Report Nr. 3431 2004 Quality Deer Management (QDM) Survey Deer Management Unit 017 (Chippewa and Mackinac Counties)

A survey was completed to assess hunters and landowners support for mandatory QDM regulations in Deer Management Unit (DMU) 017. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) supports the voluntary implementation of QDM practices on private land in Michigan. However, mandatory regulations should be imposed in a DMU only when it can be shown that a clear majority (>66%) of hunters and landowners support implementation. Questionnaires were sent to a random sample of landowners and hunters; 73% of the landowners and 82% of hunters returned their questionnaire. About 59% of landowners owning land in DMU 017 and 58% of people hunting deer in DMU 017 supported implementing mandatory QDM regulations. Support from both landowners and hunters was insufficient to recommend implementation of mandatory QDM regulations for DMU 017.