Lower Peninsula Baiting Ban is Permanent
The Natural Resources Commission voted unanimously last Thursday evening to make the baiting ban in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan permanent. The original ban would have only lasted until February 26, 2009. The NRC vote, however, makes the Lower Peninsula ban permanent.
I think this is going to create a lot more outrage from hunters and farmers alike, but I still believe that the DNR is doing the right thing. I think that everyone is being too short-sighted in their thinking. They are only thinking of how it effects them right now, and not at how, if CWD spread, it could impact the deer herd for future generations.
I think in this case, the DNR had a plan, and they stuck to it. For that, I say kudos to them.
I’m sure this isn’t the last we will here about the baiting ban. And I’m sure the local state hunting forums will be abuzz with this for some time to come.
The most important thing I would like to see happen is this: I hope everyone, no matter what side you are on, obeys the law and stops baiting right now. Regardless of what you think about the ban, it is your duty as a outdoorsman to obey the law.
I’m sure we will be hearing much more about this in the near future. For now though, I think the DNR is doing the right thing.
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That really is what is most important – obey the law! It doesn’t help our cause any to only obey the laws we agree with while ignoring the laws we think are “unfair” or “unreasonable”
I’m not familiar with this…we’re talking a bait ban on deer? Or with all animals – i.e. bears, coyotes, etc…? Guess I’m too far disconnected with the issue to offer a good opinion. Glad you see the most important issue, though – folks need to have the rationalization of thinking to obey the law no matter which side of the argument they sit on.
The ban is going to be an interesting issue, to see how it will unfold for those used to hunting over food plots,bait. Hope the new regulations won’t cause too many problems in the near future.
Here in Iowa we can’t bait – no hunting over an organized food source.
Someone asked me if I fed the deer, because I couldn’t hunt them over the food. The person knew that I live in an Oak timber, he is a retired county conservation officer. I had to laugh! Where else am I going to hunt?
As long as the DNR is using sound science to base their decisions on, then I totally support them. I do think that there is a lot that we do not know about the disease still, so I believe we should continue to study it and continually revise the way outbreaks are dealt with. And by that I mean, are deer eradication programs working? Is baiting really how it is transferred? ETC
But I am with you, for now it is THE law, so the thing to do is obey it.
Art: I agree whole heartedly with you on this. I think the real problem here is the DNR dropped the ball on educating the hunters and everyone connected with this mess. They have a huge public relations nightmare on their hands right now. People are screaming about this and state they will continue to bait. The DNR needs to get a public awareness campaign going to get the public to understand what is really going on. This is the biggest problem for them getting everyone on board with this issue. I hope cooler heads will prevail!!! As for me NO BAIT!!
OK, So as good sportsmen/women and stewards of great outdoors, we all obey they law. What happens to the people that introduced the problem and what they have done to hunters, farmers and Michigan deer/elk heards. What penalties are they paying. Maybe all this private stuff should be outlawed in the State. How about a class action against the owners to send a message?
Mr. D’Felio,
When you refer to the “people that introduced the problem”, I’m not sure who you are referring to, so I’m not sure how to respond.
And when you talk about “private stuff”, I’m not sure what you are referring to there either.
If you could clear that up for me, then I would love to hear your thoughts on the issue. Then I could formulate a better response as well.
Thanks for visiting the site.