Well, the Michigan DNR had been trying to prevent this for years, and with a press release a few days ago, it finally became reality-we have our first confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Michigan.

Usually this disease is found in the deer populations of western states, but has been moving progressively eastward over the last few years.  Wisconsin has already been battling the disease, and now, it would appear, that Michigan is going to have its turn.

The deer that tested positive was located at a Kent County Breeding facility.  When a deer dies at one of these facilities they are required to have it tested, and this deer ended up testing positive.  They initially got the positive result from Michigan State University, then they sent it in to the National Veterinary Services Labratory in Iowa, and that facility confirmed the original results.

How does this effect hunters?  Well, my post about baiting is no longer even a debate in southern Michigan.  Effective immediately all baiting is banned in the lower peninsula!! You can read about that in this official press release from the DNR.  Also, no elk or deer meat is allowed to be transported out of any game ranch.  So, if you do shoot a deer or elk on a game ranch, the meat must stay at the property.  I’m sure that will not have a particularly positive effect on those types of organizations.

So where do we go from here?  I think the DNR is definitely taking the right steps to try and combat this problem.  They are testing road killed deer in the “hot” zone-where the deer that tested positive was located-and they are also requiring that hunters in Tyrone, Solon, Nelson, Sparta, Algoma, Courtland, Alpine, Plainfield, and Cannon townships bring their deer kills into a check station in order to be tested for the disease.  They are also allowing people to apply for “cull” permits in this area to help with the testing numbers, and in order to help eradicate the disease. 

I would say that hunting in Michigan is never going to be the same.  While I don’t think this disease is detrimental to the deer herd, as Wisconsin has shown, I do think that a lot of what people have become accustomed to, i.e. baiting, when it comes to hunting in this state, will change forever.

If you would like to read more on this topic, Mike, over at Hooks and Bullets, has three great posts here, here, and here.  If you would like to read the Michigan DNR press releases you can do so here, and here.  And if you would like to read more about CWD you can do so here.

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