Landowners in specific townships in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula chronic wasting disease management zone can apply for disease control permits to help manage deer populations on their properties. Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose.
Disease control permits are valid for use outside the deer hunting seasons and are free of charge. They are available in select townships in Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ionia, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kent and Montcalm counties.
Landowners interested in applying for the permits may contact Sarah Carlson at (269) 685-6853.
As part of the disease control permit process, any deer taken must be submitted for CWD testing. After deer head(s) are properly tagged, labeled deer heads should be delivered to a local self-serve drop box or field office:
Clinton/Gratiot/Ingham/Isabella County area:
Ithaca Department of Public Works (210 S. Elm St., Ithaca)
Rose Lake Field Office (8903 East Stoll Road, East Lansing). An appointment must be made, by calling (517) 641-4092, to make sure someone will be there to receive the deer head.
Eaton County:
Contact the Barry State Game Area Field Office at (269) 795-3280 to arrange.
Ionia/Kent/Montcalm County area:
Drop box freezer at Flat River State Game Area Field Office (6650 Long Lake Road, Belding)
Jackson County:
Waterloo Field Office (13578 Seymour Road, Grass Lake). An appointment must be made, by calling (313) 396-6890, to make sure someone will be there to receive the deer head.
Each year, CWD surveillance goals are created to help biologists understand the scale of the disease in the local deer herd. Deer heads are still needed for testing, especially from Gratiot, Isabella and Jackson counties, to meet the CWD surveillance goals set in 2019.
