Deer hunting season will be different in Michigan due to pandemic, officials say

[Graybeard]

https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/deer-hunting-michigan-pandemic-officials

By Michael Hollan | Fox News



Not even hunting is safe from changes this year.

Ahead of hunting season, some state and local officials are preparing for a year unlike any other. While some areas may be expecting a higher number of hunters than usual, others are preparing for having fewer resources and personnel available.


In Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources says that there will be significantly fewer check stations for deer hunters. (iStock)

In Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says there will be significantly fewer check stations for deer hunters, Fox 17 reports. These stations are important for hunters to check in with officials and provide information about where they’re hunting and the deer they’ve harvested.


Chad Stewart, a deer specialist with the DNR, told the news outlet, “We have restrictions on how many individuals we can hire to operate those check stations. Furthermore, with the current pandemic going on we have limitations in terms of what we feel is comfortable or safe for not only our staff but for our hunters as well.”

Stewart explained that during a typical year, there might be anywhere from 100 to 150 of such stations. This year, however, there may only be about 10 to 15 stations open at the start of archery season.


“We collect a lot of biological information,” he said. “We collect tissues for disease surveillance. It’s really beneficial to help monitor the health and the status of the deer herd and how it changed year after year. This year obviously things are very different.”

Aside from a limited number of stations, staff will apparently be limited in the amount they can interact with hunters.


According to Stewart, “The people that bring their deer in are generally pretty happy. The fact that you can talk to them about their experience. We always give them like a little patch. That’s free and it sort of shows that they were a willing contributor to some of the biological information. That always makes people’s day.”

[Lloyd Smale]

used to get my VA handicapped license at the regional dnr office about 40 miles from here. Went there about a month ago and there wasnt a single soul inside. This building usually has over 50 people in it. There was a number to call on the door so i called it and got a field officer 50 miles away. Told him i needed my license and he took my name and said he would take care of it. About 2 weeks later my license came in the mail. So with road officers even having to take care of VA licenses my guess is they will hard to find come deer season. Good for the violators not the public. Same thing with the bear this year. I had one do 3400 dollars damage to my truck that got in my box and stole a whole deer out of it. Also my neighbor and i have had bear tearing limbs off our fruit trees. Called the dnr and they basicaly said tough S###. I told them if they couldn't take care of them i would start shooting them and they said oh well if you get caught your getting fined. But whos going to catch me?? Right now they have two officers that take care of the two biggest counties up here. Hundreds of square miles. But id bet the main office in lansing still has money for power lunches and meetings.