Michigan DNR and CWD

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Sailfish_WC
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Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby Sailfish_WC » Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:50 pm

At today’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing, the commission approved a series of deer hunting regulations aimed at slowing the spread of chronic wasting disease. The action came after months of commission members and Department of Natural Resources staff hearing from hunters, residents and others interested in the long-term health of the state’s deer population, and a thorough review of the best available science on chronic wasting disease.

“We hope that by setting these specific CWD regulations we can limit the movement of this disease in Michigan,” said Vicki Pontz, NRC chairperson. “We appreciate all the comments we have received from across the state. Michigan hunters are very passionate about deer and deer hunting, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to confront this threat to wildlife and our valued hunting tradition.”

CWD is a fatal neurological (brain and nervous system) disease found in cervids – deer, elk and moose. The disease attacks the brains of infected animals and produces small lesions that result in death. There is no cure; once an animal is infected, it will die.

The disease first was discovered in Michigan in a free-ranging deer in May 2015. To date, more than 31,000 deer in Michigan have been tested for chronic wasting disease, and CWD has been confirmed in 60 free-ranging deer in six Michigan counties: Clinton, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm.

The approved deer hunting regulations, which will be in effect for the 2018 deer seasons unless noted otherwise, include:

A statewide ban on the use of all natural cervid urine-based lures and attractants, except for lures that are approved by the Archery Trade Association.
An immediate ban on baiting and feeding in the 16-county area identified as the CWD Management Zone. This area includes Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa and Shiawassee counties.
A ban on baiting and feeding in the Lower Peninsula, effective Jan. 31, 2019, with an exception to this ban for hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements. The start date on this regulation is intended to allow bait producers and retailers time to adjust to the new rule.
Effective immediately in the CWD Management Zone and four-county bovine tuberculosis area (in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties), hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements can now use 2 gallons of single-bite bait, such as shelled corn, during the Liberty and Independence hunts.
Allowance of all legal firearms to be used in muzzleloader season in the CWD Management Zone.
A purchase limit of 10 private-land antlerless licenses per hunter in the CWD Management Zone.
Restrictions on deer carcass movement in the five-county CWD Core Area (Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties) and the CWD Management Zone.
Antlerless options on deer licenses/combo licenses during firearms seasons in the five-county CWD Core Area.
Expansion of early and late antlerless seasons in select counties.
Changes to regulations regarding wildlife rehabilitators.
In addition, the commission asked the DNR to move forward with:

An experimental mandatory antler point restriction regulation in a five-county CWD Core Area, including Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties. The restriction would begin in 2019, provided a survey of hunters shows support for the requirement and specific department guidelines are met. This is intended as a tool to evaluate the effects of antler point restrictions on the spread and prevalence of CWD, along with deer population reduction.
A hunter-submitted proposal for mandatory antler point restrictions in Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, St. Clair and Lapeer counties. If hunter surveys support this regulation and specific department guidelines are met, it would be implemented in 2019.
These regulations come after much collaborative work to better understand the scope and pathways of CWD and best management actions. In October 2017, Michigan hosted a CWD symposium that brought together roughly 200 wildlife scientists and other experts from across the country.

Recommendations and public outreach

Shortly after the symposium, the DNR and the Natural Resources Commission announced the creation of a nine-member Chronic Wasting Disease Working Group. This group was charged with developing recommendations on additional steps and actions to substantially mitigate CWD in Michigan, and in January presented initial recommendations centered around messaging, partnership funding, regional management, and the importance of continuing a solid science-based approach.

Throughout April and May of this year, the DNR hosted a series of public engagement meetings in Bay City, Cadillac, Detroit, DeWitt, Gaylord, Houghton, Iron Mountain, Kalamazoo, Marquette, Newberry and Rockford. These meetings provided many opportunities for the DNR to share the latest information and recommendations about CWD, while encouraging the public to offer their best ideas on how to slow the disease.

During this outreach period, more than 650 peopled attend public engagement meetings, and the DNR received comments and suggestions via 361 hard-copy surveys and 135 online surveys.

More information on regulations

Details on all regulations will be added next week to the online hunting digests on the DNR website, and DNR staff will be available at deer-check stations during the hunting seasons, too.

More information about these regulations also will be posted next week to the michigan.gov/cwd website. For additional questions, contact the DNR Wildlife Division at 517-284-9453.


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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby <DK> » Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:35 am

I do not hunt Michigan but read this post when I woke up this morning. This part in particular struck me as a very odd add on to the management program and makes me wonder what they will find considering my state lifted the antler restricion bc of CWD findings.

"An experimental mandatory antler point restriction regulation in a five-county CWD Core Area, including Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties. The restriction would begin in 2019, provided a survey of hunters shows support for the requirement and specific department guidelines are met. This is intended as a tool to evaluate the effects of antler point restrictions on the spread and prevalence of CWD, along with deer population reduction."

I have been listening to the new Joe Rogan podcast about this subject off and on for 2 days. Im glad I kept listening bc they talk about this exact quote.
Video marks 1:41:00 and 1:48:00.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3s6p2UP57Q

I assume the group he mentions is one that met in Michigan to help create these regulations and I wonder what will really come of it...
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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby BorealBushMN » Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:44 am

I posted this podcast over in the War Cry forum. Very informative conversation!

I urge everyone to listen, but in the end... you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

I know listening changed my tune on CWD!
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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby seazofcheeze » Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:50 am

"Limiting the spread" of CWD is just an excuse to slaughter the deer herd in areas of perceived over population. Follow the money.
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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby <DK> » Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:55 am

BorealBushMN wrote:I posted this podcast over in the War Cry forum. Very informative conversation!

I urge everyone to listen, but in the end... you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink.

I know listening changed my tune on CWD!


Same here
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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby Dewey » Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:00 am

seazofcheeze wrote:"Limiting the spread" of CWD is just an excuse to slaughter the deer herd in areas of perceived over population. Follow the money.

Correct. Learn from our mistake here in WI. Don’t kill all the deer just because the DNR hands out tags. It’s up to the hunters to show some restraint and protect the herd. I used to purchase bonus doe tags with no intent of ever using them. A few $ out of my pocket was well worth it to save a few from the slaughter. Unfortunately we cannot control the rest of the people but every little bit helps.
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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby Hawthorne » Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:10 am

I’m buying a rifle. Whack em and stack em
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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby jmaas07 » Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:31 am

There was an update today to the above posted cwd stuff..in the cwd mgt zone the restricted 4pts on a side tag regulation has been removed effective the 2018 deer season..guys can shoot 2 spikes with 3” spikes. We’re t we just talking the other day about southern Michigan public being terrible..well, it’s even worse now boys
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Re: Michigan DNR and CWD

Unread postby BorealBushMN » Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:35 am

seazofcheeze wrote:"Limiting the spread" of CWD is just an excuse to slaughter the deer herd in areas of perceived over population. Follow the money.


You should listen to this podcast. I thought this way, too. This is a serious issue. Disease is known to mutate to proliferate. We’re 1 small mutation away from a public health pandemic that could result in things much worse than what they are now.

It sucks, but what is being done now, may be best for the long term.


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