November 2025 NRC Recap

Commissioners unveiled their new coyote management season, in Wildlife Conservation Order #10 of 2025 at today’s Natural Resources Commission meeting. 

The order fulfills the commission’s promise to Michigan hunters, allowing for year-round lethal control of coyotes on both public and private land.  

If adopted the new management season runs from March 2-October 14 (the normal hunting and trapping season running from October 15-March 1) annually while “Allowing for the lethal take of coyotes to address interspecies conflict and overabundance on private and public lands.” This order is eligible for action in January as commissioners pursue further clarifying language. 

The commission also adopted spring turkey regulation changes, combining a number of lower peninsula units into one larger unit, and combining the first and second spring hunting seasons.  

Underwater spearfishing will be expanded to most of the Great Lakes after the commission adopted an amendment to greatly expand the areas these anglers can fish. This change was supported by and consistent with MUCC policy. 

There was an amendment proposed to Fisheries Order 206.26 to eliminate catch and immediate release (CIR) bass angling on a group of lakes in Northern Michigan, with a sunset in 2031. The amendment was withdrawn after commissioner discussion. A second amendment from Commissioner Fewins was proposed to remove walleye slot limits from most lakes in the order, which was adopted 4-2. A third amendment was proposed by Commissioner Walters, to remove the remaining lakes slot limits, which failed due to lack of a second. A fourth amendment addressed an error in the order; it was adopted. The order passed, with the pair of amendments.  

Lastly, commissioners adopted an order to change lake trout limits at Stannard Rock and Big Reef. 

The next NRC meeting is Thursday, December 11, in Lansing.