Chronic Wasting Disease and the State of Michigan (One Hunter’s Opinion)

I have hunted whitetail deer in Michigan for 24 of my 27 year existence on this planet. For those of you who may be questioning my ethics, or perhaps my parents’, this number includes every time my father took me into the field. We used to drive up to Black Lake from Monroe and meet with a bear outfitter who was a family friend. Those long drives and cold mornings were something I dreaded as a child. I barely remember some of those mornings, but looking back those were some of my favorite memories. This tradition of hunting Whitetail deer with my family is something that was bred into me. The love of hunting and the outdoors is in my DNA, I can’t stop and nor do I want to.

Recently, concern has been raised with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD or TSE: transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) within the deer herd in Michigan. This is a disease our neighbors in Wisconsin are all to familiar with. Michiganders are on the forefront of the battle. This hits home for me as my family and I hunt Hillsdale County, a newly added “Management Zone” in the list of counties trying to prevent the spread of this disease.

I myself am not sure much can be done to prevent the spread of prions in a natural system. Events such as extreme cold, fire and medication have no effect on this disease. With a disease that spreads through a cervides fluid excreations, how can something like this be stopped? How do we stop deer, elk, moose and others from peeing or drooling on the land? These infected critters are shedding disease agents at all moments in their lives. The prions that perpetuate CWD can thrive in the very dirt we hunt on. These prions can be transmitted through bait piles or increased cervide to cervide contact ie: central feeding locations. It is even thought that bucks may have a better chance of transmitting the disease. An article written by Brett French of the Billings Gazette reports that Mule deer bucks are more susceptible than does and in Wisconsin the worst affected CWD areas have a 30%-50% infection rate among adult bucks. This research would lead anyone to believe that bucks may be more susceptible to CWD than does.

The Michigan DNR has decided to remove antler point restrictions (APRs) in some areas, whether this is based on that exact research and data or just a hope for reduction in total herd population, I do not know. This is a move that may make hunters feel betrayed by the very organization that is sworn to protect our natural resources. While CWD is nothing to take lightly, we have folks in this beautiful state that say they refuse to follow the regulations laid out by the DNR.

Here are some of those regulations from Mlive:

Reduced the 4-point on-a-side antler requirement on the restricted tag of the combination license in the 16-county CWD Management Zone. Under the new regulation, a hunter in the CWD Management Zone can use the restricted tag of the combination license to harvest a buck with antlers as long as it has at least one 3-inch antler.

Created a discounted antlerless license opportunity in the CWD Management Zone on private land; if purchased, the license will expire Nov. 4, 2018.

Effective immediately, a statewide ban on the use of all natural cervid urine-based lures and attractants except for lures approved by the Archery Trade Association.

An immediate ban on baiting and feeding in the 16-county area identified as the CWD Management Zone. This area includes Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa and Shiawassee counties.

A ban on baiting and feeding in the Lower Peninsula, effective Jan. 31, 2019, with an exception to this ban for hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements. The start date on this regulation is intended to allow bait producers and retailers time to adjust to the new rule.

Effective immediately in the CWD Management Zone and four-county bovine tuberculosis area (in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties), hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements can now use 2 gallons of single-bite bait, such as shelled corn, during the Liberty and Independence hunts.

Allowance of all legal firearms to be used in muzzleloader season in the CWD Management Zone.

A purchase limit of 10 private-land antlerless licenses per hunter in the CWD Management Zone.

Restrictions on deer carcass movement in the five-county CWD Core Area (Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties) and the CWD Management Zone.

Antlerless options on deer licenses/combo licenses during firearms seasons in the five-county CWD Core Area.

Expansion of early and late antlerless seasons in select counties.

Changes to regulations regarding wildlife rehabilitators.

In addition, the commission asked the DNR to move forward with:

An experimental mandatory antler point restriction regulation in a five-county CWD Core Area, including Ionia, Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm and Newaygo counties. The restriction would begin in 2019, provided a survey of hunters shows support for the requirement and specific department guidelines are met. This is intended as a tool to evaluate the effects of antler point restrictions on the spread and prevalence of CWD, along with deer population reduction.

A hunter-submitted proposal for mandatory antler point restrictions in Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, St. Clair and Lapeer counties. If hunter surveys support this regulation and specific department guidelines are met, it would be implemented in 2019

Most of these regulations have been met with immediate backlash. One only needs to check social media to find discord with the new regulations. Mainly folks seemed to be angry about the APR elimination in some of these hunting areas. Areas, where many hunters have worked hard to manage and maintain by letting small bucks pass in the hopes of maturing into the swamp monster we all desire. For many, this APR change may not impact how they hunt as they will still want to see those mature bucks in the future, which is my preference. Perhaps this makes me a hypocrite in the CWD game but I have seen a lot of bucks grow from spikes and fork horns to eights and larger (as shown in the photo below). Maybe this is an internal debate we will each have to figure out for ourselves 30 feet in the air.

(Taken by my father November 15th 2017)

As someone who lives off of wild game most of the year, CWD infected meat raises major concern in our household. In humans, CWD is known as Crutchfield Jakob disease and there has never been a documented case of transmission from animal to human. However, a recent study on Macaques in Canada raises some new concerns. Links to the study are provided at the bottom of this post. While I have no problem eating meat without testing it and taking a risk, I refuse to expose my significant other and loved ones to a possible disease without a known cure, or any disease for that matter.

The Michigan DNR’s Annual Forecast email stated, “Michigan is one of the top five states nationally in both number of deer hunters and overall deer taken each year, and the top state for deer taken with archery equipment.” Number one for deer taken with archery equipment! I had no idea and feel truly proud that my state holds that statistic. However, I’ve heard talk amongst fellow hungers that some in this state feel the DNR is trying to eliminate the herd, or wipe the slate clean and start again new in affected areas. To those individuals I ask this question: Why would an organization, that obtains most of its funding from deer permits, wipe out the herd, eliminating the long-term ability to hunt? Permits of all kinds accounted for 27 million dollars in 2015 according to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Michigan DNR needs to keep the public informed and frankly, needs funding to fight a disease such as this, funding I hope they are receiving. This fight isn’t just up to the DNR though, we as hunters, need to step up and carry this flag. We cannot ignore baiting regulations because we feel it will damage our season. We cannot transport a carcass out of a management zone just because it’s more convenient for us. If we want to beat a disease as troublesome as this, we need to pull our weight. One day I would like to bring my children to these same woods, in pursuit of the ever elusive whitetail deer. We cannot let a disease persist just because we as hunters refuse to follow regulations or complete the extra work of planting food plots in the off season. Proper management and education are imperative to the survival of this tradition we all know and love.

Just one hunter’s opinion,

Grant Meyer

Sources:

Brett French Article: https://trib.com/lifestyles/recreation/effects-of-chronic-wasting-disease-newly-discovered-in-montana-are/article_2355b6a5-870b-525a-a826-08e54cb2c4f7.html

Macaque Study: (https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/columnists/paul-smith/2017/06/28/macaque-study-heightens-concerns-human-susceptibility-cwd/430046001/)

MLive Article on Regulations:

(https://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/08/state_oks_new_deer-hunting_rul.html)

Michigan DNR Annual Forecast:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDNR/bulletins/2101860