Tom Morang
05-02-2003, 08:55 AM
Farm Bureau opposed to NRC recommendation to eliminate late firearm antlerless deer season for most of state
Michigan deer population remains too large to take control tool away, MFB says
LANSING, May 1, 2003 - Although next week's Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting lands during one of the busiest months for farmers, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members are expected to attend the meeting to express opposition to an NRC recommendation to eliminate the late firearm antlerless deer hunting season for most of the state.
The NRC, which meets May 8 in Lansing, will discuss a proposal to amend the state Wildlife Conservation Order so that the late antlerless firearm deer season is available only on privately owned lands within Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties as a means to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in the state's deer herd.
Currently, the late antlerless firearm deer season is available on most privately owned lands in the Lower Peninsula. The last season ran from Dec. 23, 2002 to Jan. 1, 2003.
"Michigan Farm Bureau will be at the meeting because now is not the time to take away what has been an effective tool to help manage the state's sizable deer population," said Rob Anderson, associate legislative counsel for the MFB, the state's largest general farm organization.
A report released in January by the Office of the Auditor General found that the 2002 deer herd was about 10 percent higher, or 325,000 deer larger, than allowed under state guidelines established in 2001. The report, which did not include figures from the state's early and late antlerless deer seasons, said hunters were expected to kill 325,000 deer during the 2002 firearms season but only harvested 288,000 deer.
According to the report, the eastern Upper Peninsula was the only area of the state where the number of deer was lower than population goals. "Without stronger methods to reduce deer populations, it is likely that significant overpopulations in many areas will continue," the audit said.
DNR reports, meanwhile, indicate that the late antlerless deer season traditionally has been an efficient control tool and was responsible for about 12 percent of last year's total antlerless deer harvest, Anderson said.
"When there's a state audit saying Michigan's deer herd is over the state target and farmers continue to express frustration over deer spreading bovine tuberculosis to cattle and destroying their crops, why would the NRC take any private land control tools away? It just doesn't send a consistent message," said Anderson.
While some critics may argue that the 10-day late antlerless deer season conflicts with the state's small game hunting season, the option to participate should remain in the hands of private landowners, Anderson said.
"It should be the landowner's decision to choose whether he wants to hunt for small game or control the deer on his property," he said. "That decision should not be taken away from landowners who use the late antlerless deer season as a control tool, especially farmland owners who have to contend with deer destroying their fruit trees and fields when winter food sources are scarce."
Anderson acknowledged that it could be problematic for some farmers to break free from spring planting to attend the hearing - another concern of Farm Bureau's.
The issue will only be up for consideration and discussion at next week's NRC meeting. Public comment will be accepted for 30 days following, after which the issue can be taken up for final action at the NRC's June meeting.
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Michigan deer population remains too large to take control tool away, MFB says
LANSING, May 1, 2003 - Although next week's Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting lands during one of the busiest months for farmers, Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) members are expected to attend the meeting to express opposition to an NRC recommendation to eliminate the late firearm antlerless deer hunting season for most of the state.
The NRC, which meets May 8 in Lansing, will discuss a proposal to amend the state Wildlife Conservation Order so that the late antlerless firearm deer season is available only on privately owned lands within Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties as a means to eradicate bovine tuberculosis in the state's deer herd.
Currently, the late antlerless firearm deer season is available on most privately owned lands in the Lower Peninsula. The last season ran from Dec. 23, 2002 to Jan. 1, 2003.
"Michigan Farm Bureau will be at the meeting because now is not the time to take away what has been an effective tool to help manage the state's sizable deer population," said Rob Anderson, associate legislative counsel for the MFB, the state's largest general farm organization.
A report released in January by the Office of the Auditor General found that the 2002 deer herd was about 10 percent higher, or 325,000 deer larger, than allowed under state guidelines established in 2001. The report, which did not include figures from the state's early and late antlerless deer seasons, said hunters were expected to kill 325,000 deer during the 2002 firearms season but only harvested 288,000 deer.
According to the report, the eastern Upper Peninsula was the only area of the state where the number of deer was lower than population goals. "Without stronger methods to reduce deer populations, it is likely that significant overpopulations in many areas will continue," the audit said.
DNR reports, meanwhile, indicate that the late antlerless deer season traditionally has been an efficient control tool and was responsible for about 12 percent of last year's total antlerless deer harvest, Anderson said.
"When there's a state audit saying Michigan's deer herd is over the state target and farmers continue to express frustration over deer spreading bovine tuberculosis to cattle and destroying their crops, why would the NRC take any private land control tools away? It just doesn't send a consistent message," said Anderson.
While some critics may argue that the 10-day late antlerless deer season conflicts with the state's small game hunting season, the option to participate should remain in the hands of private landowners, Anderson said.
"It should be the landowner's decision to choose whether he wants to hunt for small game or control the deer on his property," he said. "That decision should not be taken away from landowners who use the late antlerless deer season as a control tool, especially farmland owners who have to contend with deer destroying their fruit trees and fields when winter food sources are scarce."
Anderson acknowledged that it could be problematic for some farmers to break free from spring planting to attend the hearing - another concern of Farm Bureau's.
The issue will only be up for consideration and discussion at next week's NRC meeting. Public comment will be accepted for 30 days following, after which the issue can be taken up for final action at the NRC's June meeting.
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