Deer regulations for county expected to gain NRC support.
Quality deer management (QDM) is expected to gain the support of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) today, the Leelanau Enterprise has learned.
NRC chair Keith Charters of Traverse City has confirmed that the special rules designed to allow younger bucks to survive hunting seasons enjoyed more than the 67 percent support required for their renewal in surveys, according to a policy adopted several years ago.
Charters said he did not know the exact percentage of support shown by hunters and landowners in separate surveys conducted in December. But he did confirm that support had increased since the special regulations were approved by the NRC five years ago, which he expected to lead to easy approval by NRC members.
"I understand the number is higher this time," said Charters. "It should be an automatic renewal."
QDM has led a charmed life in Leelanau compared to most other parts of Michigan, where opposition has shown up in similar surveys. Brian Frawley, Department of Natural Resources statistician who conducted the Leelanau survey but because of state policy could not divulge its results, said three surveys for QDM zones set up elsewhere in Michigan showed support hovering about 50 percent or slightly higher. Consequently, QDM rules were removed from those area.
Presently, five QDM zones are in effect in Michigan — and two of those are in Leelanau County. South Fox Island has a "no spike" rule in effect. Spike bucks also may not be taken by hunters in QDM zones encompassing parts of Iosco County and all of Drummond Island. Within Michigan, only a QDM area in Dickinson County shares the special rules for bucks enforced in Leelanau, where antlers must have at least three points on one side to be harvested.
Charters said supporters of QDM in Leelanau did a better job of explaining and publicizing hunter success following implementation of the rules, leading to its renewal.
"To my knowledge, this is the first area that has been renewed by the survey program," said Charters, himself a proponent of QDM rules.
"It’s not just for trophy bucks," said Charters, who opined that hunting and wildlife management would improve across Michigan if more does were taken by hunters while allowing young bucks to walk. The result would be a better balanced and healthier deer herd, he believes.
"If Michigan would go QDM, for the first 2-3 years people would be very upset. But in five years, they would be happy as could be," he said.
Charters doubted that four votes could be found on the 7-member NRC to change the rules statewide. But given results of the surveys of hunters and landowners in Leelanau, he was certain QDM rules would be extended here.
The NRC today was also expected to take up a moratorium it put in place stopping future applications by deer hunters to establish more QDM areas. "You can bet your bottom dollar that Leelanau will be used as a poster child as we more forward," said Charters.
Five years ago it was doubtful that QDM would be given a chance in Leelanau. A local group that formed under the name Leelanau Whitetails had applied to change hunting rules in Leelanau County, but only support among hunters surpassed the 67 percent threshold. Landowners surveyed offered 64 percent support.
Bob Garner was then co-chair of the NRC, and was on the verge of voting down the QDM petition before hearing from Ben Peyton, a Michigan State University professor who helped write the policy allowing hunters to petition for QDM rules within their deer management areas.
"He came forward to say the results were within the margin of error of the survey, which led me to change my vote," said Garner.
QDM has had supporters and detractors in Leelanau County. Prior to the December survey, some orchardists expressed concern that they had incurred increasing damage in their orchards from browsing and buck rubs on young fruit trees. Surveys were mailed from a pool that included all owners or five or more acres, mixing the voices of large property owners with the opinions of smaller parcels.
In a letter mailed to landowners and hunters on Oct. 11 by Leelanau Whitetails, organization president Will Bunek wrote that the Leelanau deer population remained "well below habitat limits" while including "a dramatic increase in mature bucks."
Frawley said state policy does not call for further surveys. Consequently, QDM rules will remain in place in Leelanau until the NRC decides otherwise.
Charters said renewal of QDM rules in Leelanau may be good for businesses in the fall, but could frustrate residents looking for a good place to hunt. "That’s one of the byproducts of doing it county by county. The upside is there will be more people which is good for business. The downside is (hunters) don’t like the competition."
By Alan Campbell
Of The Enterprise staff
Quality deer management (QDM) is expected to gain the support of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) today, the Leelanau Enterprise has learned.
NRC chair Keith Charters of Traverse City has confirmed that the special rules designed to allow younger bucks to survive hunting seasons enjoyed more than the 67 percent support required for their renewal in surveys, according to a policy adopted several years ago.
Charters said he did not know the exact percentage of support shown by hunters and landowners in separate surveys conducted in December. But he did confirm that support had increased since the special regulations were approved by the NRC five years ago, which he expected to lead to easy approval by NRC members.
"I understand the number is higher this time," said Charters. "It should be an automatic renewal."
QDM has led a charmed life in Leelanau compared to most other parts of Michigan, where opposition has shown up in similar surveys. Brian Frawley, Department of Natural Resources statistician who conducted the Leelanau survey but because of state policy could not divulge its results, said three surveys for QDM zones set up elsewhere in Michigan showed support hovering about 50 percent or slightly higher. Consequently, QDM rules were removed from those area.
Presently, five QDM zones are in effect in Michigan — and two of those are in Leelanau County. South Fox Island has a "no spike" rule in effect. Spike bucks also may not be taken by hunters in QDM zones encompassing parts of Iosco County and all of Drummond Island. Within Michigan, only a QDM area in Dickinson County shares the special rules for bucks enforced in Leelanau, where antlers must have at least three points on one side to be harvested.
Charters said supporters of QDM in Leelanau did a better job of explaining and publicizing hunter success following implementation of the rules, leading to its renewal.
"To my knowledge, this is the first area that has been renewed by the survey program," said Charters, himself a proponent of QDM rules.
"It’s not just for trophy bucks," said Charters, who opined that hunting and wildlife management would improve across Michigan if more does were taken by hunters while allowing young bucks to walk. The result would be a better balanced and healthier deer herd, he believes.
"If Michigan would go QDM, for the first 2-3 years people would be very upset. But in five years, they would be happy as could be," he said.
Charters doubted that four votes could be found on the 7-member NRC to change the rules statewide. But given results of the surveys of hunters and landowners in Leelanau, he was certain QDM rules would be extended here.
The NRC today was also expected to take up a moratorium it put in place stopping future applications by deer hunters to establish more QDM areas. "You can bet your bottom dollar that Leelanau will be used as a poster child as we more forward," said Charters.
Five years ago it was doubtful that QDM would be given a chance in Leelanau. A local group that formed under the name Leelanau Whitetails had applied to change hunting rules in Leelanau County, but only support among hunters surpassed the 67 percent threshold. Landowners surveyed offered 64 percent support.
Bob Garner was then co-chair of the NRC, and was on the verge of voting down the QDM petition before hearing from Ben Peyton, a Michigan State University professor who helped write the policy allowing hunters to petition for QDM rules within their deer management areas.
"He came forward to say the results were within the margin of error of the survey, which led me to change my vote," said Garner.
QDM has had supporters and detractors in Leelanau County. Prior to the December survey, some orchardists expressed concern that they had incurred increasing damage in their orchards from browsing and buck rubs on young fruit trees. Surveys were mailed from a pool that included all owners or five or more acres, mixing the voices of large property owners with the opinions of smaller parcels.
In a letter mailed to landowners and hunters on Oct. 11 by Leelanau Whitetails, organization president Will Bunek wrote that the Leelanau deer population remained "well below habitat limits" while including "a dramatic increase in mature bucks."
Frawley said state policy does not call for further surveys. Consequently, QDM rules will remain in place in Leelanau until the NRC decides otherwise.
Charters said renewal of QDM rules in Leelanau may be good for businesses in the fall, but could frustrate residents looking for a good place to hunt. "That’s one of the byproducts of doing it county by county. The upside is there will be more people which is good for business. The downside is (hunters) don’t like the competition."
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