Michigan’s Deer Baiting Bill Advances What Comes Next

Michigan's deer baiting ban has always been one of those topics that can turn a peaceful campfire into a full-blown political summit. Since 2018, hunters in the Lower Peninsula have been told to keep their corn and apple bags in the garage, courtesy of a Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ban aimed at slowing down the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD).

The logic was simple: fewer deer crowding around snack piles means less disease swapping. Deer in Michigan, however, never got the memo and continued gathering in fields like it's a buffet with no cover charge.

House Vote on HB 4445

Fast-forward to 2026, and the Michigan House decided it was time to revisit the issue. Lawmakers voted 66 to 38 to pass HB 4445, which would restore deer baiting across the Lower Peninsula, and sent it to the Michigan Senate for review.

What This Means for Hunters

This means your corn pile comeback tour has taken its first step. But don't break out your burlap sacks yet, because the DNR normally takes its cues from the Michigan Natural Resource Commission, not a legislative roll call.

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So what's next for Michigan deer hunters dreaming of a tower of maize piled in precise locations throughout their grounds? For now, nothing changes. The Michigan Senate still has to weigh in, and the DNR could still step up with a proposal of its own. Until then, the baiting ban remains in place, the deer remain unimpressed, and that giant pile of apples remains an illegal dream.