LANSING — The Michigan House has approved legislation to lift the deer baiting ban during open hunting seasons in the Lower Peninsula.
The bill, House Bill 4445, was sponsored by State Rep. Jennifer Wortz and would allow deer baiting while rolling back several deer and elk feeding restrictions put in place in recent years.
The deer baiting ban was imposed statewide in the Lower Peninsula in 2019 by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, based on concerns that baiting could contribute to the spread of bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.
Supporters of the legislation argue the restrictions have contributed to rising deer populations, increased crop damage, and more traffic crashes involving wildlife.
State data estimates about 55,000 deer-vehicle collisions occur annually in Michigan, with hundreds happening daily during peak fall months. Michigan’s deer population is estimated at roughly 2 million statewide.
The bill now moves to the Michigan Senate for further consideration.