Bill > SB0065

This bill amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to clarify and regulate deer and elk baiting practices. The bill introduces a new definition of "deer or elk baiting" that specifically describes the act of depositing or distributing feed to attract deer or elk for hunting purposes, while providing several exceptions for agricultural practices, wildlife feeding, and feed storage. Most significantly, the bill establishes a new deer baiting license that allows hunters to bait deer on private property during open deer hunting seasons, with a fee of $15 for residents and $30 for non-residents, provided they also possess a valid deer hunting license. The bill also grants the state's natural resources commission the authority to ban baiting in specific deer management units where chronic wasting disease or other wildlife diseases have been detected, specifically if two or more cases are found in a single year. The provisions of this bill are set to expire on January 1, 2029, which allows for potential future review and modification of the deer baiting regulations. Overall, the bill aims to provide clearer guidelines for deer and elk baiting while maintaining wildlife management and disease prevention considerations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0065