Post by ridge on Jun 24, 2020 6:51:33 GMT -5
June's virtual meeting spent a lot of time on the previous deer survey and the proposed deer regulation changes. To get the entire survey report go to the NRC page on Michigan.gov. and click on the archived virtual meeting. Based on 5% lower responses to the survey there was a 2.9% reduction in the number of hunters. The decline was seen everywhere but in the archery seasons. This was attributed to the use of crossbows. That speaks to an overall loss of 33% of the deer hunters over 20 years. It was stated that the deer harvest was comparable to last year. Somewhat surprising to me was the average hunter satisfaction rate of 35% to all facets of deer hunting. 82% said that CWD information was important. 14% said that they would stop deer hunting if the testing was stopped. 38% said that they would pay for their testing.
The Proposal for Deer Regulation Changes was tabled until the July 16 Virtual Meeting with the request that the DNR rewrite the Proposal without the orange on blind sections (which was unanimously rejected). Several amendments were made by Commissioner Tracy and one by Commissioner Creagh.
#1 - FOR THE ENTIRE STATE The first tag of the combo license shall be for any legal buck. The second tag of the combo license shall be for a buck with 4 or more points on one side. The only exceptions would be for the MAPR Control Study Area and for Drummond Island.
#2 - Bait could be put out at the same number of days prior to the season for both the Liberty and Independence Hunts for the legally described disabled hunters.
#3 - If #1 does not pass then the MAPR restriction would be removed from the first buck tag on the Combo License in the U.P.
#4 - Allow the use of crossbows in the December U.P. Hunt.
#5 - That the Carcass Transportation Regulation be made exactly as the QDMA and Erik Schnelle sent it to the NRC prior to the meeting. (It was not shown.) It was summarized as Restricting the Carcass Movement from any area in the state with CWD in the past 5 years.
#6 - If #1 does not pass then the 4 point restriction would not resume for the 2nd tag of the Combo License in the CWD Management Zone.
Resolution - The 66% to 60% change is a DNR Guideline Change and is therefore not the business of the NRC. The NRC would not consider such a change until the current MAPR study is completed.
Commissioner Creagh would add a week of deer hunting that is for muzzleloaders alone at least on public land.
If anyone would like to comment on these amendments or on any of the proposals write nrc@michigan.gov.
The Proposal for Deer Regulation Changes was tabled until the July 16 Virtual Meeting with the request that the DNR rewrite the Proposal without the orange on blind sections (which was unanimously rejected). Several amendments were made by Commissioner Tracy and one by Commissioner Creagh.
#1 - FOR THE ENTIRE STATE The first tag of the combo license shall be for any legal buck. The second tag of the combo license shall be for a buck with 4 or more points on one side. The only exceptions would be for the MAPR Control Study Area and for Drummond Island.
#2 - Bait could be put out at the same number of days prior to the season for both the Liberty and Independence Hunts for the legally described disabled hunters.
#3 - If #1 does not pass then the MAPR restriction would be removed from the first buck tag on the Combo License in the U.P.
#4 - Allow the use of crossbows in the December U.P. Hunt.
#5 - That the Carcass Transportation Regulation be made exactly as the QDMA and Erik Schnelle sent it to the NRC prior to the meeting. (It was not shown.) It was summarized as Restricting the Carcass Movement from any area in the state with CWD in the past 5 years.
#6 - If #1 does not pass then the 4 point restriction would not resume for the 2nd tag of the Combo License in the CWD Management Zone.
Resolution - The 66% to 60% change is a DNR Guideline Change and is therefore not the business of the NRC. The NRC would not consider such a change until the current MAPR study is completed.
Commissioner Creagh would add a week of deer hunting that is for muzzleloaders alone at least on public land.
If anyone would like to comment on these amendments or on any of the proposals write nrc@michigan.gov.