Michigan House Backs Pistol Carry for Bow Hunters

(Featured picture courtesy of www.guidefitter.com)

Michigan’s Home simply handed laws that may enable bow hunters to hold a pistol for self-defense without having a CPL. Sure, you learn that accurately. In 2025, Michigan nonetheless required a hid carry license for bow hunters to have a sidearm within the woods — even when they carried it brazenly. As a result of apparently, the state legislature believed Bambi was the one factor lurking in Michigan’s forests.

Home Invoice 4855, launched by Rep. Dave Prestin (R-108th) and backed by fellow Higher Peninsula representatives Karl Bohnak (R-109th) and Greg Markkanen (R-One hundred and tenth), handed Thursday with bipartisan assist. The invoice would enable bow hunters to open-carry a firearm for private safety with out leaping by the CPL hoops.

The Present Legislation Makes Zero Sense

Let’s break down Michigan’s present logic: You possibly can legally carry a rifle or shotgun whereas bow looking. You possibly can carry a pistol brazenly… however solely when you have a CPL. Though it’s not hid. Though you’re already armed with a deadly weapon (the bow). Though you’re miles from civilization in bear and cougar nation.

It’s the form of regulatory pretzel logic that solely a state legislature might produce.

The UP lawmakers backing this invoice cited a 2010 incident the place a younger bow hunter was attacked by a black bear with three cubs. The hunter managed to fend off the assault however wanted 40 stitches in his leg. He was one of many fortunate ones — he lived to inform the story.

Black bears typically keep away from people, however a sow with cubs is a unique animal solely. Add within the occasional aggressive bear, wolves making a comeback, and the uncommon however very actual presence of cougars within the UP, and asking hunters to face Michigan’s predators with only a bow and a prayer appears much less like coverage and extra like a wildlife snuff movie ready to occur.

What’s Subsequent

The invoice now heads to the Michigan Senate for consideration. Given bipartisan assist within the Home and the laws’s common sense nature, it ought to go with out situation. However that is Michigan, the place firearms legal guidelines have traditionally made about as a lot sense as a display door on a submarine, so we’ll see.

The true query is why it took till 2025 for somebody to take a look at this regulation and say, “Wait, that is silly.” However hey, higher late than by no means in relation to not requiring hunters to decide on between authorized compliance and never changing into bear meals.

The Backside Line

In the event you’re bow looking in Michigan, you’re already in the midst of nowhere with harmful wildlife. You’ve already demonstrated the accountability and talent required to hunt with primitive weapons. The concept that you want authorities permission to hold a defensive sidearm in that scenario is official nonsense that serves no public security goal.

Hopefully, the Senate agrees, and this invoice turns into regulation earlier than subsequent looking season. Michigan’s bow hunters — and their households — deserve higher than the established order.