Proposal 10 – MUCC Support For DMU Antlerless Harvest Goals

Proposed Resolution #10

Requires 2/3 Majority

Submitted by: Erik Schnelle, Michigan State Council – National Deer Association
Passed: December 2, 2023 Conservation Policy Board Meeting
Title: MUCC Support For DMU Antlerless Harvest Goals

WHEREAS: under-harvesting or overharvesting antlerless deer can have a damaging effect on deer herds, deer hunting and wildlife habitat,

and;

WHEREAS: achieving an appropriate level of antlerless harvest is necessary to responsibly manage deer densities, deer health and wildlife habitat quality,

and;

WHEREAS: the appropriate level of antlerless harvest will vary for every deer management unit (DMU) in the state of Michigan,

and;

WHEREAS: harvest goals are widely used and a successful tool for managing wildlife and fisheries,

and;

WHEREAS: Michigan has successfully implemented a mandatory reporting system for deer that enables hunters to track harvest in near real-time throughout the deer seasons and alert hunters on progress toward goal achievement via email,

and;

WHEREAS: Michigan has a need to harvest more antlerless deer in many parts of the state yet 75% of the state’s hunters won’t shoot an antlerless deer, only 17% of the state’s hunters take one antlerless deer and 8% of Michigan’s hunters take more than one antlerless deer,

and;

WHEREAS: Antlerless harvest has declined by about 28% over the last 20 years,

NOW;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that MUCC work with the DNR and NRC to implement annually adjusted DMU level antlerless harvest goals, educate and inform hunters regarding those goals, provide in-season information to hunters on goal achievement, and in cases of significant overharvest allows for the closing of seasons or limitation of additional harvest.