Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
A coalition of lawmakers from the Upper Peninsula are blasting the Natural Resources Commission’s decision to wholesale ban deer baiting in parts of the Upper Peninsula in perpetuity.
“I am sick and tired of downstate knuckleheads trying to outlaw our U.P way of life,” said state Rep. Beau LaFave, of Iron Mountain. “These do-gooder environmentalists — who have never lived in the UP or hunted here — continue to pass rule after rule that makes life here difficult. Whether it’s Dana Nessel’s never-ending crusade to shut down Line 5 or the NRC’s wholesale ban on deer baiting, it’s clear that these people are unaware of the impact these policies have on our freedoms and our economy.”
LaFave said many small businesses in the U.P. sell deer bait to visiting hunters. A recent study published by the Michigan United Conservation Clubs showed Michigan’s 700,000 hunters and 1.1 million anglers brought more than $11 billion in economic activity to Michigan and support in excess of 170,000 Michigan jobs.
“I wonder also what happens to hunters within the new bait ban area who have already purchased their hunting licenses for the year,” LaFave said. “Are we going to refund hunters’ licenses now that the rules have changed? How much further will the NRC extend its authority? In one fell swoop they closed off baiting to a vast 660 square miles, what will stop them from adding hundreds more before the end of the next hunting season?”
The new ban impacts roughly 660 square miles, defined by major roadways within portions of Menominee, Delta and Dickinson counties. Last year, hunting and fishing license sales paid for $83.5 million of game and fish protection activity carried out by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
State Sen. Ed McBroom of Vulcan encouraged Upper Peninsula residents this spring to participate in the NRC’s public comment period leading up to the decision to ban deer baiting. He said northern lawmakers also urged the commissioners to hold a meeting in the Upper Peninsula before a decision was made and was disappointed that a meeting was not held.
“I am concerned that the commission did not take into full account the public comments offered by local residents. It would have been helpful to have a hearing in the area that will be affected by the ban,” McBroom said. “I am further concerned that the ban was enacted this year instead of waiting a year and I look forward to working on implementing a sunset for this new policy.”
“This ban will negatively impact most of Delta and Dickinson counties and some of Menominee, while providing little assurance that we can stop the spread of CWD in the U.P.,” said state Rep. Greg Markkanen of Hancock. “This ban was put in place because a single deer found in the area tested positive for CWD. We should be inviting hunters into our land to help us manage the deer population to contain the spread, not suggesting they find somewhere else to go.’
Markkanen also noted that banning baiting unfairly impacts disabled hunters who use bait as a regular part of their hunting activity.
