakers, law enforcement, and a few designated state employees who are permitted to carry firearms in the building. The incident has reignited calls to allow licensed citizens with concealed pistol licenses to carry inside the Capitol.
A Broader Fight for Constitutional Rights
While the focus of his op-ed was conservation policy, Nugent didn’t shy away from referencing Second Amendment rights.
“Yep, I was actually keeping and bearing arms in Lansing during my testimony,” Nugent wrote. “We can discuss the U.S. Constitution violating illegal infringements another time.”
He also praised recent reforms in Pennsylvania, where Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro repealed the state’s Sunday hunting ban following similar outreach from Nugent. He hopes Michigan’s leadership, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, will follow suit—but says he’s “still trying to have that conversation.”
Call to Action
Nugent ended with a rallying cry to Michigan hunters and conservationists:
“Come on, Michigan conservation families. Join me in demanding the bureaucrats to do their job… For the future of healthy wildlife and biodiversity in the great state of Michigan for our children and grandchildren, we must.”
Ted Nugent’s op-ed, while controversial to some, has struck a chord with many hunters and conservationists who feel sidelined by state regulators. Whether Michigan’s leaders will heed the call remains to be seen—but Nugent has made it clear he’s not backing down.
PA House Votes to Fully Repeal Sunday Hunting Ban—Senate Up Next
Every time I hear the term “common sense,” my mind automatically asks, “What rights are they trying to take away, now?”
It should be clear, by now, that when some leftist pushes for “common sense” control of anything, the ultimate goal is to limit or destroy your rights.
We have the exact same problem here in Washington State, exactly! Our former lousy three term communist governor Jay Inslee, filled the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife with hippies, hipsters and partisan anti-hunting zealots who’ve never hunted, fished or actually stepped foot into the outdoors. They’re only experience with the outdoors is looking across the Puget Sound into the Olympic Mountain Range from the balcony of their 30 story condo with their telescopes. Just like Michigan we’re experiencing the same mismanagement woes. Our Bear and Deer population are out of control and the Elk Hoof disease is decimating our… Read more »
My homeboy speaks the ironclad truth.
I guess Nuge has a thing against Sandhill cranes and wants to be able to blow them away for some reason. I can’t see the point of dove hunting, either, (except to shut the li’l bastards up!). Shoot animals for food or manage livestock & crop pests, destroy diseased animals, or get rid of structure-damagers (damn porcupines!) – yes. Shoot tweety-birds for target practice – no.