Baiting and Feeding

Bait

Bait means a substance intended for consumption by deer that is composed of grains, minerals (including salt and salt blocks), fruits, vegetables, hay or other food materials used as an aid in hunting.

Feed

Feed means a substance composed of grains, minerals (including salt and salt blocks), fruits, vegetables, hay or other food materials that may attract deer or elk for any reason other than hunting.

Baiting and Feeding Regulations

Baiting and feeding are banned in the Lower Peninsula. In areas where baiting is banned, scents placed to entice deer, whether composed of natural or synthetic materials, must be placed so that they are inaccessible for consumption by deer and placed in such a manner to prohibit any physical contact with deer. This does not apply to urine-based products that adhere to the applicable regulations for using urine-based scents. Hunters can still use those urine-based products for mock scrapes, drag ropes, wicks, etc.

Exception: Hunters with disabilities who meet specific requirements may use bait in the Lower Peninsula during the Liberty and Independence Hunts only. Eligible hunters may begin baiting for the Liberty Hunt five days prior to when the season begins. Eligible hunters may begin baiting for the Independence Hunt five days prior to when the season begins.

Bait volume at any hunting site cannot exceed two gallons. Bait dispersal must be over a minimum 10-foot by 10-foot area. Bait must be scattered directly on the ground. It can be scattered by any means, including mechanical spin-cast feeders, provided that the spin-cast feeder does not distribute more than the maximum volume allowed.

To qualify, you must fit one of the following criteria:

• Be a veteran who has been determined to have 100-percent disability or is rated as individually unemployable by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Have been issued a permit by the DNR to hunt from a standing vehicle.
• Have been issued a permit by the DNR to hunt using a laser-sighting device.
• Be blind. Blind means an individual who has visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction or has a limitation of his or her field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than 20 degrees, as determined by the Commission for the Blind.

• An individual is deaf as defined by section 2 of 72 PA 1978, MCL 408.202. “Deaf person” means a person who is not able to process information aurally, with or without amplification, and whose primary means of communication is visual or by receiving spoken language through other sensory input, including, but not limited to, lipreading, sign language, finger spelling, or reading.

Baiting is allowed in the Upper Peninsula. The following baiting regulations apply:

• Baiting may occur only from Sept. 15 – Jan. 1 except that eligible hunters may begin baiting for the Liberty Hunt five days prior to when the season begins.
• Bait volume at any hunting site cannot exceed two gallons. Bait dispersal must be over a minimum 10-foot by 10-foot area.
• Bait must be scattered directly on the ground. It can be scattered by any means, including mechanical spin-cast feeders, provided that the spin-cast feeder does not distribute more than the maximum volume allowed.
• To minimize exposure of deer to diseases that may be present, the DNR recommends not placing bait or feed repeatedly at the same point on the ground, and only baiting when actively hunting.

Feeding is allowed in the Upper Peninsula. The following feeding rules apply:

For recreational viewing:

• Feed volume is restricted to two gallons per residence per calendar day and no more than two gallons of feed may be present at any one time.
• Feed may be no more than 100 yards from a residence on land owned or possessed by that person.
• Feed must be scattered on the ground. It can be scattered by any means, including mechanical spin-cast feeders, provided that the spin-cast feeder does not distribute more than the maximum volume allowed.
• Feed must be at least 100 yards from any area accessible to cattle, goats, sheep, new world camelids, bison, swine, horses, or captive cervidae.

For supplemental winter feeding:

A person may engage in the supplemental feeding of deer in the Upper Peninsula if all the following apply:

• The placement of feed shall not begin before January 1 and shall not extend beyond May 15.
• All feed shall be placed one-quarter mile or more from the nearest paved public highway.
• All feed shall be placed at least 1 mile from cattle, goats, sheep, new world camelids, bison, swine, horses, or captive cervidae.
• All feed shall be placed at least 1 mile from wheat fields, potato fields, commercial fruit orchards, commercial plantings of nursery stock or Christmas trees.
• The feed shall consist solely of grains, second cut alfalfa and clover, and pelletized food materials containing no animal protein which is scattered or dispersed directly upon the ground to a depth which shall not exceed three inches.
• The feed shall not be placed or used as bait to take deer.
• The feed shall not be placed or used as bait to take deer.

Food plots – Naturally occurring foods, standing agricultural crops, or food placed as a result of using normal agricultural practices are not considered to be bait or feed. Constructing or maintaining any food plot or any artificial garden to attract wildlife on public land is prohibited.