Object Type: Folder
In Folder: RG 2019-30 Wildlife Division Reports, 1937-2017
A survey was completed to determine whether hunters and landowners supported existing mandatory Quality Deer Management (QDM) regulations in Deer Management Unit (DMU) 045. A key feature of these existing QDM regulations was the legal definition of a buck was a deer with three or more points on one antler. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 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; 75% of the landowners and 85% of hunters returned their questionnaire. About 72% of landowners owning land in DMU 045 and 72% of people hunting deer in DMU 045 supported continuation of antler point restrictions. Support from both landowners and hunters was sufficient to recommend continuation of antler point restrictions
