Lansing — A portion of a Michigan Senate bill that would significantly limit the places where individuals with concealed pistol licenses can carry their weapons won’t advance in the state Legislature, a spokeswoman for Senate Democrats said Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Michigan Senate’s Civil Rights, Judiciary and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider a two-bill package that would alter state law to generally prohibit guns at the Michigan State Capitol, the Anderson House Office Building and the Binsfeld Senate Office Building in Lansing.

One of the bills also featured a proposed change in law that would have barred those licensed to carry concealed weapons from having their firearms inside churches, sports arenas, hospitals and businesses licensed through the state’s liquor control code.

The organization Great Lakes Gun Rights posted on social media that the proposal, as originally written, would have made it illegal for concealed pistol license holders to carry in “thousands of places where they can carry under current law.”

“This isn’t about gun safety,” Great Lakes Gun Rights wrote on the website X. “This isn’t about going after criminals. This is about making self-defense virtually illegal in Michigan.”

But Rosie Jones, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, said the intent of the bills was to simply focus on the Capitol and House and Senate office buildings in downtown Lansing.

“There will be changes made to the bill to make that clear,” Jones said in a statement.

In 2023, the Michigan Capitol Commission voted to generally ban weapons inside the state Capitol. And the entrance to the building now features a weapon detection system manned by Michigan State Police troopers.

Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, has previously called for putting the commission’s policy into state law, noting that thousands of students visit the Capitol for field trips each year.

“We’re not doing this again,” Polehanki wrote on social media in April, referring to a picture of armed protesters in the gallery of the Senate in 2020.

Polehanki sponsored one of the two bills that will go before the Senate committee on Thursday. Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-West Bloomfield, sponsored the other, which featured the broader change on where those with concealed pistol licenses could carry weapons.

On Wednesday, Polehanki said there was a drafting error in Bayer’s bill that is being fixed.

However, Tom Lambert, legislative director for the organization Michigan Open Carry, said he believes the language that Senate Democrats say they’ll change was intentional.

“This should have jumped out at them immediately,” Lambert said.

The bills were first introduced in May.

Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, said the bills were a “last ditch effort by lame duck Democrats to essentially ban concealed carry across the state.”

“It’s despicable, and Senate Republicans will fight it every step of the way,” Nesbitt said.

In the Nov. 5 election, Republicans won control of the state House, giving Michigan Democrats until the end of the year to use their majorities to pass measures the GOP might oppose.

The Anderson House Office Building currently has a screening system in its lobby and an internal policy that bans employees of the House from being able to carry firearms on House property. The Binsfeld Senate Office Building currently has no similar screening system in its lobby.

Under the bills, a lawmaker with a concealed pistol license would still be able to carry a weapon in the buildings.

cmauger@detroitnews.com

This story has been updated to correct the time you may hunt.

LANSING — Michigan firearm deer hunters will take to the field Friday morning in the hope of bagging a trophy buck, or enough venison to fill their freezer this winter.

Firearm season is the fifth period this fall during which hunters may take deer. An additional five seasons will take place into 2025 allowing hunters to take antlerless deer or use such things as muzzleloaders.

Officials are hoping hunters choose to take more does this year as the state’s deer population swells. There may be as many as 2 million deer in the state.

When does firearm deer season open in Michigan?

Firearm deer season opens Nov. 15 and ends Nov. 30, although additional hunting opportunities continue into 2025, the state said in its deer hunting rules and regulations guide.

What hours are legal to hunt in Michigan?

Generally, you may hunt from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.  The exact times depend upon time zones designated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. On Nov. 15, the earliest time is 6:54 a.m. in eastern Michigan. The furthest western portion of Michigan opens 18 minutes later.

The opening time moves about 1 minute later each day, the DNR schedule says.

Where can I use a rifle to hunt in Michigan?

Southern Lower Peninsula hunters are only allowed shotguns, certain firearms and handguns.

The dividing line between the northern zone and the southern limited firearms deer zone starts at Lake Michigan and generally runs along M-46 and M-57 across the state, ending at Saginaw Bay near Kawkawlin. The exact line is available in the state’s deer hunting regulations.

How far from buildings should I hunt?

Firearm hunters are required to stay 150 yards or 450 from buildings.

2 million deer: Michigan urges hunters to shoot more does as deer population swells

What are the Michigan hunting seasons?

• The Liberty hunt on Sept. 14-15, is for those 16 or younger or individuals with disabilities.
• Early anterless firearm season, Sept. 21-22, and late season, Dec. 16-Jan. 1, allows hunters to take an anterless deer with a single license in the Lower Peninsula.
• Archery season is Oct. 1 to Nov. 14.
• The Independence hunt is Oct. 17-20 and is open to those with disabilities.
• Muzzleloader season is Dec. 6-15.
• Urban archery season is Jan. 2-31, 2025. It takes place in Huron, Kent, Lapeer, Macomb Okaland, Sanilac, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw and Wayne counties to manage “ongoing human-deer conflicts.”
• The extended late anterless firearm season is Jan. 2-12, 2025. It takes place in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Mecosta, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Shiawassee, St. Clair (excluding DMU 174), Washtenaw and Wayne counties.

Are there rules about what deer I can shoot?

Yes, licenses restrict the type of deer you can take. Some licenses allow hunters to take antlerless deer or bucks with antlers as short as 3 inches. In other areas, hunters may be required to take an anterless animal or one with antlers longer than 4 inches.

Rules also forbid shooting animals swimming or in water.

Can I harvest albino and piebald deer?

Yes, albino and piebald deer can be taken following all deer hunting regulations.

How much is a deer hunting license?

License fees vary greatly, depending upon the hunter’s age, how many deer they hope to take, and whether they live in Michigan. Adult non-residents can pay as much as $190 for deer or $266 to hunt deer and fish.

Single deer licenses for those 17 to 64 are $20 or $76 if you also want to fish. Senior citizens are $8 or $43. Various other fees also may apply to licenses.

Do I need a license to hunt?

Yes. In addition, if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1960, you must present your hunter safetycertificate or previous hunting license (other than an apprentice license) to purchasea license.

Individuals who are qualified to hunt under the Mentored Hunting Program are exempt from the hunter safety requirement. A valid hunter education safety certificate from another state meets the requirement.

Youth 10 to 16 years old, and who are hunter safety-certified, must be accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older to hunt, unless they are hunting on land their parent or guardian lives on and they don’t have an apprentice license.

Where can I find hunting lands near me?

Generally, you can hunt on land you own if it meets safety regulations. You also can hunt on other private land, with permission. You can find places to hunt by visiting Michigan.gov/MiHunt.

Some state parks allow hunting, but national wildlife refuges are closed to hunting unless expressly permitted.