State Rep. Parker Fairbairn this week attended a Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) meeting in Lansing to advocate for renewed consideration of deer baiting in the Lower Peninsula. At the meeting, Fairbairn spoke with commissioners and audience members, many of whom expressed support for reopening the discussion on deer baiting, if not full support for reinstating the practice.

“I think it’s time for the Natural Resources Commission to revisit the deer baiting ban in the Lower Peninsula,” said Fairbairn, R–Harbor Springs. “The Michigan House has approved legislation to eliminate the ban, but that step would not be necessary if the NRC takes action. While at the meeting, I spoke with dozens of hunters who share my belief that allowing deer baiting would bring more people back to hunting and into the outdoors.”

Earlier this year, the Michigan House approved legislation to eliminate the Lower Peninsula baiting ban with significant bipartisan support. Fairbairn said lifting the ban would accomplish several key goals:

• Retain and attract more hunters to Michigan’s long-standing deer hunting tradition
• Increase hunter success rates, helping better manage the state’s deer population of approximately 2 million
• Reduce the roughly 55,000 vehicle-deer collisions reported annually
• Increase funding for wildlife management through additional license sales, while boosting local economies by encouraging hunters to visit sporting goods stores, lodging, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, and other small businesses across the state

Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts who would like to contact the NRC regarding deer baiting or other issues can reach them via email at NRC@michigan.gov

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