The “Motor City Madman,” Ted Nugent, is 77 and still as active as ever in the outdoors.
Nugent, an unapologetic, passionate advocate for gun ownership and hunting, recently received two prestigious honors, including American Outdoor Sportsman of the Year.

“Uncle Ted” will be inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame this summer in Springfield, Missouri. He was recognized for his enormous contributions to the outdoor shooting sports, introducing thousands of youngsters to a healthy, active outdoor lifestyle via his Kamp for Kids charity. Hunters and non-hunters alike experience a greater appreciation for nature and conservation via his prolific writings and compelling interviews
in media outlets worldwide.

Nugent has also been inducted into the Michigan Outdoor Hall of Fame. He’s being honored for tireless efforts to promote hunting, gun ownership, and the celebrated outdoor lifestyle.

Ever articulate, Nugent is widely recognized for his unique conversational tone, taking even the most complex subject matter and presenting it in a clear and compelling way. 

He impacts millions with his unwavering passion for the outdoors, and his writings have been featured in books, magazines and digital outlets worldwide.

Previous Hall of Fame inductee, Fred Bear, lives forever through the song of the same name — written, recorded and performed by Nugent — introducing new generations to the “father of modern bowhunting.”

Nugent has carved a permanent place in rock & roll history, selling more than 40 million albums and performing more than 7,000 high-octane concerts. He also serves as National Spokesman for Hunter Nation, uniting hunters around God, family and country.

The award-winning Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild weekly television show is the most-watched series on The Pursuit Channel, reaching over 22 million homes.

“Rock & roll, bowhunting, and freedom — that’s the American way,” said Nugent. “I’m deeply honored to be inducted into the Michigan Outdoor Hall of Fame and named a Legend of the Outdoors.

Pursuit Channel has been my broadcast home for years, and I’m grateful to continue sharing the spirit of the wild with millions of like-minded Americans who love this great land.”

Readers chime in

Readers have responded to a recent column asking for opinions on spending the state’s budget surplus, and on fishing and hunting license fee increases.

Several brought politics into it, saying Republicans have refused to budge on even reasonable increases. While that’s largely true, party leaders have made it clear they’re not happy that a Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) review confirmed that the Department of Natural Resource was spending less than half of its state-revenue Fish and Wildlife funds on activities that primarily benefit anglers and hunters.

It’s not an insignificant number for an account primarily funded by hunting and fishing userfees. In fact, when the agency spent 57.3 percent of its Fish and Wildlife account budget on those things in 2006, that was $68.2 million.

Fast forward nearly two decades, and the 49.8% the LAB found was $46.3 million. 
Republican legislators have said there’s no reason that the account should be more than $10 million in deficit ($16 million in recent years) while spending less than half of the budget on activities that primarily benefit those responsible for the majority of the fees. 

Former fisheries chief Lee Kernen wrote that it has been a tough challenge to get more meaningful license fees.

“We are really behind (other states) on both fishing and hunting fees,” he said.

Retired state and federal fisheries biologist Mark Holey said a fee increase is long overdue. 
“If anglers can afford to fill their boat with gas, they can afford a relatively small increase in annual license fees and make a big difference,” said Holey, who emphasized the need for habitat protection and restoration, reauthorization of the Stewardship Program and continued funding of science such as the mass marking and acoustic telemetry work for Great Lakes fish.

One reader suggested giving the current state surplus back to the rightful owners — those who were taxed to begin with. Another would like to see a quarter-percent sales tax for everyone going to the Fish and Wildlife account.

Another said he’s tired of politicians pointing fingers, and that fees need to be raised to insure that we keep our parks, boat launches and other public properties in top shape.