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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
The Michigan DNR announced that ground blinds for deer hunting purposes now may be placed on public land beginning on Sept. 1.
Previously, deer hunters were not allowed to place ground blinds on public land before Nov. 5. This change makes placement dates and opportunities for ground blinds consistent with those for raised platforms/scaffolds (often called tree stands), which also can be placed on public land as early as Sept. 1.
The Natural Resources Commission adopted this regulation change at its August meeting - after the 2013 Hunting and Trapping Digest was printed, so the new ground blind placement date does not appear in the printed version of the digest.
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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health announced that epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer in Muskegon County, which is the first county to have EHD hit this fall.
The disease is caused by a virus that is transmitted by a type of midge. A constant characteristic of EHD is its sudden onset. Deer can suffer extensive internal bleeding, lose their appetite and fear of humans, grow progressively weaker, salivate excessively and finally become unconscious. Due to a high fever and extensive internal bleeding, infected deer often are found sick or dead along or in bodies of water. The first, hard frost should kill the flies. Visit www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseasesM/a> for more information about EHD.
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
The Michigan DNR has made antlerless deer drawing results available online where you can also find availability of remaining licenses at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings.
All remaining public and private-land antlerless deer licenses will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. Licenses will be sold until quotas are met. Licenses may be purchased online or at any authorized license agent or at a DNR Customer Service Center.
A number of new, smaller Deer Management Units (DMUs) have been created in southern Michigan, replacing the large multi-county DMU 486 that has been in place for the past few years. Several of these new DMUs range from two to four counties in size; DMU 308 (Barry, Calhoun and Eaton counties), DMU 311 (Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties), DMU 319 (Clinton, Gratiot, Ingham and Shiawassee counties), DMU 332 (Huron, Sanilac and Tuscola counties), DMU 339 (Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties), DMU 341 (Kent and Ottawa counties and those portions of Muskegon County in Zone 3), DMU 354 (Mecosta and Montcalm counties), and DMU 361 (Newaygo and Oceana counties and those portions of Muskegon County in Zone 2).
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(Provided by Michigan DNR)
The Michigan DNR announced that approximately 2 miles of the St. Joseph River in Southwest Michigan will be closed Sept. 10-11 to accommodate an Early Detection and Prudent Response (EDPR) field exercise conducted by Fisheries Division staff.
The DNRs Fisheries Division is tasked with developing a plan for addressing any findings of Asian carp in Michigan waters. The EDPR field exercise will provide the division with the opportunity to test this plan by practicing fish collection methods in anticipation of what might occur if a silver carp or bighead carp discovery was made in a river leading into the Great Lakes. Presently, no live bighead carp or silver carp have been found in Michigans waters, either Great Lakes or inland; this measure is purely to ensure the states readiness.
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Abby Wetherell, 12, was injured Thursday by an attack by a black bear in Wexford County, north of Cadillac. Abby was airlifted to Munson Medical Center where she underwent surgery and is in stable condition and under observation. She suffered deep lacerations in her thigh.
Conservation Officers Sam Koscinski and Holly Pennoni from the DNR were quickly on scene following the attack, which occurred shortly after 9 p.m. in Haring Township. Abby, who lives in Haring Township, was returning from a cabin down a two-track road when she caught sight of a bear. She began to run in hopes of reaching nearby homes. The bear attacked and clawed her. Abby was able to get to her feet and ran again. The bear caught up with her and attacked a second time. She shouted for help and a neighbor heard her and ran to her aid calling her name. This startled the bear and the bear ran off.