Deer hunting violations on upswing in Michigan

[Skunk]

Shooting a deer and buying a license after the fact is on the rise.

Now that's a good one there. We've had a few folks shoot deer with a rifle during bow season and then try to force an arrow in or through the carcass to make it look like the deer was taken with a bow. Then to register it, they take the deer to a registration station where a teenage girl (or anyone) who would never know the difference is registering the kills that day.

Officials: Deer hunting violations on upswing

By Howard Meyerson, The Grand Rapids Press, found at MLive.com

December 13, 2009

West Michigan law enforcement officials report that an increasing number of deer hunters are cutting legal corners this year.

The number of baiting violations are up, along with trespass complaints and shooting deer without a license.

“If you look at tickets written, then baiting and trespass are No. 1,” said Sgt. Dave Shaw, a conservation officer who oversees Kent and five surrounding counties. “But, by far, the most arrests are for tagging violations and illegal deer. Shooting a deer and buying a license after the fact is on the rise.”

The story is somewhat similar statewide, according to captain Tom Courchaine, who oversees law enforcement field operations for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Baiting arrests are down from 2008 when the bating ban first was implemented in the Lower Peninsula.

However, other violations are on the rise.

“We are seeing a lot of license violations, especially in the Upper Peninsula. We see a lot of loaning of licenses, shooting bucks with combo tags that you are not allowed to shoot (smaller antlers than allowed) or those who wait to buy a license.

“They shoot a buck opening day or the next, and then go and buy a license for it. We’ve seen a marked increase in those types of violations.”

Courchaine said Michigan’s troubled economy may be playing a role. With more hunters out of work, an increasing number may be trying to stretch their dollars. But Shaw said trying to cut these corners could end up costing hunters considerably more.

Killing a deer without a license can get expensive. They are required to pay $1,000 restitution for each deer, spend a mandatory five days in jail, pay a minimum fine of $250  and lose their hunting privileges for three following years.

“It’s not worth it for a $15 license,” Shaw said.

Air surveillance of Kent Ionia, Barry and Allegan counties showed an uptick in baiting activity, Shaw said. Hunters seem to be slipping back into their old patterns, even becoming more crafty, turning to sugar beets rather than carrots because they are less visible. Officers also found bait placed between corn rows to avoid detection.

“The general feeling among our officers is that compliance has slipped. And I saw plenty of bait on the ground,” said Shaw, who conducted the West Michigan over-flights. “Trespass is always a deer season activity we deal with, but this year baiting was right up there."

E-mail Howard Meyerson at hmeyerson@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/HMeyerson

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2009/12/officials_deer_hunting_violati.html

[youthpastorjon]

I personally feel they should up the fine big time for those who violate the law.  Those of us who hunt legally and try to do what is right are made to look stupid year after year by those who can't seem to play by the rules.

[Skunk]

I'm with you Pastor Jon. It never ceases to amaze me - the folks who just can't fathom the idea that honesty is the best policy.

[Lloyd Smale]

i buy my combo tag every year but can see some of the justification these people have that dont. First there is no deer herd up here right now and most people think that there doing nothing but giving the dnr more money to waste on wolves and moose and elk. They figure if they get a buck then they will give the dnr there money to waste. In my opinion the baiting rules are a joke. We have no deseise up here so that argument is out the door. We have a deer herd that between starvation and preditors is about gone. The only way its going to come back is if we feed them and get rid of the wolves. I left camp on friday and when i did i dumped over 500 lbs of bait on the ground. I figure at least a couple deer will have a bit more fat for the long winter. These baiting restrictions are a joke up here. I went to a whitetails meeting and the people who pushed the dnr to implement them are people who either hunt on farms that have crops they shoot deer over, people who have planted crops for deer on the hunting land and people who are to cheap to buy some bait so think that you should be allowed to so that they have an equal chance to shoot a buck without working for it or spending any money. Most of those hunters find spots on runways into someone elses bait pile anyway. You think the dnr is bad now with issueing citations wait till next year if they change the law to one buck (which they had better do) they will loose have there licience fees. You will see the price of the single licience go up and a big increase in citations issued so that they can have all there partys and keep them wolves in good health! What they ought to do is issue one licience and if a guy brings in a wolf carcass he gets a free second licience!!!!!!!!!!

[Drilling Man]

  Baiting deer is legal in the UP, are there restrictions to that baiting?

  DM

[youthpastorjon]

Baiting is illegal here in NY and I prefer it that way.  Where is the sport in hunting over a bait pile?  I don't say this to offend those of you who do but I would much rather devote preseason scouting and proper stand placement than a bait pile.  My kids will be taught to be outdoorsman not how to dump food in the woods.     

[1sourdough]

 Yes baiting is legal in the U.P., the 'tradition' goes back a long ways. There are restrictions though, I think only able after 1 Oct or so, 2 gal at a time limit & spread over a 10ft X 10ft area. It's close to that anyway. I have never shot a deer over bait but don't have a problem with it. I had some older relatives & that was their method for their last few years of hunting. I'm not a big wolf fan either, their season never ends.

[ihookem]

I did some baiting this year over one of my stands. I saw nothing there. They are learning to only come into bait after dark. They are starting to figure it out. I have an old doe around my cabin that never showed up until dark according to the trail cam. Now her offspring stays away till dark too. All the deer that disagreed with her are in some ones freezer. This is one reason Wisconsin did so poor this year. The deer don't get too hungry when it's 52 degrees and calm. I went to a stand I didn't use for five years and in an hour, lo and behold that big old doe that never shows up at my corn till dark sneaks up behind me with two other older daughters and a little fawn. Standing around a half hour an 8 point buck shows up. I got the buck. I have pics of the same buck t my corn but only when it was night time. Baiting is really starting to die in Wisconsin and for the better. Those deer have to move 5 times as much if there is no corn in the woods.