If enacted, two new measures presented in the Michigan House would impact the approaching deer shooting season this September.
Introduced by Rep. Timothy Beson, House Bill No. 4191 seeks to define a clearer difference between baiting and feeding and permits baiting for a price.
“Deer or elk baiting” is the method of periodically dumping, distributing, or tending feed in an area under wild, free-ranging white-tailed deer or elk.
The bill states that baiting deer or elk does not include a few particular circumstances:
As long as the feeding of birds or other animals keeps wild, free-ranging white-tailed deer and elk from reaching the food, it is acceptable.
Should normal farming operations or deforestation cause feed to be spread.
Feed for farming use can be used or stored provided:
The feed is covered so deer or elk cannot reach it.
livestock living in the area are consuming it regularly.
It is kept correctly in line with conventional agricultural methods.
Under this legislation, these actions would not count as baiting.
Whether natural or produced, the measure defines feed as anything composed of grains, minerals, salt, fruits, vegetables, hay, or other food ingredients that might draw white-tailed deer or elk.
For a few things, though, it makes exceptions. Feed does not include agricultural commodities that happen to get spread as a result of normal farming, standing farm crops managed under normal farming procedures, or wildlife plantings.
The law allows baiting under the following guidelines during an open deer season:
One needs a deer baiting license, costing twenty bucks.
One also needs a valid deer hunting license found under section 43527.
At every station, no more than five gallons of bait could be used daily.
Money gathered from deer baiting license fees will support studies on diseases including bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease in wild deer or elk. To help sustain healthy free-ranging deer and elk populations in the state, it will also support monitoring and testing for these and other animal illnesses.
Soon after Beson first presented the House measure, it was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism.
Beson’s plan is modeled after a February Michigan Senate bill meant for the Lower Peninsula’s resumption of deer baiting for a price. Introduced by Sen. Michele Hoitenga, Senate Bill 65 referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture the same day it was first presented.
Two free antlerless deer licenses yearly would be made possible by House Bill No. 4206.
Hunter eligibility for a deer or antlerless license under existing regulations depends on a valid base license.
This new measure brings some revisions. Hunter with a current base license would be qualified to get two free, antlerless deer licenses year. The state keeps charging $20 for a deer or antlerless license in addition to a nonrefundable application cost per applicant not to be more than $5.
Along with deer licenses, the measure lets the agency create kill tags with space for any other needed information and show the license number.
Nonresidents have a choice to get an extra deer or antlerless deer license, but it will cost $170. Furthermore, in cases of deer management the department has the power to create rules on which deer can be hunted and where licenses are valid.