The Natural Resources Commission will consider changes proposed by a special subcommittee exploring expanding the opportunities for hunting with crossbows.

The changes were proposed by Commissioner John Madigan of Munising, chair of the NRC Policy Committee on Wildlife and Fisheries, who held regular discussions with hunters and other interested parties at NRC meetings for the last six months. The proposed changes would allow the use of crossbows:

• during any season in which a firearm may be used, for both big game and small game,
• from Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 in southern Michigan, and/or
• by anyone 65 years of age or older during any deer season.

The NRC will begin considering the proposal at its February meeting in Lansing. The NRC may accept any, all or none of the elements and could modify them as it sees fit. A decision is expected in March.

It is already legal to use a crossbow during the firearms deer season and hunters with certain physical disabilities can apply for special crossbow permits to use crossbows during any hunting seasons.

The changes "are not written in stone," said Madigan. They should be considered a starting point, he said.

"We don't want to impact the resources in a negative manner," Madigan said. "This is a process that will move forward."

Any change that is adopted is likely to be in force for a period of time and then be evaluated for its impact on the resource and its potential to recruit or retain hunters. The Department of Natural Resources will collect and analyze data, Madigan said, after which, crossbow hunting opportunities could be further expanded or restricted, based on the findings.