It's against the law in Michigan to interfere with a hunter while hunting, or bang pots and pans to frighten a quarry, or shout while a shooter takes aim.

Section 324.40112 of Act 451 prohibits "obstructing or interfering in lawful taking of animals" and makes it a misdemeanor to do so, with jail terms up to 93 days and fines up to $1,000.

The law covers almost any situation where anyone "blocks, impedes, or harasses another person who is engaged in the process of lawfully taking an animal" or "uses a natural or artificial visual, aural, olfactory, gustatory, or physical stimulus to affect animal behavior in order to hinder or prevent the lawful taking of an animal."

The DNR has received 1,975 calls complaining of hunter harassment since the law took effect in 1996, and 68 citations have been written, said Debbie Christensen, an analyst with the law enforcement division of the Department of Natural Resources.

Lieutenant Andrew Turner of the DNR's law enforcement division said many property owner disputes don't fall under the law, including situations where the property owner disrupts the hunter by forcing him from his property. Nor is it a violation for a property owner to rev up an all-terrain vehicle on his property, disturbing a hunter on nearby property.

"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about that," said Mr. Turner.

Robert Geake, who wrote the law when he was in the Michigan Senate, said it was written "to protect hunters from animal rights activists who were really going crazy then."

Hunters in Michigan have the right to enjoy their sport free from deliberate interference. Individuals whose hunting is being obstructed may report the violation to a local conservation officer, the nearest DNR Operations Service Center, or by calling (800) 292-7800.