Reminder

Deer hunting seasons are just around the corner, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that within specific areas of the state there are regulations that have been instituted or opportunities made available to help battle Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

Impacts of CWD

Hunters are reminded that there is no known health risk to humans from CWD; however, it is recommended that a positive CWD deer not be consumed. CWD can spread through the deer herd and there is no treatment or recovery. Established CWD could significantly reduce the number of deer in Michigan and/or significantly depress older age classes, especially mature bucks. Hunter help is critical to the future of Michigan’s cervids.

Information for those hunting in Deer Management Units (DMUs) 419 and 333

• DMU 333 is within the CWD Management Zone and includes Bath, DeWitt, Eagle, Olive, Riley, Victor, Watertown, and Westphalia townships in Clinton County; Alaiedon, Delhi, Lansing, Meridian, Wheatfield, and Williamstown in Ingham County; Woodhull township in Shiawassee County; Delta, Oneida, and Roxand townships in Eaton County; and Danby and Portland townships in Ionia County. 
• DMU 419 consists of the parts of Clinton, Ingham, Shiawassee, Eaton, and Ionia counties not included in DMU 333 and is referred to as the CWD Management Zone. 
• Baiting and feeding of deer is illegal in DMUs 333 and 419.
• Deer registration is mandatory for deer harvested in DMU 333, though any deer harvested in 419 is encouraged to be checked for CWD at any DNR deer check station.
• All deer harvested in DMU 333 must be submitted to a DNR check station that is located within DMU 333 within 72 hours of harvest at which point hunters will be given a CWD tag to confirm deer were properly registered.
• If CWD is found in a submitted deer, the hunter will be notified by phone. If CWD is not found, test results will be posted online at mi.gov/dnrlab within seven business days of head or carcass submission.
• Deer check station hours and locations can be found at mi.gov/deer.

Information for those hunting in Deer Management Units (DMUs) 354 and 359

• DMU 359 is within DMU 354 and consists of the following townships: Mecosta, Austin, Morton, Hinton, Aetna, and Deerfield townships in Mecosta County; and Cato, Winfield, and Reynolds townships in Montcalm County.
• Deer Management Unit (DMU) 354 consists of the remainder of Mecosta and Montcalm counties.
• Baiting and feeding is legal in DMUs 354 and 359, but is strongly discouraged.
• Deer registration is mandatory for deer harvested in DMU 359, though any deer harvested in 354 is encouraged to be checked for CWD at any DNR deer check station.
• All deer harvested from within DMU 359 be submitted to a DNR check station that is located within DMU 359 within 72 hours of harvest, at which point hunters will be given a CWD tag to confirm deer were properly registered.
• If CWD is found in a submitted deer, the hunter will be notified by phone. If CWD is not found, test results will be posted online at mi.gov/dnrlab within seven business days of head or carcass submission.
• Deer check station hours and locations can be found at mi.gov/deer.

Importation restrictions

For those who plan to hunt outside of Michigan this fall, it is important to note that regulations related to the importation of harvested cervids (such as deer, elk or moose) have changed substantially.

Hunters who harvest a cervid in any other state or province can bring back only the following cervid parts into Michigan:

• Hides.
• Deboned meat.
• Quarters (legs, including leg bones, that do not have any part of the spinal column or head attached).
• Finished taxidermy products.
• Cleaned teeth.
• Antlers.
• Antlers attached to a skullcap cleaned of brain and muscle tissue.

When out hunting - what to look for

While hunters are out in the woods, keep a watchful eye for deer exhibiting signs of CWD. Deer with the disease can be emaciated, show abnormal behavior such as loss of fear of humans, lowered head, or excessive drooling or salivation. Report sick deer to the DNR at 1-800-292-7800.

Disease control permits available

Landowners with 5 acres or more in DMUs 333 or 359 may be eligible for disease control permits, which can be used to harvest deer throughout the entire year. Please contact the DNR Wildlife Disease Lab at 517-336-5030 to determine if you are eligible and request a permit. The permits are free.

Field dressing and processing your deer

It is recommended that when field dressing your deer:

• Wear rubber gloves.
• Bone out the meat.
• Minimize the handling of brain and spinal tissues.
• Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing is completed.
• Avoid consuming brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes of harvested animals.
• Request that your animal is processed individually, without meat from other animals being added to the meat from your animal.
• DO NOT discard leftover parts of deer on the landscape! CWD prions are concentrated in the brain and spinal cord and if left on the landscape, those prions can spread the disease to healthy deer. Dispose of leftover parts by garbage service or at a landfill.

Additional background

CWD is a fatal central nervous system disease that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose. It attacks the brain of infected animals creating small lesions in the brain, which result in death. It is transmitted through direct animal to animal contact, or by contact with saliva, urine, feces, blood, carcass parts of an infected animal, or infected soil.

CWD is transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. Infected animals may display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss and physical debilitation. To date, there is no evidence that CWD presents any risk to humans or other animals outside the deer family, either through contact with an infected deer or from handling venison that came from a CWD-infected deer. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

In April 2015, a female, 6-year-old, free-ranging white-tailed deer in Ingham County was killed and confirmed positive for CWD. This marked Michigan's first-ever case of chronic wasting disease in a free-ranging cervid. Since the discovery of that first animal, the DNR has sampled over 13,800 free-ranging deer from around the state. A total of nine of those animals have tested positive for CWD.

In addition, CWD was confirmed in two female deer from a Mecosta County deer farm. This is the second time the disease has been found in a farmed deer facility in Michigan. In 2008, a white-tailed deer from a Kent County deer farm tested positive. Samples from the two deer were submitted for testing as a part of MDARD’s mandatory CWD surveillance program. All farmed deer facilities licensed with the Michigan Department Natural Resources must participate in this program. 

Find more information at mi.gov/cwd.

Questions?
Call 517-284-WILD (9453)