Tri-City Sun

State Representative Timmy Beson has introduced a bill aiming to address Michigan's deer baiting ban. The legislation seeks to balance hunting practices with conservation efforts.

“I’ve heard from many hunters on both sides of this issue,” said Beson, representing Bay City. “Hunting helps with conservation and supports our local economies. The current ban actively discourages people from these things. At the same time, no one wants to see our state’s deer population wiped out by disease, and there are efforts in place to study diseases and impacts on wildlife to make sure that doesn’t happen. Those efforts must continue. My plan respects both aspects of this discussion, provides options for hunters, and is an effective way forward.”

House Bill 4191 proposes allowing deer and elk baiting under specific conditions while clarifying existing laws. Hunters would need a valid hunting license and a baiting license, limiting them to five gallons of bait per day at one site.

The proposed $20 annual fee for the baiting license would fund research on diseases like chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis in Michigan's free-ranging deer or elk populations. Beson also mentioned another proposal, House Bill 4206, which would let hunters take two does per season without purchasing an additional $20 antlerless deer license—making the baiting license effectively cost-neutral for some hunters.

Currently, the Lower Peninsula prohibits baiting except for disabled hunters meeting certain criteria. Some Upper Peninsula counties also enforce bans due to infectious disease surveillance. Previous attempts to amend these restrictions have been vetoed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Beson's bill additionally allows feeding wild birds or other wildlife if it prevents access by free-ranging white-tailed deer and elk. This provision aims to protect individuals who might otherwise face legal issues under current law interpretations.

House Bill 4191 is now under review by the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee.