It’s February and that means it’s time for MUCC’s annual convention. Every year, Michigan United Conservation Club members from all over the state gather in a different location to determine the future direction of MUCC. This year’s convention is in (yawn) Novi. Unusual for this year is that the convention will occur simultaneously with and at the same location as Outdoorama. I urge you to come to Outdoorama at the Suburban Collection Showplace, February 19-22, 2026. Stop by the MUCC booth – I’ll be staffing the booth at least once during
the weekend.

A key component of the MUCC convention is the list of resolutions that result from intense debate amongst club members and a vote. As a resolution is debated on the convention floor, members can step up to the microphone and voice their support of (or opposition to) any proposed resolution. Once voting is complete, the collection of adopted resolutions forms the basis of MUCC efforts over the next year. Based on the size of OCSC, we are allotted 8 votes. I carry four (the max allowed by one person) and fellow club member Carl Bidinger will attend and carry the other four. He and I have been discussing the resolutions, but we need to hear from you. I intend to discuss the resolutions at our next General Membership meeting. Please be ready with informed questions and let’s have some smart debate!

Here are the titles of the seven proposed resolutions (in bold) and my explanatory comment (in italics).

1. Request DNR to form Panfish Committee and/or specific management plan – There are specific management
plans for many species of game fish, but not for panfish.
2. Support of hunting bobcats at night with calling methods – This would allow hunting bobcats at night, similar to other night time predator hunting opportunities.
3. Bear Trapping – Allow the trapping of black bears with foothold cable restraints and/or cage type live traps.
4. Resolution to direct MUCC staff to lobby against the defunding of the United States Geological Survey Bird
Banding Laboratory – This is considered necessary to prevent the planned defunding of this program.
5. Balance Bear Numbers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – Increase the number of tags available for bear hunts
with a target bear population of 9000.
6. Deer Management Flexibility Across Michigan – allow for different rules, regulations, and seasons in different parts of the state based on differing objectives in those areas.
7. Use of Crossbows – Disallow the use of crossbows during October (and other restrictions) in order to reduce the take of bucks with crossbows.

A .pdf with the full text of the resolutions can be found (near the bottom of the page labeled MUCC Resolutions for 2026 Convention) here: https://www.mucc.org/mucc-annual-convention

Dave Budnick
OCSC rep to MUCC
(248) 978-3454
davebudnick@comcast.net
davebudnick.com