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HB 4445

Natural resources: hunting; feeding or baiting deer; allow. Amends secs. 40102 & 40111a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.40102 & 324.40111a).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Timmy Beson and 9 co-sponsors

Michigan bill legalizes deer baiting and feeding for hunters, potentially increasing harvest success but raising disease transmission and fair-chase hunting concerns.

referred to second reading
#naturalresources:hunting
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Bill Summary · HB 4445

Legislative bill overview

HB 4445 amends Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to legalize the feeding or baiting of deer for hunting purposes. Currently, Michigan law prohibits this practice, and this bill would remove that restriction, allowing hunters to use food or bait to attract deer to specific hunting locations.

Why is this important

This change directly affects hunting practices and wildlife management strategy in Michigan. The policy shift could increase hunting success rates and access for certain hunters, but also impacts deer population dynamics, disease transmission risk, and hunting tradition/fairness debates within the sportsman community.

Potential points of contention

  • Disease transmission concerns: Concentrated feeding sites can accelerate spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and other deer diseases by increasing animal contact and congregation
  • Hunting fairness and tradition: Baiting is viewed by some as unfair advantage that undermines fair-chase hunting ethics, while others see it as legitimate accessibility tool
  • Wildlife management philosophy: Conflicts with natural population control methods; concentrated feeding may artificially inflate local deer populations and alter migration/behavior patterns

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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