$4 a tag and an early doe season, I guess MI did something, right pat?

I'll tell ya, if it weren't for such a huge hit for a non-resident (nearly $140!) I'd hunt a small piece of land west of Coldwater.

Don't forget to add on the $100 for a doe tag if you want to do the right thing and harvest a doe as well!

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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 guess I don't have a huge problem with the ban , It won't effect me to much I am sure I will still see deer. I do think The state of Michigan has its head up its rear on being able to manage the herd , Ban baiting ok fine , next thing they need to do is make this Silly Youth Hunt a Doe only hunt. , Just talked to a kid who shot a 6pt this morning , now that Buck is gonna not be able to breed and pass on his genes , that eventully is gonna hurt our hunting .

You have to admit that growing this sport is very important, that kid that tagged a 6pt. is now hooked probably for life. He will bring a passion to hunting that is well needed by the youth of today, since numbers are down for hunters.

Who hasn't taken a 1 1/2 year old 6pt. growing up. It's a part of maturing as a hunter and as a man.

I would rather see a youth doe hunt in Michigan to, but it is what it is unfortunately.

We do have a responsibilityto teach the youth of today.

This State is kinda backwards

I would like for a couple of years to do what Wisconsin does. You have to earn a buck, which means you have to get a doe before you can get a buck licnese.

I suspect Wisconsin is doing some good things for the deer herd. Has anybody seen the quality of good bucks in the state, pretty impressive.

So all the baiting BS aside, do you guys think the DNR will change things for the better? I like the early youth, for does only, maybe earn a buck, only 1 buck tag, cheaper doe tags. What are your guys thoughts?

I like the idea of one buck, earn a buck, or state-wide antler restrictions.

Doe tags can't get much cheaper, otherwise they would be freeeee.

The youth hunt.... that is a difficult one. It is such a great opportunity for young hunters, but it also may ruin the hunting for another that has to wait until October at his chance at the one. Can't make a decision on this.

I do not like the Early September doe season. We can get into that laterif you want too, lol.

"Ruining the hunting" for someone else. Don't ya just love deer hunting?[&o]

Bad statement on my part for the word of hunting. It should have been single opportunity.

Hopefully few things will ruin the experience of hunting. I know few things can ruin my experience of hunting.