“Northeast Michigan has some of the most beautiful and robust wilderness and recreational opportunities in Michigan. A common pastime for folks in my community is venturing outside to enjoy all our region has to offer,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “Now, the DNR wants us to pay more to enjoy the same woods, rivers, and lakes that our families have enjoyed for generations. The DNR is failing, and department leadership wants to pass responsibility for those failures down to outdoor enthusiasts. It’s deceptive and shameful, and Northeast Michigan won’t stand for it.”

“The DNR’s behavior while handling this incident was nothing short of trigger-happy,” said Cavitt, R-Cheboygan. “There must have been a better way to handle this, and I cannot imagine that there are not more steps regarding notification and preparation that must be taken. The entire Rogers City community is collectively heartbroken following Roger’s killing. My office has been flooded with messages from grieving and outraged community members seeking answers as to why the DNR made this senseless decision.”