Michigan DNRE to Hold Information Meetings about Deer Hunting Regulations in DMU 487

DNRE Report

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment will hold a
pair of meetings

to provide information regarding recently proposed antler
restrictions for deer

hunters in Deer Management Unit (DMU) 487.

Meetings are scheduled for:

— June 22, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Harrisville Township Hall, 114 S.
Poor Farm Rd.

(located off of M-72, two miles west of Harrisville), and

— June 23, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Alpena Civic Center, 133 Johnson
St., Alpena.

Meetings will be attended by both local and Lansing wildlife
officials. Details

regarding the proposal and anticipated results will be provided
and a question

and answer period will follow. Time will be reserved to
accommodate those

interested in having one-on-one or small group discussions with
DNRE staff.

The proposal – which calls for a minimum of three antler points
on at least one

side for a buck to be legal – is on the Natural Resources
Commission’s agenda

for action in July. DMU 487 includes the six counties of Presque
Isle,

Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona and Iosco, where bovine
tuberculosis (TB) in

the deer herd is most prevalent and of greatest concern.

“The Department has been making strides towards TB eradication
by reducing deer

numbers and the concentration of deer at baiting and feeding
locations for the

past 15 years,” said DNRE Wildlife Veterinarian Steve Schmitt.
“But, while the

long-range trends have reflected reductions in deer numbers and
TB, progress has

stalled over the last five or more years.”

“We’re aiming to take regulations further than past approaches
to simply provide

ample opportunity for hunters to take does,” said Brent Rudolph,
DNRE Deer and

Elk Program leader. “The proposal is intended to work in
conjunction with a

recently adopted regulation change – allowing antlerless deer to
be taken under

a firearm or combination license in the regular firearm or
muzzleloader seasons

in that area – to direct harvest towards those segments of the
deer population

that will aid the most in TB eradication efforts.”