EHD prompts deer hunting changes

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - With the beginning of Michigan's 15-day firearms deer season on Thursday, the breakout of a deadly disease affecting the Michigan deer population is forcing hunting limitations in some areas.

Of the state's 83 counties, 30 have reported deer deaths from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). The DNR says there are 13,000 deer confirmed dead from the insect-borne virus, but admitted Monday that the actual number could be as high as 50,000.

In West Michigan, the state is limiting hunters in Branch, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent and Van Buren counties. They may kill only five anterless deer from private land. Previously, that number was 10. Each hunter can only take two deer from public hunting areas, down from four.

At Hilltop Sports in Greenville Monday, EHD was the hot topic.

"I think it's a good idea. Some of these areas have sustained so much loss along the way. It's just unreal," said deer hunter Jordon Selesky. "I don't think that they really understand how many deer are dead and until they get their arms around that, I think it is a good idea that they limit it."

"Instead of just assuming it will be okay, they need to manage it. They need to get some basis for what is happening and why," agreed deer hunter Steve Dalessandro.

But less hunting will mean less business for Hilltop Sports.

"It's a little bit slower," Matt Schoenfelder of Hilltop Sports told 24 Hour News 8 Monday. "I have had a couple of guys come in here who said they aren't even going to buy the tag. They are just going to go fishing more."

The DNR says that the average Michigan hunter shoots at about 2.2 deer a year. It hopes its limits will affect as few hunters as possible.

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.

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

To futher adress questions deer hunters may have, the DNR is holding a series of meetings that will take place Wednesday.

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On the Net:

Michigan hunting information

DNR answers questions on Nov. 14 (pdf)

Michigan DNR Facebook page