'Appalling': Michigan wildlife commissioner rips Ted Nugent's hunting testimony

Carol Thompson, The Detroit News on Jul 10, 2025

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DETROIT — One of the commissioners who oversees hunting and fishing in Michigan on Thursday criticized Ted Nugent's June appearance at the state Capitol as "appalling," saying the firebrand musician was undereducated on hunting issues and unfair to state natural resource officers.

"I was frankly insulted by Ted Nugent and his testimony for a variety of factors," Michigan Natural Resource Commissioner John Walters said during a commission meeting Thursday in Ingham County.

Walters later said he applauded Nugent's passion, if not his positions on hunting regulations.

Nugent testified at a joint meeting of three state House committees on June 25. He spoke for more than an hour, criticizing commissioners and Michigan Department of Natural Resources staffers, who he referred to as "jack-booted thugs."

Nugent also carried a concealed firearm into the state Capitol despite a weapons ban in the building. A Michigan State Police spokeswoman said a trooper manning the entrance didn't stop Nugent in time after seeing an alert on a weapons detection system.

Walters and NRC Chair Becky Humphries both said Nugent's denigration of DNR staffers was inappropriate.

"To disparage the professionals who carry out that work is really, really unfair and very unfortunate and unprofessional in my opinion," Humphries said.

Nugent, a Detroit area native, is a longstanding critic of the Michigan DNR and NRC. In June, he specifically criticized Michigan's ban on Russian boar, deer baiting and hunting wolves, sandhill crane and mourning doves.

"The government of Michigan has turned on the best families who want to be a benefit for wildlife balance," Nugent said in June.

Walters on Thursday addressed each of those issues.

Deer baiting spreads diseases such as chronic wasting disease and tuberculosis, he said. Wild hogs should continue to be banned because "they are incredibly destructive" and impossible to remove from an area once they enter, he said.

The NRC for years has debated whether sandhill crane, a formidable bird that can grow to 5 feet tall, should be a game species in Michigan.

Wolves are a federally protected species, Walters said, and Michigan voters in 2006 failed to pass a ballot initiative that would have opened a hunting season on mourning doves.

Bear hunting is allowed, but with restrictions some would describe as too stringent and others would say are too lax, Walters said.

"In my opinion, (Nugent) was insulting, not only to the commission but also to the department and I find that to be appalling, frankly," he said. "If he wants to effectuate change, he can certainly come before the commission, as can all of you. He did not do that. Instead he chose to grandstand in front of the legislature.

"I welcome his call or email. My contact information is on the NRC website."

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—Reporter Beth Leblanc contributed.

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