I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about the Michigan DNR‘s plans to bring back baiting for deer in the lower peninsula. Those rumors include lifting the ban completely, limiting the quanity of bait involved and allowing only certain types of feeders (broadcast style).
The most interesting option I’ve been hearing is that the Department is going to institute a “baiting license”. Supposedly that system would allow biologists to keep track of how much bait would be used and also allow the DNR to make money off the situation.
I haven’t given much credence to any of those comments, especially since wildlife chief Russ Mason told me on the Outdoor Magazine radio show last year that “baiting is a bad idea”.
However, the frequency and volume of the baiting comments has been increasing, so I checked with the DNR’s PR person, Mary Detloff. She told me via email there’s “no truth to any of it”.
I believe Mary and Director Mason. They’ve given me no reason to doubt those statements. At this point the Department is basing it’s reputation on the decision to ban baiting because they say it can cause disease in whitetails. To contradict that at this point would destroy any credibility they have.
In the meantime it seems clear a good percentage of Michigan deer hunters want baiting to come back. As long as that’s true, I don’t expect the rumors to go away anytime soon.
It”s clear the DNR has no clue. that deer baiting is not doing any harm to the deer herd.