Bill Aimed at Overturning Michigan’s Deer Baiting Ban Headed to Governor’s Desk

 

A bill aimed at reversing a ban on deer baiting in Michigan has passed the Senate and is on its way to the governor’s desk.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources banned deer baiting and feeding starting in January 2019 in an attempt to curb the spread of chronic wasting disease. The DNR banned baiting in the Lower Peninsula and in some parts of the Upper Peninsula.

CWD is a disease that affects the neurological systems of deer, elk and moose. The disease, which cannot be cured, attacks the brain of the animal and produces small lesions resulting in death. It made headlines earlier this year for giving deer a “zombie-like” effect.

State Rep. Michele Hoitenga (R-102-Wexford) sponsored a bill that would overturn the ban, allowing hunters to once again bait and feed deer. The current version of the bill includes a 5-gallon limit on the amount of feed and bait that can be used and makes provisions for bans in disease management zones, according to MLive.

The bill has passed both the House and the Senate and will be presented to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signing.

“The NRC banned baiting, but that didn’t eliminate the natural instinct of deer to herd for warmth and food,” Hoitenga said in a statement.

Whitmer has said that she will veto the bill, saying that banning baiting helps stop the spread of CWD.

“Peer-reviewed research has shown that baiting and feeding concentrate wildlife beyond their normal movement patterns and increases the likelihood of disease transmission,” said Tiffany Brown, a spokesperson for Whitmer, according to MLive. “By leaving the deer baiting ban in place, the state will continue to curb the spreading of diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease.”

Hoitenga said the ban puts unnecessary restrictions on Michigan hunters and that a decrease in hunting licenses will hurt Michigan’s conservation efforts. She also said that it will impact rural and northern communities in Michigan that receive an economic boost during hunting season.

Hunting and fishing create and support 171,000 jobs and generate around $8.9 billion, according to a study cited by Hoitenga.

Hunting and fishing license sales comprised 20 percent of Michigan’s DNR’s annual budget last year, equivalent to $83.5 million, according to a statement from the representative’s office.

“The baiting ban is hurting the situation by driving people away from the sport,” she said. “Hunting prevents overpopulation – and that is key to preventing the spread of disease.”

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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with Battleground State News and The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
Photo “Hunting” by Florida Fish and Wildlife. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.