Michigan officials propose new hunting rules as residents grapple with deer overpopulation

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is set to vote on a new slate of deer hunting regulations as residents express concerns about the animals’ growing population.

Proposals include the possibility of using drones to help rebuild deer populations, extending early and late antlerless seasons on public lands and expanding the Hunter Access Program to provide more hunting opportunities, according to sources.

According to WEMU, a local radio station based in Michigan, state officials estimate there are now more than two million deer in Michigan.

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The owner of Beougher Farms in Merrill, Michigan, told the Midland Daily News that the deer are a financial burden because the animals have been eating her crops “for several years.”

“When the seeds come out of the ground, they start nibbling on them, especially soybeans. They love soybeans. … Then when (the deer) are big and the corn is ripe, right before we pick it, they come … they eat four rows,” Jackie Beougher told the outlet.

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“We need to eliminate these deer because it is not up to us to feed them,” she added.

Her neighbor, Malcolm Brubaker, a hunter for about 40 years, told the outlet that he helps control the deer population.

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He added that every time he goes hunting, he posts about his plans on social media and his neighbors come for the meat.

“I put together a short post on Facebook and within two hours, 45 people showed up, saying they would like to get deer meat for their uncle and deer for their parents,” he said.

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The Michigan DNR-led Deer Management Initiative surveyed 27,109 Michiganders. Results showed that 28.95% rated deer damage to agricultural crops/agricultural habitats as moderately important, while 19.47% rated it as very important.

The same survey found that 40.75% of respondents believed that the opportunity to hunt deer was very important.

The DNR will vote on proposed changes to hunting regulations on July 11, DNR officials told Fox News Digital.

As Fox 2 Detroit reported in 2023, the failure to manage Michigan’s deer population is being blamed on, among other things, a decline in hunter numbers, predator problems and changing weather conditions.

Source of original article: Michigan officials propose new hunting rules as residents grapple with deer overpopulation