Written by Victor Skinner
by Maureen Schiener
The Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) has dissolved as of June, 2026. It was founded in 1937, the same year the Pittman-Robertson Act was passed in Congress.
The article cites a statistic that animal advocates know too well: Even though the U.S. population is increasing, the number of hunters and anglers has been steadily decreasing.
To counteract the decline, hunting groups and their allies in state departments of conservation or natural resources actively promote hunting and trapping as “recreational opportunities,” as if they were gentle hobbies to be pursued. In New York State, a bill in the Assembly (A.2312) with 16 co-sponsors proposes to legalize ten-year-old children “to hunt small game, fowl, deer, or bear…without obtaining a hunting license or hunter’s education course certification, and to possess…a firearm if the person…is within arm’s reach of a qualified hunting mentor.” Ten-year-old children handling a firearm to kill an animal much larger than they are? This is how desperate the hunters are to add to their numbers.
MUCC apparently split the group apart when they lobbied for year-round coyote hunting. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission opposed it and so did some members of the coalition. Hunting coyotes is still permitted most of the year, but is not allowed during pup-rearing season to allow for more coyote hunting during open hunting seasons.
Thus ends the saga of the MUCC. Despite this group’s demise, the hunting fraternity is still alive, well-organized and financed, and still has the media and government in their corner. Animal advocates can take a page from their playbook and be as organized and focused on C.A.S.H.’s mission: to end the cruelty of sport hunting and trapping. When we band together as one, we can accomplish great things for animals.
Read the full article here: https://www.outdoornews.com/2026/05/15/michigan-united-conservation-clubs-will-call-it-quits-this-summer/
Maureen Schiener is a longtime animal advocate and active with a number of organizations, including C.A.S.H. www.abolishsporthunting.org and the League of Humane Voters, NY www.lohvny.org