I'm not sure why this keeps getting brought up. The warning was made well known in 2002. It was not hidden at all. It was written, if CWD was found ANYWHERE within 50 miles of MI's border, baiting would be banned in that penninsula. Currently, it is not a statewide ban. Only a lower penninsula ban. They have been saying all along it would be when, not if CWD reached MI. The farmers that continued to grow deer bait only crops would taking a gamble and knew it. Blaming someone else for their gamble makes no sense.

We should at least wait and see what this hunting season produces. If no free ranging deer are found with CWD, then re-evaluate the ban.

False,maybe this article will help.









[/align][/align]





Judge OKs fast-track hearing on Mich. baiting ban



9/25/2008, 11:20 a.m. ET
By JOHN FLESHER
[/align]The Associated Press



TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Opponents are suing to overturn a recently imposed ban on feeding and baiting deer in Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
The state Department of Natural Resources issued the emergency rule nearly a month ago after Michigan's first case of chronic wasting disease was discovered at a captive deer operation in Kent County.
Although there is no evidence that any free-ranging deer are infected, the DNR says baiting and feeding encourage the animals to congregate unnaturally and boost the likelihood of spreading disease.
Several critics of the ban filed a petition Tuesday in Ingham County Circuit Court. Among them: an Osceola County vegetable farmer who says the new rule could cost him about $300,000 and the owners of a Roscommon County store who say they've already lost at least $10,000 in sales.
On Wednesday, Judge Joyce Draganchuk granted a motion to expedite the case and scheduled a hearing for Oct. 9.
Before the ban took effect, hunters could have begun placing piles of bait — beets, carrots, corn, apples and other produce — at their chosen spots beginning Oct. 1.
"It's quite devastating," Gerald Lee Malburg, the Osceola County grower, said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I've had continuous phone calls from people who are upset about this."
Ed McNeely, a Grand Rapids attorney representing the plaintiffs, said the ban was "gross overkill" with just one animal known to have been infected.
DNR spokeswoman Mary Detloff declined comment on the suit but defended the policy as a necessary precaution — especially since it's still unclear how the Kent County deer was exposed.
"We're standing firm on the ban for now, until we can gather more information about if (chronic wasting disease) exists in the wild deer herd and if so to what extent," Detloff said.
Baiting and feeding have been debated in Michigan since the late 1990s, when some blamed the practices for a bovine tuberculosis outbreak in the northeastern Lower Peninsula.
Malburg said state officials had assured farmers previously that if a ban were imposed, it would happen before planting season so they wouldn't be stuck with crops they could not market.
He sells about 60 percent of his carrots to restaurants, but the remaining ones are not suitable for human consumption. The sugar beets he grows are a variety meant only for deer feed.
"I'm hearing the sugar companies have a huge crop on hand and won't be needing any more beets, even if you did have the type they could use," Malburg said.
The state adopted a policy in 2002 that called for an immediate prohibition on hunting and feeding if chronic wasting disease were detected in either peninsula or within 50 miles of the state line, Detloff said.
The ban is effective for six months. During its regular meeting Oct. 9, the Natural Resources Commission will discuss whether to extend it.
The state House last week adopted a nonbinding resolution urging the DNR to limit the ban to the Kent County area and the NRC to conduct hearings on the issue.
___
On the Net:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr


[/align]Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
© 2008 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.

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I cant belive that this plan from 6 years ago cant be modified? No new research in the last 6 years? I understand an overreaction at first, but this was not in the wild, and there is no good reason to ban baiting in the entire lower peninsula. Take the ethics out of the equation, if they want to ban baiting next year before planting season, fine. I dont have any problem with them banning it, just not right now. I also understand not baiting in the "hot zone", but if someone over 100 miles from where this deer was found throws out some bait, are they going to be helping spread a disease that may not even exsist in the wild?

Uh, false? How were they not taking a gamble? I would say you proved my point with that article. Thanks! The farmer can claim someone told them they would be notified before the growing season, but there is no record of this. Of course they will say this. Otherwise they have nothing to stand on. The policy called for IMMEDIATE PROHIBITION, and that's what happened.

Vito1, you are correct. The farmers did take a gamble by taking the word of the goverment!

So we agree on something.

AGAIN baiting is NOT hunting...Ill remain with that answer...

And according to you neither is tree stand hunting.