Though hunting has always been an integral part of the human experience, the practice as a recreational sport in Michigan began when the state started to industrialize in the 1870s. Despite taking a generation to gain mass appeal, sport hunting among the prosperous quickly became popular as a social activity with organized clubs, hunts, and competitions. Although game animals appeared plentiful, the risk of unsustainable hunting practices ran high. To promote conservation through law, a group of hunters formed the Michigan Sportsmen’s Association in 1875. This lobbying by sportsmen would culminate in various state regulations aimed at species and environmental preservation.
