Written by Victor Skinner
by Maureen Schiener
Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the Largest Conservation Organization in the U.S. Calls it a Day. https://www.outdoornews.com/2026/05/15/michigan-united-conservation-clubs-will-call-it-quits-this-summer
Founded in 1937, the same year the Pittman-Robertson Act was passed in Congress, the Michigan United Conservation Clubs has dissolved as of June, 2026.
Citing financial problems due to “relying heavily on fees from member organizations and individuals”, past president Paul Rose of MUCC said “the whole model was breaking down over time” noting “support shifted over the years to local or species-specific groups.”
Also noted in the article is a stat 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 states’ departments of conservation or natural resources actively promote hunting, fishing, and trapping as “recreational opportunities” as if they were gentile 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.
Even though MUCC advocated for select environmental issues, e.g., passage of the 1976 bottle deposit law, it also courted controversy, like lobbying for a year-round coyote hunt which was rejected by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission. (Hunting coyotes is still permitted most of the year but “managed” during certain months). This was one of the conflicts the MUCC had with hunting groups leading to its’ dissolution.
Thus ends the saga of the MUCC. Despite this group’s demise, the hunting fraternity is still 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 our mission as they are to end the cruelty of sport hunting, trapping, and fishing. When we band together as one, we can accomplish great things for animals.
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