Details

Published: 06 September 2024

MDNR Report

Dead Michigan Deer

A common viral deer disease has made a return to St. Joseph County after a three-year hiatus, with additional counties likely to follow. Over the past several weeks, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has received reports of over 120 probable cases of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, primarily from counties in the southwestern Lower Peninsula.

The DNR Wildlife Health Section and the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory recently confirmed the EHD virus in a free-ranging white-tailed deer from St. Joseph County. Several other counties are awaiting lab confirmation.

EHD is a viral, sometimes fatal disease found in wild ruminants such as white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk.

“Although early reports indicate 2024 could see a significant outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in pockets of Michigan’s deer population, this isn’t necessarily unusual,” said Chad Stewart, acting supervisor of the DNR Wildlife Division's Sustainable Populations Section.

Stewart said that EHD-related deer deaths have occurred on and off in Michigan since 2006. During these EHD outbreaks, an estimated 50 to 1,000 deer died in isolated areas. The largest die-off occurred in 2012, with an estimated loss of more than 14,000 deer in more than 30 counties. No cases of EHD were confirmed in 2014 or 2015, and deer mortality has occurred to varying degrees annually since 2015.

There is no known effective treatment for, or control of, EHD in wild populations. The disease has been seen for decades in many areas of the United States.

EHD symptoms, pathways

EHD is transmitted by a type of biting fly called a midge of the genus Culicoides. Weather conditions in 2024 have made it easier for the virus to spread. Studies in other states have shown that a warm spring followed by a relatively rainy July and hot, dry August seem to be significant factors that make an outbreak more likely. When these conditions are present, muddy areas where this fly lays its eggs and reproduces become more common. Warm temperatures in late summer and early fall also contribute to the virus replicating more rapidly.

Outbreaks of EHD are characterized in several ways:

• Sick and dead deer are found in or around bodies of water.
• Illness in deer can come on suddenly and severely but also can linger for weeks or months in a low-grade state.
• In severe forms of the disease, deer lose their appetite and their fear of humans, grow progressively weaker, salivate excessively and finally become unconscious.
• Due to a high fever and dehydration, infected deer often seek water to lower their body temperature and to rehydrate.

Stewart said that while mortality rates can be high in some localized areas, not all deer will contract EHD, and not all deer that get EHD will die from it.

“Deer that survive epizootic hemorrhagic disease develop immunity to the virus, and outbreaks are rarely seen in the same area in consecutive years,” he said.
What should the public know?

EHD is not expected to have widespread deer population-level impacts, but it can significantly affect localized areas if mortality is severe. The onset of a hard frost will kill the “insect vector” – essentially the carrier for disease transmission – stopping movement of the virus.

In areas with significant mortality, local deer numbers tend to rebound after two to three years.

EHD is not transmitted from deer to deer. There is no evidence that humans or household pets can contract the EHD virus.

For hunters who hunt in areas that were affected by EHD, venison is still safe for consumption. While it’s not recommended you consume venison from animals that are visibly sick, if a deer is harvested during the hunting season in an area that had EHD, there is no evidence humans can contract the virus from consuming venison.

Deer carcasses can be disposed of through natural decomposition, which does not spread EHD or contribute to outbreaks. Property owners are responsible for proper disposal of carcasses if they wish to remove them. Carcasses can be buried at sufficient depth so that no body parts are showing, or they can be disposed of at landfills that accept household solid waste.

Looking ahead

The DNR expects additional EHD cases in more counties to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Deer must be tested within 24 hours of death for proper diagnostic testing, and the whole carcass is required for testing.

Once EHD has been confirmed in a county, no additional deer from that county need to be tested. Areas that have been reporting cases since early August will see the most widespread population impacts. Areas with no reported cases until mid- to late September likely will see less severe effects on local deer numbers.

“If you suspect a deer death is due to epizootic hemorrhagic disease, please report it to the DNR so that we can track cases and better estimate the total number of deer affected in an area,” Stewart said. “Hunters’ observations can be especially helpful as they hit the field and look around this fall.”

Anyone who discovers sick or dead deer near bodies of water is urged to report it using the DNR’s Eyes in the Field webpage.

Learn more about epizootic hemorrhagic disease in white-tailed deer.

Details

Published: 23 July 2024

MDNR Report

Select hunters may need to apply for a limited-hunt access permit to hunt deer in some areas.

Universal antlerless licenses are available for purchase over the counter without an application.

Upper Peninsula deer hunters

• In the western central part of the Upper Peninsula, deer management unit 352 will require an antlerless deer hunting access permit AND a universal antlerless deer license to hunt antlerless deer. The eastern central part of the Upper Peninsula, DMU 351, is closed to antlerless hunting in 2024.
• DMU 352 is made up of DMUs 027, 036, 152 and 252. See the online deer management units map for a map of DMUs.
• 500 access permits will be available in DMU 352.  
• One antlerless deer hunting access permit for the DMU you are hunting in plus one universal antlerless deer license are required for each deer harvested.
• If you hunt in DMUs 022, 122, 055, 155, 255 and 121 in the U.P., all you will need is a universal antlerless deer license to hunt antlerless deer.

Closed to antlerless hunting 2024:

• DMUs 127, 066, 031, 131, 042, 007 and 048 in the northern part of the U.P. 
• DMU 351 in the east central U.P., including DMUs 021, 349, 249, 149, 017 and 117.

Lower Peninsula deer hunters

If you are participating in a reserved deer hunt at Sharonville State Game Area, Shiawassee River National Wildlife Refuge or Shiawassee State Game Area, you will need to apply for a reserved deer hunt access permit. 

Details

Published: 06 May 2024

IDNR Report

Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has opened a second public comment period for proposed changes to Indiana’s deer hunting rules before it votes on final adoption of the proposed changes. Most proposed changes intend to simplify Indiana’s deer hunting rules to make them easier to understand.

Proposed changes include:

• A statewide bag limit of six antlerless deer as well as a newly created county antlerless bag limit instead of season antlerless bag limits. Because of this change, the bonus antlerless license would be the multiple-season antlerless license that could be used in the archery, muzzleloader, and firearms seasons.
• Hunters would not be able to harvest an antlerless deer on Fish & Wildlife properties with a firearm.
• The use of crossbow equipment would be allowed under the archery license.
• The minimum caliber for a muzzleloader would be reduced from 0.44 inches to 0.40 inches.
• If a deer is unfit for human consumption, DNR staff would be able to issue an authorization to take an antlerless deer in its place that will not count toward the statewide bag limit or county limit.
• Adding the deer reduction zones and county antlerless bag limits.
• Removing the special antlerless firearms season.

Public comments can be submitted online at IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket via the “Submit Comments Here” link in the Rulemaking Docket for the Deer Hunting Amendments. Comments can also be mailed to:

Natural Resources Commission

Indiana Government Center North 

100 North Senate Ave., Room N103

Indianapolis, IN 46204

The deadline for submitting public comments is May 20. A public hearing will be held on May 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ET at Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area, 7970 S. Rowe St., Edinburgh, IN 46124; you can attend in person or online during that timeframe. There will also be an in-person-only open house immediately before the hearing, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET at the same location. To attend the public hearing online, starting at 5:30 p.m. on May 20, go to Microsoft Teams and enter Meeting ID 213 479 076 835 and Passcode Ack2vu.

For more information on the proposed rule changes, visit wildlife.IN.gov/rule-regulation-changes