New Proposal Could Restore Deer Baiting in Lower Peninsula

Deer baiting in Michigan's Lower Peninsula stopped in 2008 to combat the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Lawmakers are looking to make a change.

Deer Baiting in Michigan

CWD has been a problem for whitetail deer in lower Michigan since before 2008. Chronic Wasting Disease spreads through direct contact between deer and indirect environmental contamination from saliva from sharing food (baiting), or coming in contact with urine, feces, and blood.

In the Upper Peninsula, deer baiting is still allowed, but hunters are limited to 2 gallons of bait dispersed over 10x10 feet on the ground. There are exceptions in the Lower Peninsula for hunters with disabilities.

Read More: DNR Verifies First Cougar Hit by Car in the Upper Peninsula

While the Michigan baiting ban is often blamed for declining hunter numbers and licenses, recent data shows license sales holding steady or even increasing slightly, with more new hunters.

Lower Peninsula Deer Baiting Ban Faces New Challenges

According to MLive, Michigan lawmakers have renewed a push to legalize deer baiting in the Lower Peninsula. Lawmakers claim the baiting ban is failing to control the deer population that is terrorizing farmers' crops, while collisions with cars continue to rise.

On December 10, 2025, the State House Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on the proposed lifting of the baiting ban that would allow hunters to bait deer and elk during hunting seasons.

Deer hunters in Michigan pre-bait ban used to harvest 600,000 deer annually and since the ban it has dropped to just under 300,000. There is data that suggests Michigan hunters need to harvest 800,000 deer annually to properly manage the herd.

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The bill is on the December 17 meeting agenda and if passed, we won't find out the new rules until spring of 2026.

👇BELOW: 2025 Archery Deer Season County-By-County Harvest Report👇