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LANSING--As part of the state^s overall strategy to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources is asking deer hunters who hunt in the
northeast Lower Pensinsula during the upcoming firearm seasons to bring their deer^s head to a DNR check station
for free TB testing. The heads will be sent to the DNR laboratory in East Lansing for examination.
The expanded 20-county TB Surveillance Area includes:
Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle
and Roscommon counties.
"In order to intensify our monitoring for bovine TB in deer harvested in this part of Michigan, we are sending letters to all persons who hunted in these 20 counties last year,"
said Rebecca Humphries, DNR Wildlife Bureau Chief. "We are asking them, as well as new hunters this year, to bring any deer harvested in this area to a DNR check station for examination."
Heads of bucks and does are needed for laboratory examination, because more than 60 percent of bovine TB positive deer do not have visible lesions in the chest cavity. Half-year-old deer will not be tested. DNR personnel at the check stations will be able to remove the head.
Hunters who field dress their deer may cut off the head by removing it behind the first cervical vertebrate (about
three to four inches behind the corner of the jaw).
Deer heads also can be tested with the antlers removed, and check station personnel will be able to assist any hunter who wishes to keep the antlers. Hunters with a trophy deer are urged to visit a check station first, where they will be given a TB tag to take with the deer to the taxidermist. The head can be tested after the mounting is finished. This also applies for hunters who wish to display their deer on a buck pole or show it to friends and family. Stop at the check station first for a TB tag and then return the head to any check station or DNR office. Hunters will receive the results of the bovine TB test as soon as the head has been tested at the DNR lab in East Lansing.
All DNR check stations will accept deer heads for TB testing, but the following locations have been set up to handle the bulk of the collection:
Northeast Lower Peninsula Northwest Lower
Peninsula
Alpena 517-358-0146
Cadillac 616-775-9727
Atlanta 517-785-4252
Evart 616-734-5840
Bellaire 231-533-8341
Kalkaska 231-258-2711
Curran 517-826-3211
Traverse City 231-922-5280
Gaylord 517-732-3541
Grayling 517-348-6371
Houghton Lake 517-422-6572
Saginaw Bay
Indian River 231-238-9313
Bay City 517-684-9141
Lincoln 517-736-8336
Gladwin 517-426-9205
Mio 517-826-3211
Harrison 517-539-6411
Onaway 517-785-4252
Nayanquing Point 517-697-5101
Pellston 231-539-8564
Standish 517-846-4104
Posen 517-785-4252
Rifle River 517-473-2258
Roscommon 517-275-5151
Tawas Point 517-362-5041
West Branch 517-345-0472
Before traveling to a specific field office or check station, telephone first to confirm the location and hours.
The schedule is available on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mi.us.
Hunters also may bring their deer to one of four highway check stations. Three stations will be open November 16-21 at the following locations: US-131 rest area south of Big Rapids, US-27 southbound near Alma and I-75 near Birch Run.
The St. Ignace station, on Marley Street south of US-2, will be open November 17-21. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Uploaded: 10/21/1999
Uploaded: 10/21/1999