LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan’s pheasant hunting season is getting a boost.

State Rep. Jaime Greene (R-Richmond) celebrated the passage of House Bill 4401, a pheasant hunting extension bill, being ceremoniously signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this week.

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The bill went into effect in December. It removed the sunset provision on pheasant hunting in Michigan. That ensures the continuation of pheasant hunting opportunities and provides long-term certainty for Michigan’s hunters.

“This was a win for both pheasant hunters and common-sense conservation,” said Rep. Greene. “Pheasant hunting is a popular sport for hunters, and it encourages people across our state to appreciate Michigan’s natural resources and beauty.”

Pheasant hunting is deeply rooted in Michigan’s history. According to Wood-N-Water News, the first round of pheasants released in Michigan occurred in 1917. Eight years later in 1925, the first official Michigan hunting season got underway.  According to the article, “It became so popular that small-game hunters far outnumbered deer.”