Michigan Natural Resources Commission

LANSING, MI - A coalition supported by the Humane Society of the United States says it is considering a second petition drive aimed at banning wolf hunting in Michigan. An initial hunt is already scheduled for this fall in parts of the Upper Peninsula -- although, because of actions Wednesday, more Natural Resources Commission votes will be needed to make the hunt official again.

ROSCOMMON - From Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, gray wolves in three areas of the Upper Peninsula will have a target on their backs. The state Natural Resources Commission approved a wolf hunting season Thursday for up to 43 of the 658 wolves in the Upper Peninsula.

LANSING - The day before the Natural Resources Commission is meeting to determine whether it will set a wolf hunting season this fall, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill that will allow that vote and kill a petition drive meant to ban the hunt.

Lansing - The state Senate gave final approval and immediate effect Tuesday to legislation designed to short-circuit efforts by wolf hunting opponents to bring the issue to a statewide vote in 2014.

The bill, which has already passed the Senate and now moves to the full House, would circumvent the 250,000 signatures turned in to the Secretary of State to ban a wolf hunt. That petition drive sought to overturn a law passed last year allowing the hunt, but the new bill supercedes that law.