DNR: Deer hunting OK despite virus

IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) - A big crowd gathered Wednesday evening in Ionia, concerned about the hundreds of deer dying in the woods.

The deer are being killed in record numbers by the virus epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD.

According to the presentation by the DNR, more than 4,200 deer have been killed by the disease statewide. Nearly half of those were in Ionia County.   

John Vaneck, who was at the meeting, told 24 Hour News 8 he's obviously worried about this year's hunting season.

"It remains to be seen," the hunter said. "It doesn't look good, though. I can tell you that."

He said in the more than 30 years he’s been hunting, he’s never seen anything like it, and said he's worried about what the deer herd will look like next year.

"My biggest concern is if the hunting season goes on and 90% of the herd is gone and the hunting season goes on and we still hunt in Michigan," said Vaneck. "What large percentage is that going to take? How much deer are going to be left?"

The disease causes extensive internal hemorrhages, according to the Department of Natural Resources. White-tailed deer usually develop symptoms seven days after exposure. They experience loss of appetite, excessive salivation, rapid pulse and breathing, weakness, fever and eventually unconsciousness and death.

Between eight and 36 hours after symptoms start, the deer lie down and die, according to the DNR.

The virus that has been common in Michigan for decades, but the state's deer population has been hit especially hard this year. The cases began earlier and the numbers are higher than ever before. The DNR told 24 Hour News 8 last week that's likely because of the hot, dry summer.

Ionia County is the hardest hit county in the state.

Special guests at the Ionia County Hunting and Fishing Club meeting were biologists from the state's Department of Natural Resources. They were there to explain to the about 200 people that deer catch EHD after they are bitten by an insect called the midge.

The state knows about 1,500 of Ionia County's about 40,000 deer have died of EHD so far this year.

Though several hunters asked if this year's season should be canceled, Niewoonder said that would be difficult because they have they already sold licenses for this season. He went on to say it would also be hard to get the word out in the short period of time before the season starts. He said he also doesn’t think it’s necessary to cancel the season.

"We're going to get a lot more dead deer reported," said DNR biologist John Niewoonder. "We're going to get a lot more dead deer dying until we get a good cold frost that will kill the adult fly, and then we'll be though it for this year, and then we'll see what happens next year."

“I’ve been hearing also that a freeze will kill flies that are carrying this and I’m hoping that’s the case and I’m hoping we get an early frost,” said Pete Odland, another local hunter. “More than ever this year I’m hoping for an early frost.” 

It appears that humans cannot contract EHD. It occasionally infects domesticated animals -- usually hoof stock, the DNR says -- but they rarely get sick.

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Details on this year's EHD outbreak and FAQ