GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — There will be extra firearm deer hunting days in parts of Ionia and Montcalm counties in January so the state can gather more information about chronic wasting disease, a deadly neurological disorder affecting West Michigan herds.
Firearm deer hunting will be allowed from Jan. 4 to Jan. 7 and Jan. 11 to Jan. 14.
Details from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on licensing, tagging and other rules for the January hunts:
- “Licenses, including a deer license, combination deer license, private-land antlerless deer license for DMU 354 or DMU 419, or a public-land antlerless deer license for DMU 354 or DMU 419, are valid.
- “Antlerless deer may be tagged using the deer license or combination deer license. All other license restrictions apply.
- “All rules and regulations for the firearm deer season apply.
- “As a reminder, baiting is not allowed after Jan. 1. Bait cannot be used during this extended season.”
The DNR says the January hunts were scheduled so hunters could help the state gather more data about chronic wasting disease, a contagious illness that causes neurological degeneration and then death in deer.
“Increased harvest (of deer) and subsequent testing will help inform our decisions on CWD management next year,” DNR deer specialist Chad Stewart said in a Wednesday statement.
At least one deer killed earlier this year in Montcalm County tested positive for CWD.
“Unfortunately, we continue to detect chronic wasting disease throughout the nine-township core area in parts of Montcalm and Kent counties,” Stewart said. “Because it is likely that CWD exists outside of this core area, we are counting on hunters and their willingness to harvest deer to support our surveillance efforts. Better, broader surveillance of deer herd health is critical to better understanding this wildlife disease.”
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