The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) yesterday proposed a regulation change to lift the deer baiting and feeding ban in the Lower Peninsula, which has been in effect since 2008. The proposal is not yet final, and will be voted on at the June 9 NRC meeting in Lansing.
The proposal includes the following provisions:
Hunters would be able to place two gallons of bait per hunting spot. No more than two gallons of bait could be on the ground at any given time. This is the same regulation currently in place in the Upper Peninsula, and was the regulation in the Lower Peninsula prior to the discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease at a deer breeding facility in Kent County in August 2008. The only exception would be the bovine tuberculosis area in northeast Lower Michigan, where baiting and feeding has been banned for several years.
Recreational feeding would return to the Lower Peninsula, except in the bovine tuberculosis area.
The proposal directs the DNR to spend $50,000 this year on planting wildlife food plots on state-owned hunting land in the bovine tuberculosis area.
The proposal directs the DNR to work with the Legislature to stiffen penalties for baiting violations, including escalating fees, jail time and hunting license revocation. This would be similar to the penalties for violators who snag fish.
It is important to note that this is a proposal, and not final. It could change at the June 9th meeting. Many media outlets around the state are reporting this was already approved by the NRC. It has NOT been approved – it was simply proposed. The commission will vote on it at the June 9th meeting.
