Is it time for new regulations in Michigan to reduce/eliminate the spread of CWD?

For the CWD zones, I think we should have the exact regulations that we have now, as prescribed by the CWD Response Plan.

For the Lower Peninsula and OUTSIDE of the CWD zone, I'd first suggest the following, in no particular order...

1. Expand archery season to run from September 1 to February 1. Michigan's archery season is short compared to some neighboring states and archery has the best hunter retention.

2. Combine regular firearms season and muzzleloader season into one "all firearms season". There's no need for a separate muzzleloader season anymore, to promote the novelty of primitive side lock rifles. This will help with recruitment and retention. It will also increase the deer kill, as nearly all deer hunters have a rifle or shotgun, but far fewer own a muzzleloader. This is especially true with younger hunters and women, who are needed for recruitment.

3. Create new "all firearms" season dates that opens on a Saturday and have it encompass 4 full weekends. This will also help with recruitment and retention, along with the deer harvest.

4. Enact 3pt APR's peninsula wide and make combo tag 3pt/4pt to help decrease herd densities. This will also increase interest in hunting/retention after opening day of firearms season and increase antlerless kill.

5. Expand antlerless tag quota's and incentivize license fees. However, end the rule that allows one to buy an antlerless tag without first having to buy the "regular tags". I believe Ohio made this change. This eliminated all the hunters who scam the system by only buying an antlerless tag to "be legal" in the field, but then only buy a buck tag once a buck in dead on the ground. This is a very common violation and costs MDNR lots of needed revenue. You buy your normal deer tag(s), then you can buy your antlerless tag(s).

6. Expand youth seasons to encompass the last 2 weekends in September, to help with recruitment.

7. Create a new youth season over Christmas break where a youth hunter can use any unused tag on any deer. All kids are off over Christmas break.

8. Enact a statewide baiting ban. Make it statewide because CWD is knocking on the UP's door from Wisconsin and then there's no excuse to claim one is buying bait in the SLP to bait in the UP.

9. Ban the placement of new mineral licks/salts.

10. Have legislature Incentivize food plot plantings and habitat improvements by allowing a state tax write off for products/machinery used in dispersing and diffusing the states deer herd.

11. Have the legislature add a fee onto vehicle tag fee's that pays for road kill pickup and testing, which will have to be greatly expanded. That way all residents share the burden.

12. Expand education to non-hunters about the dangers of feeding deer/bird feeders.

13. Ban shining from August 31 at 11:59pm until February 2. That way, it doesn't stretch out the over-burdened CO's in the field. The CO's have enough on their plate during the day to deal with all the violations, without having to be on duty all night too.

14. Have legislature greatly increase fines for those hunting over placed bait, if banned.

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Is it time for new regulations in Michigan to reduce/eliminate the spread of CWD?