The Michigan Natural Resources Commission recently adopted several changes to the Deer Management Assistance Permit (DMAP) program, in order to provide additional assistance to landowners on an individual basis.
A DMAP is a permit that allows for the take of an antlerless deer and may only be utilized during an open season for deer. In order for a landowner to receive DMAPs, one of the following four criteria needs to be met:
- Significant agricultural or horticultural damage.
- Documented serious disease outbreak that threatens humans, livestock or deer health.
- Significant safety hazard caused by deer.
- Current antlerless deer regulations insufficient to achieve landowner deer-management objectives.
In the past, individuals possessing a DMAP were able to utilize only the legal equipment for that particular hunting season (e.g., only archery equipment could be utilized during archery season). However, in some cases archery equipment has proven to be ineffective, and damage incurred by deer has continued through the season as a result.
The new change to the DMAP program will allow a DMAP holder, on a case-by-case basis, to seek additional signed permission to harvest deer using a firearm during select time periods of the archery season. DMAP holders will be required to have hunted their property during the archery season for the last two years and be in good standing with the DMAP program, meaning they have reported all DMAPs requested, issued and utilized on an annual basis.
The changes recommended to the Natural Resources Commission were developed collaboratively between Michigan Farm Bureau and special-interest groups, including Michigan United Conservation Club and the Michigan Bow Hunters Association.
“We understand when several special-interest groups come together to come up with a solution, compromise on all sides is important but can be difficult,” said DNR deer biologist Ashley Autenrieth. “These changes to the DMAP program will have a sunset in three years, at which time we will evaluate the changes and determine whether they are having the desired impact.”
Statewide, DMAP holders can seek additional signed permission to harvest deer from Oct. 1-14 with a firearm. Within a pilot area of the northern Lower Peninsula (Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties), DMAP holders can seek additional signed permission to harvest deer with a firearm during the majority of the archery season. Firearm use will be prohibited Oct. 1-4 and Nov. 10-14 in the new pilot program area. In all cases, the use of a firearm during archery season will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and DMAP holders must have signed permission in order to utilize firearms during any portion of the archery season.
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