A resolution calling on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to temporarily extend the 2025 open firearm hunting season and set the dates to be November 1, 2025, to November 30, 2025.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Brixie and 5 co-sponsors

The bill requests the MNRC to extend Michigan’s 2025 firearm deer season to November 1–30 to boost venison processing for food banks during a SNAP pause.

referred to Committee on Government Operations

Purpose and intent

H. Res. 202 is a non‑binding House resolution calling on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (MNRC) to temporarily set Michigan’s 2025 open firearm (deer) hunting season to November 1–30, 2025. The stated intent is to give processors participating in the Hunters Feeding Michigan program additional time to process donated venison so it can be frozen and distributed to food banks, helping mitigate the effects of a planned pause in SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) beginning November 1, 2025.

Key provisions

Formally requests the Michigan Natural Resources Commission to temporarily extend/set the 2025 open firearm hunting season to November 1, 2025 through November 30, 2025.

Directs that copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and members of the MNRC.

Explains rationale: Hunters Feeding Michigan (privately funded) enables donated deer to be processed into roughly 160 meals per deer; an earlier season would increase processing time and cold‑storage availability during a potential SNAP pause.

Who/what would be affected

Hunters: potential change in season timing, requiring altered planning and compliance.

Processors and participating Hunters Feeding Michigan partners: increased opportunity to receive and process donations earlier in November; may require adjusted staffing or hours.

Food banks and low‑income residents: potentially increased venison supplies to offset disruption in SNAP benefits. The resolution cites roughly 1.4 million Michiganders receiving SNAP (including ~492,225 children and ~38,513 veterans).

Michigan Natural Resources Commission: the body being asked to take the actual regulatory action; the resolution itself does not directly change law or season dates.

Legal/effectual nature and process

This is a resolution — an expression of the House’s position and request — not statutory law. Implementation requires action by the MNRC (which has authority to set hunting seasons).

Status (as provided): introduced January 3, 2025 and referred to committee; sponsors include Reps. Claudia Tenney (primary), Matt Reeves, Gary Richardson, Steven Sainz, Clint Crowe, Kimberly New, and Dixon McMakin. A companion Senate bill is listed as S 353.

Note: the legislative record materials provided include text from other, unrelated state resolutions and contain some inconsistent procedural entries. Consult the official Michigan DNR and MNRC notices or the House clerk for current, authoritative status and any formal MNRC rule changes.

Potential impacts and considerations

Public‑health/food‑security: could increase donated food available to food banks during a SNAP pause.

Wildlife management and safety: any change in season timing may have implications for deer population management, hunter safety, and enforcement; those are typically examined by MNRC staff before changing dates.

Logistical: processors and volunteers would need to prepare for higher throughput and cold storage handling earlier in the month.

For authoritative updates, check the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MNRC meeting agendas, and the House clerk’s official docket.

Bill