LANSING, MI — We have learned that Michigan wildlife officials won’t be able to check as many deer for chronic wasting disease during this fall’s hunting season.
The state Department of Natural Resources department is facing staff and financial shortages as well as challenges from the coronavirus pandemic.
The heads of deer taken in certain sections of six counties will be accepted for testing from Oct. 3 to Jan. 4. Those counties are Jackson, Isabella, and Gratiot along with several upper peninsula counties.
Deer heads from Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties will be accepted for state testing only from Nov. 15-18.
There is information on chronic wasting disease at Michigan.gov/CWD. The archery season starts Thursday. The traditional firearm deer season starts Nov. 15.
