HOUSE BILL No. 4897

 

 

May 6, 2009, Introduced by Rep. Sheltrown and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources.

 

     A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

 

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

 

by amending section 40116 (MCL 324.40116), as amended by 2004 PA

 

325.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 40116. (1) A person shall not take game during the

 

established daylight shooting hours from August 15 through April 30

 

unless the person wears a cap, hat, vest, jacket, or rain gear of

 

the highly visible color commonly referred to as hunter orange.

 

Hunter orange includes blaze orange, flame orange, or fluorescent

 

blaze orange, and camouflage that is not less than 50% hunter

 

orange. The garments that are hunter orange shall be the hunter's

 

outermost garment and shall be visible from all sides of the

 

hunter.


 

     (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person engaged in the

 

taking of deer with a bow or crossbow during archery deer season, a

 

person taking bear with a bow or crossbow, or a person engaged in

 

the taking of turkey or migratory birds other than woodcock, a

 

person engaged in the sport of falconry, or a person who is

 

stationary and in the act of hunting bobcat, coyote, or fox.

 

     (3) A person shall not use a blind to take deer with a firearm

 

unless 144 square inches of hunter orange is visible on the

 

exterior surface of the blind from all sides.

 

     (4) (3) The failure of a person to comply with this section is

 

not evidence of contributory negligence in a civil action for

 

injury to the person or for the person's wrongful death.

 

     (5) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Blind" means an enclosure used to help conceal or

 

disguise the occupant for the purposes of taking game.

 

     (b) "Hunter orange" means the highly visible color commonly

 

referred to as hunter orange and includes blaze orange, flame

 

orange, and fluorescent blaze orange.