A portion of only a dozen whitefish hauled in by Joel Petersen and his father, Alan, as they checked a net offshore from Leland this past summer.
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Michigan lawmakers hope to unveil legislation in Washington soon that would dramatically increase funding to prevent invasive mussels from wiping out whitefish in the lower Great Lakes.
Following extensive reporting from Bridge Michigan on the issue, US Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, want to increase funding for mussel control research more than fiftyfold to $500 million over the next 10 years.
Otherwise, the “fish that we take for granted are going to just disappear,” Dingell told Bridge Michigan.
In a statement shared with Bridge, Walberg called the bill a “bipartisan effort to combat the spread of invasive mussels, protect the health of our fisheries and ensure that future generations of Michiganders can enjoy this national treasure.”
The proposal follows months of reporting by Bridge that exposed how a lack of funding threatens efforts to save the fish in Lakes Michigan and Huron.
The damage wrought by invasive mussels is among the biggest threats to the Great Lakes in history. Yet Bridge found that while the US government has spent mightily to combat other threats, the fight against mussels has received a comparative pittance.
The main funding program for Great Lakes science has devoted an average of less than $1 million annually to the cause since 2010, according to spending records analyzed by Bridge. The federal government spends about 20 times that amount to keep sea lamprey out of the Great Lakes and has promised 90 times as much to build a barrier against invasive carp.
Dingell cited those stats as part of the inspiration for her bill.
“They’re all serious issues, but this is 90 percent of the fresh water in this country and 20 percent of the world’s (surface) fresh water,” Dingell said. “We need to be protecting it.”
Great Lakes advocates cheered the funding push, calling it a long overdue recognition of the existential threat mussels pose to the lakes’ native fish.
“We definitely don’t have a lot of time,” said Doug Craven, natural resources director with the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. “So this is very timely.”
Saving whitefish depends upon quelling the mussels, a European species that arrived on the ballast water of oceangoing freighters in the late 1980s. The mussels have since colonized nearly every inch of the lakebed in lakes Michigan and Huron.
The shellfish have become the dominant life form in the lakes, where they hog the food that other species need to survive. Scientists fear whitefish are the first casualties in a cascading biodiversity crisis.
Beyond their importance to the ecosystem, whitefish are a revered symbol of the Great Lakes, a central character in Anishinaabe creation stories and the No. 1 commercial catch in the Great Lakes. But harvests have plummeted in recent years, forcing fishing families to ponder hanging up their nets for good.
For years, a small community of researchers has been racing to develop weapons against the mussels that are causing the collapse. While some study pesticides, parasites or even genetic weapons that could kill off the shellfish, others scrape mussels off the lakebottom by hand, hoping to carve out small patches of habitat where whitefish can survive.
But at current funding levels, that research will take years if not decades to achieve a breakthrough. The lower lakes’ whitefish may not have that long to wait.
Insufficient investment in science puts “whitefish and other fisheries at significant risk,” said Samantha Tank, who oversees aquatic invasive species control efforts within the Great Lakes Commission, an organization created by the eight Great Lakes states to protect the waterways.
Fearing that the fish could disappear before science catches up to the mussel invasion, Craven said the Little Traverse Bay Band is advocating for up to $100 million to start a federal whitefish hatchery program, much like the hatchery program that brought Great Lakes lake trout back from the brink of extinction.
Dingell and Walberg’s bill comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is cutting spending for scientific research and the environment. Still, Dingell said she’s confident the mussel funding proposal can garner bipartisan support.
“I believe, in my heart of hearts, that people understand the importance of protecting the Great Lakes,” she said.
The bill, called the Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025, would amend the 1956 law that mobilized resources to combat sea lamprey that at the time were decimating Great Lakes fish populations. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, an international organization that coordinates lamprey control efforts, would expand its mission to fight off invasive mussels and then act as a steward for the $500 million in new research funding.
“Mussels are this generation’s sea lamprey,” said Greg McClinchey, the commission’s policy director.
And like lamprey before them, to defeat mussels “we need a coordinated national and even multinational or binational response … and we need money.”
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Michigan lawmakers hope to unveil legislation in Washington soon that would dramatically increase funding to prevent invasive mussels from wiping out whitefish in the lower Great Lakes.
Following extensive reporting from Bridge Michigan on the issue, US Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, want to increase funding for mussel control research more than fiftyfold to $500 million over the next 10 years.
Otherwise, the “fish that we take for granted are going to just disappear,” Dingell told Bridge Michigan.
In a statement shared with Bridge, Walberg called the bill a “bipartisan effort to combat the spread of invasive mussels, protect the health of our fisheries and ensure that future generations of Michiganders can enjoy this national treasure.”
The proposal follows months of reporting by Bridge that exposed how a lack of funding threatens efforts to save the fish in Lakes Michigan and Huron.
The damage wrought by invasive mussels is among the biggest threats to the Great Lakes in history. Yet Bridge found that while the US government has spent mightily to combat other threats, the fight against mussels has received a comparative pittance.
The main funding program for Great Lakes science has devoted an average of less than $1 million annually to the cause since 2010, according to spending records analyzed by Bridge. The federal government spends about 20 times that amount to keep sea lamprey out of the Great Lakes and has promised 90 times as much to build a barrier against invasive carp.
Dingell cited those stats as part of the inspiration for her bill.
“They’re all serious issues, but this is 90 percent of the fresh water in this country and 20 percent of the world’s (surface) fresh water,” Dingell said. “We need to be protecting it.”
Great Lakes advocates cheered the funding push, calling it a long overdue recognition of the existential threat mussels pose to the lakes’ native fish.
“We definitely don’t have a lot of time,” said Doug Craven, natural resources director with the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians. “So this is very timely.”
Saving whitefish depends upon quelling the mussels, a European species that arrived on the ballast water of oceangoing freighters in the late 1980s. The mussels have since colonized nearly every inch of the lakebed in lakes Michigan and Huron.
The shellfish have become the dominant life form in the lakes, where they hog the food that other species need to survive. Scientists fear whitefish are the first casualties in a cascading biodiversity crisis.
Beyond their importance to the ecosystem, whitefish are a revered symbol of the Great Lakes, a central character in Anishinaabe creation stories and the No. 1 commercial catch in the Great Lakes. But harvests have plummeted in recent years, forcing fishing families to ponder hanging up their nets for good.
For years, a small community of researchers has been racing to develop weapons against the mussels that are causing the collapse. While some study pesticides, parasites or even genetic weapons that could kill off the shellfish, others scrape mussels off the lakebottom by hand, hoping to carve out small patches of habitat where whitefish can survive.
But at current funding levels, that research will take years if not decades to achieve a breakthrough. The lower lakes’ whitefish may not have that long to wait.
Insufficient investment in science puts “whitefish and other fisheries at significant risk,” said Samantha Tank, who oversees aquatic invasive species control efforts within the Great Lakes Commission, an organization created by the eight Great Lakes states to protect the waterways.
Fearing that the fish could disappear before science catches up to the mussel invasion, Craven said the Little Traverse Bay Band is advocating for up to $100 million to start a federal whitefish hatchery program, much like the hatchery program that brought Great Lakes lake trout back from the brink of extinction.
Dingell and Walberg’s bill comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is cutting spending for scientific research and the environment. Still, Dingell said she’s confident the mussel funding proposal can garner bipartisan support.
“I believe, in my heart of hearts, that people understand the importance of protecting the Great Lakes,” she said.
The bill, called the Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025, would amend the 1956 law that mobilized resources to combat sea lamprey that at the time were decimating Great Lakes fish populations. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, an international organization that coordinates lamprey control efforts, would expand its mission to fight off invasive mussels and then act as a steward for the $500 million in new research funding.
“Mussels are this generation’s sea lamprey,” said Greg McClinchey, the commission’s policy director.
And like lamprey before them, to defeat mussels “we need a coordinated national and even multinational or binational response … and we need money.”
Last Chance Open Water Fishing
Alvin Bylsma with a December double.
Photo courtesy Jack Payne
By Jack Payne
Snow flurries spun around us, leaving a light dusting on the boat’s carpet. We were glad to have our neck gaiters and warm clothes.
The fish were active, and after a few hours, we had a full limit of bluegill in the live well. From late November until the lakes freeze, this is the best time of year for bluegill and crappie fishing.
If you want to catch a trophy walleye or northern pike, now is the time. Muskegon Lake is one of the best spots in our area for landing a master angler walleye or pike.
While panfish are almost always a sure bet for a limit, pike and walleye can be tricky. Some days, pike fishing feels easy, but on others, we get humbled.
If you’re after a trophy walleye, try fishing after sunset. This is by far the best time. Mark Martin made late-season trolling for walleye a must-try technique.
I like to cast after dark, focusing on water that’s 2-to-6 feet deep. During the day, we target the steepest drop-offs. Flats in 6-to-10 feet of water that quickly drop to 40 feet or more are also very productive.
After dark, Rapala Husky Jerk baits work well. Casting crankbaits can be hit or miss. On Muskegon Lake, you might cast for over an hour without a bite, then catch several fish in the next half-hour. Walleye move in small groups and ambush prey in shallow water.
Anglers either hold a rod in hand, waiting for the faintest of bites, or troll with planner boards. Anglers like Mark Martin loved trolling with a rod in hand and believed that most anglers missed the very subtle change of a walleye. If your crankbait changes at all, set the hook.
I like casting different jigging spoons, especially during the day. The Hopkins Spoon and Jigging Rap are two of my favorites. If you’re interested, search for articles by Daryl Christnsen — he’s won many tournaments with a Hopkins Spoon.
Jigging Raps and Hopkins spoons are hard to put down. We catch walleye, bass, and pike with them. I enjoy holding the rod and being able to see what I’m casting toward.
This is also a great time to chase pike. Anglers have their choice between trolling or casting Husky Jerks, Daredevle spoons, or Mepps bucktail spinners. Think big baits, such as the larger size Husky Jerks, one-ounce spoons, and either the size 5 Mepps or the Musky size models.
I prefer casting, but on my last trip, trolling would have worked better. The lesson is to be ready for both. Watch for the edges of green weeds and steep dropoffs.
If you’re after bluegill, try Perch pounders, glow teardrops, ice flies, spikes, or my favorite — wax worms. As the water gets colder, bigger bluegill move into the bayous of our local rivers.
On our inland lakes, it’s common to find schools of bluegill in 25 to 30 feet of water. Sometimes they suspend halfway down, and other days they stay within a foot or two of the bottom.
Crappie anglers, now it’s your turn. We often catch bluegill and crappie at the same time. Try marabou or hair jigs with a minnow for crappie, or use a tube jig tipped with a minnow. This is a great time to use a lure and bait combo. We usually find them in the deeper parts of the lake, 25 to 40 feet down and close to the bottom.
Piers and rivers are producing walleye, smallmouth bass, steelhead, catfish, and more. It’s a great time for shore anglers. If you’ve already filled your deer tags, try some late-season fishing. And don’t forget to stop by Bob’s Gun and Tackle Shop.
Snow flurries spun around us, leaving a light dusting on the boat’s carpet. We were glad to have our neck gaiters and warm clothes.
The fish were active, and after a few hours, we had a full limit of bluegill in the live well. From late November until the lakes freeze, this is the best time of year for bluegill and crappie fishing.
If you want to catch a trophy walleye or northern pike, now is the time. Muskegon Lake is one of the best spots in our area for landing a master angler walleye or pike.
While panfish are almost always a sure bet for a limit, pike and walleye can be tricky. Some days, pike fishing feels easy, but on others, we get humbled.
If you’re after a trophy walleye, try fishing after sunset. This is by far the best time. Mark Martin made late-season trolling for walleye a must-try technique.
I like to cast after dark, focusing on water that’s 2-to-6 feet deep. During the day, we target the steepest drop-offs. Flats in 6-to-10 feet of water that quickly drop to 40 feet or more are also very productive.
After dark, Rapala Husky Jerk baits work well. Casting crankbaits can be hit or miss. On Muskegon Lake, you might cast for over an hour without a bite, then catch several fish in the next half-hour. Walleye move in small groups and ambush prey in shallow water.
Anglers either hold a rod in hand, waiting for the faintest of bites, or troll with planner boards. Anglers like Mark Martin loved trolling with a rod in hand and believed that most anglers missed the very subtle change of a walleye. If your crankbait changes at all, set the hook.
I like casting different jigging spoons, especially during the day. The Hopkins Spoon and Jigging Rap are two of my favorites. If you’re interested, search for articles by Daryl Christnsen — he’s won many tournaments with a Hopkins Spoon.
Jigging Raps and Hopkins spoons are hard to put down. We catch walleye, bass, and pike with them. I enjoy holding the rod and being able to see what I’m casting toward.
This is also a great time to chase pike. Anglers have their choice between trolling or casting Husky Jerks, Daredevle spoons, or Mepps bucktail spinners. Think big baits, such as the larger size Husky Jerks, one-ounce spoons, and either the size 5 Mepps or the Musky size models.
I prefer casting, but on my last trip, trolling would have worked better. The lesson is to be ready for both. Watch for the edges of green weeds and steep dropoffs.
If you’re after bluegill, try Perch pounders, glow teardrops, ice flies, spikes, or my favorite — wax worms. As the water gets colder, bigger bluegill move into the bayous of our local rivers.
On our inland lakes, it’s common to find schools of bluegill in 25 to 30 feet of water. Sometimes they suspend halfway down, and other days they stay within a foot or two of the bottom.
Crappie anglers, now it’s your turn. We often catch bluegill and crappie at the same time. Try marabou or hair jigs with a minnow for crappie, or use a tube jig tipped with a minnow. This is a great time to use a lure and bait combo. We usually find them in the deeper parts of the lake, 25 to 40 feet down and close to the bottom.
Piers and rivers are producing walleye, smallmouth bass, steelhead, catfish, and more. It’s a great time for shore anglers. If you’ve already filled your deer tags, try some late-season fishing. And don’t forget to stop by Bob’s Gun and Tackle Shop.
Outdoor Truths: Pretending
By Gary Miller
When I’m bow hunting, one of the first things I do is range distances, so I don’t have to do it when (if) a deer shows up. After ranging these distances, I find a marker to remind me of what that distance is.
The second thing I do (and do it throughout the hunt) is visualize where and how a deer might show up – and how I would respond. I think about angles. I look at obstacles. And I visualize how I will have to maneuver how I’m sitting in order to position myself for a shot. I will also raise my bow to simulate how it all could go down.
Every hunter does this. It sounds simplistic and even immature, but what we do is pretend. Probably the same thing we did as a kid.
Yeah, I know that doesn’t sound too professional, but that’s exactly what it is. It just pretending a desired or potential situation. And the truth is, if I have visualized (pretended) it enough, when reality comes, the chances are I will be less surprised, less uncertain, and more confident. And if done repeatedly, I will drown out negative thoughts and doubts that will flood my mind during a real encounter.
Visualizing or pretending is not faking it until you make it. It’s visualizing or pretending what you already know and who you already are. Because there are voices and past situations that are always there to try to tell you something different.
Pretending is a great tool – in life – and as a Christian. It allows us to feed our minds the truth about who we are, whose we are, and the truth about our circumstances, until the encounter comes.
Let me explain. Right now, you feel like God has forgotten about you, that He’s nowhere to be found, and even that He doesn’t care. That’s what you “feel.” But you “know” that’s not the truth. You know it from what the scriptures say and from your past experiences, and from the present and past experiences of others. Your feelings cause doubt, uncertainty, and a loss of confidence.
But because you know, you pretend. You visualize. You imagine. But not because of fantasy. Because of reality.
Here’s how that looks. When you’re in the season of doubt, you pick up your Bible. You range the distance it covers and begin pretending with sentences like these: “God has not forgotten about me.” “God has never left me and will never leave me.” “God cares about my life and all that I’m going through.” “God loves me because He just can’t help it.” And say these and do these not because you’re pretending to have a hope-so possibility, but because you have been bombarded with lies that have affected how you feel.
As hard as it may be right now, start pretending what you already know is a reality.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
When I’m bow hunting, one of the first things I do is range distances, so I don’t have to do it when (if) a deer shows up. After ranging these distances, I find a marker to remind me of what that distance is.
The second thing I do (and do it throughout the hunt) is visualize where and how a deer might show up – and how I would respond. I think about angles. I look at obstacles. And I visualize how I will have to maneuver how I’m sitting in order to position myself for a shot. I will also raise my bow to simulate how it all could go down.
Every hunter does this. It sounds simplistic and even immature, but what we do is pretend. Probably the same thing we did as a kid.
Yeah, I know that doesn’t sound too professional, but that’s exactly what it is. It just pretending a desired or potential situation. And the truth is, if I have visualized (pretended) it enough, when reality comes, the chances are I will be less surprised, less uncertain, and more confident. And if done repeatedly, I will drown out negative thoughts and doubts that will flood my mind during a real encounter.
Visualizing or pretending is not faking it until you make it. It’s visualizing or pretending what you already know and who you already are. Because there are voices and past situations that are always there to try to tell you something different.
Pretending is a great tool – in life – and as a Christian. It allows us to feed our minds the truth about who we are, whose we are, and the truth about our circumstances, until the encounter comes.
Let me explain. Right now, you feel like God has forgotten about you, that He’s nowhere to be found, and even that He doesn’t care. That’s what you “feel.” But you “know” that’s not the truth. You know it from what the scriptures say and from your past experiences, and from the present and past experiences of others. Your feelings cause doubt, uncertainty, and a loss of confidence.
But because you know, you pretend. You visualize. You imagine. But not because of fantasy. Because of reality.
Here’s how that looks. When you’re in the season of doubt, you pick up your Bible. You range the distance it covers and begin pretending with sentences like these: “God has not forgotten about me.” “God has never left me and will never leave me.” “God cares about my life and all that I’m going through.” “God loves me because He just can’t help it.” And say these and do these not because you’re pretending to have a hope-so possibility, but because you have been bombarded with lies that have affected how you feel.
As hard as it may be right now, start pretending what you already know is a reality.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
Chronic Wasting Disease Spotted in Allegan County Deer
This photo was submitted to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources by a Leighton Township resident who reported the emaciated doe. On exam at the DNR’s Wildlife Disease Lab, the deer was noted to be in poor physical condition with no body fat. Leighton Township is located in northeast Allegan County.
Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Allegan County is now the 17th Michigan county where chronic wasting disease has been identified in the wild deer population, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
An emaciated doe reported by residents of Leighton Township recently tested positive for the disease.
CWD was confirmed by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The sample was also sent for a secondary confirmation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw.
The declining health of this 1.5-year-old doe was first noted by private landowners in late summer. In late September, the DNR was contacted and authorized humane euthanasia and collection of the deer. On exam at the DNR’s Wildlife Disease Lab, the deer was noted to be in poor physical condition with no body fat.
“The care that’s demonstrated when people take the time to share their observations is a critical contribution to our disease-testing efforts,” said Brent Rudolph, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “Public reporting of deer that appear unhealthy is very important for identifying CWD that may exist at low levels in previously undetected areas.”
CWD is a chronic, slow-developing disease that spreads slowly across the landscape. It has been detected in Kent County, adjacent to Leighton Township, which is in the northeast corner of Allegan County. Allegan County was under focused CWD surveillance in 2021, when approximately 500 deer were tested, with none testing positive. The DNR has continued to test deer that appear sick in Allegan County when possible. Hunters can get their deer tested with a free CWD self-sample submission kit from the DNR.
Deer that appear emaciated, lethargic, disoriented, lame or unresponsive are good candidates for CWD testing, though these symptoms are characteristic of deer affected by other maladies or injuries as well. The public is encouraged to report sick deer at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.
Hunters should take precautions when field-dressing or processing deer: wear rubber gloves, minimize contact with the deer’s brain and spinal tissue, and wash hands with soap and warm water after handling any parts of the carcass.
Proper disposal of deer carcasses is critical to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. Deer carcasses and parts should go directly to a landfill or be disposed of through regular bagged trash pickup. Studies show that CWD can survive on the landscape for years, contributing to the spread of disease. Deer harvested from known CWD areas should never be disposed of on the landscape.
—————
Testing options for hunters
There are several testing options available to hunters, depending on their hunting location. In 2025, focused testing will continue in Baraga, Chippewa, Dickinson, Houghton, Iosco, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Ogemaw, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties in the Lower and Upper peninsulas. More information on CWD testing in these counties and a link to find DNR drop boxes and staffed sample submission sites are available on the CWD testing webpage.
Free self-sample submission kits have been available in limited areas for the last three years. Beginning in 2025, these kits are now available in all counties outside of the DNR bovine tuberculosis (bTB) or CWD surveillance areas. Kits allow hunters to remove lymph nodes and ship them directly to the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at no cost. Hunters can pick up a kit at a local distribution site. If hunters choose not to pick up a kit, testing is available for a fee through direct submission to a cooperating USDA-approved diagnostic laboratory.
All deer from counties with previous confirmed cases of CWD or bTB that are donated to the Hunters Feeding Michigan program are also submitted directly to the MSU lab for testing.
The DNR’s work with researchers and hunters to detect and slow the spread of CWD is possible because of limited general fund dollars allocated by the Michigan state legislature.
—————
Michigan’s CWD testing strategy
Since chronic wasting disease was first detected in Michigan's wild deer in 2015, more than 110,000 deer in Michigan have been tested for CWD through a variety of efforts, including responding to public reports of sick deer and focused testing of hunter-harvested deer. In total, more than 144,000 wild deer have been tested through DNR surveillance efforts that started in 2002, with 265 CWD-positive deer identified. In addition, since direct hunter submissions of deer to the MSU lab began in 2020, more than 3,400 submitted samples have yielded 61 additional confirmed positives.
After initial intensive testing near areas of the first CWD detections in the state, the DNR began a rotational approach to testing harvested deer in 2021. A group of counties is selected each year, with the eventual aim of testing enough deer in every Michigan county. The goal of this approach is early disease detection, as management has the potential to be most effective when the disease is caught early. This method also provides confidence that if the disease does exist in these areas but goes undetected, that it is most likely there at a very low level.
For more information on chronic wasting disease, visit Michigan.gov/CWD.
An emaciated doe reported by residents of Leighton Township recently tested positive for the disease.
CWD was confirmed by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The sample was also sent for a secondary confirmation to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects white-tailed deer, elk and moose. To date, the disease has also been detected in the following Michigan counties: Clinton, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kent, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Washtenaw.
The declining health of this 1.5-year-old doe was first noted by private landowners in late summer. In late September, the DNR was contacted and authorized humane euthanasia and collection of the deer. On exam at the DNR’s Wildlife Disease Lab, the deer was noted to be in poor physical condition with no body fat.
“The care that’s demonstrated when people take the time to share their observations is a critical contribution to our disease-testing efforts,” said Brent Rudolph, DNR deer, elk and moose management specialist. “Public reporting of deer that appear unhealthy is very important for identifying CWD that may exist at low levels in previously undetected areas.”
CWD is a chronic, slow-developing disease that spreads slowly across the landscape. It has been detected in Kent County, adjacent to Leighton Township, which is in the northeast corner of Allegan County. Allegan County was under focused CWD surveillance in 2021, when approximately 500 deer were tested, with none testing positive. The DNR has continued to test deer that appear sick in Allegan County when possible. Hunters can get their deer tested with a free CWD self-sample submission kit from the DNR.
Deer that appear emaciated, lethargic, disoriented, lame or unresponsive are good candidates for CWD testing, though these symptoms are characteristic of deer affected by other maladies or injuries as well. The public is encouraged to report sick deer at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
To date, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in people. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that infected animals not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.
Hunters should take precautions when field-dressing or processing deer: wear rubber gloves, minimize contact with the deer’s brain and spinal tissue, and wash hands with soap and warm water after handling any parts of the carcass.
Proper disposal of deer carcasses is critical to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease. Deer carcasses and parts should go directly to a landfill or be disposed of through regular bagged trash pickup. Studies show that CWD can survive on the landscape for years, contributing to the spread of disease. Deer harvested from known CWD areas should never be disposed of on the landscape.
—————
Testing options for hunters
There are several testing options available to hunters, depending on their hunting location. In 2025, focused testing will continue in Baraga, Chippewa, Dickinson, Houghton, Iosco, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Ogemaw, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties in the Lower and Upper peninsulas. More information on CWD testing in these counties and a link to find DNR drop boxes and staffed sample submission sites are available on the CWD testing webpage.
Free self-sample submission kits have been available in limited areas for the last three years. Beginning in 2025, these kits are now available in all counties outside of the DNR bovine tuberculosis (bTB) or CWD surveillance areas. Kits allow hunters to remove lymph nodes and ship them directly to the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at no cost. Hunters can pick up a kit at a local distribution site. If hunters choose not to pick up a kit, testing is available for a fee through direct submission to a cooperating USDA-approved diagnostic laboratory.
All deer from counties with previous confirmed cases of CWD or bTB that are donated to the Hunters Feeding Michigan program are also submitted directly to the MSU lab for testing.
The DNR’s work with researchers and hunters to detect and slow the spread of CWD is possible because of limited general fund dollars allocated by the Michigan state legislature.
—————
Michigan’s CWD testing strategy
Since chronic wasting disease was first detected in Michigan's wild deer in 2015, more than 110,000 deer in Michigan have been tested for CWD through a variety of efforts, including responding to public reports of sick deer and focused testing of hunter-harvested deer. In total, more than 144,000 wild deer have been tested through DNR surveillance efforts that started in 2002, with 265 CWD-positive deer identified. In addition, since direct hunter submissions of deer to the MSU lab began in 2020, more than 3,400 submitted samples have yielded 61 additional confirmed positives.
After initial intensive testing near areas of the first CWD detections in the state, the DNR began a rotational approach to testing harvested deer in 2021. A group of counties is selected each year, with the eventual aim of testing enough deer in every Michigan county. The goal of this approach is early disease detection, as management has the potential to be most effective when the disease is caught early. This method also provides confidence that if the disease does exist in these areas but goes undetected, that it is most likely there at a very low level.
For more information on chronic wasting disease, visit Michigan.gov/CWD.
Lakeshore Ports Under Single-Pointed Hook Regulations
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is alerting anglers that the ports of Grand Haven, Muskegon and Whitehall/ Montague are covered by new regulations restricting allowable fishing gear at these locations through Nov. 30.
The goal of these regulation changes (approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Fisheries Order 202.25) is to protect spawning lake whitefish by reducing snagging, as well as overall harvest of adult lake whitefish in these areas. Lake whitefish populations in Lake Michigan are in decline, due to pressures from invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which have altered the food web of the Great Lakes.
If the new gear restrictions are not effective at reducing harvest, fisheries managers may consider recommending a lower daily possession limit of lake whitefish.
The locations under these regulations include the port of Muskegon from the westernmost pier head extending into Lake Michigan (excluding break walls) to the easternmost pier head extending into Muskegon Lake; the port of Whitehall/Montague from the westernmost pier head extending into Lake Michigan to the easternmost pier head extending into White Lake; and the port of Grand Haven from the westernmost pier head extending into Lake Michigan to the U.S. 31 bridge (northbound Beacon Boulevard).
At these ports, it is unlawful to use other than one single-pointed unweighted hook measuring a half-inch or less from point to shank from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 (see pp. 30-31 of the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations). Plus, on these same waters, it is unlawful to spear or possess spearing gear from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.
Only single-pointed, unweighted hooks are allowed under these regulations. Single hooks cannot be molded or permanently fixed to a weight or weighted lure. The use of jigs on these waters is prohibited, since they are weighted (metal is molded onto the hook). Lures fished with one single-pointed, unweighted hook would be allowable.
The goal of these regulation changes (approved by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Fisheries Order 202.25) is to protect spawning lake whitefish by reducing snagging, as well as overall harvest of adult lake whitefish in these areas. Lake whitefish populations in Lake Michigan are in decline, due to pressures from invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which have altered the food web of the Great Lakes.
If the new gear restrictions are not effective at reducing harvest, fisheries managers may consider recommending a lower daily possession limit of lake whitefish.
The locations under these regulations include the port of Muskegon from the westernmost pier head extending into Lake Michigan (excluding break walls) to the easternmost pier head extending into Muskegon Lake; the port of Whitehall/Montague from the westernmost pier head extending into Lake Michigan to the easternmost pier head extending into White Lake; and the port of Grand Haven from the westernmost pier head extending into Lake Michigan to the U.S. 31 bridge (northbound Beacon Boulevard).
At these ports, it is unlawful to use other than one single-pointed unweighted hook measuring a half-inch or less from point to shank from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 (see pp. 30-31 of the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations). Plus, on these same waters, it is unlawful to spear or possess spearing gear from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30.
Only single-pointed, unweighted hooks are allowed under these regulations. Single hooks cannot be molded or permanently fixed to a weight or weighted lure. The use of jigs on these waters is prohibited, since they are weighted (metal is molded onto the hook). Lures fished with one single-pointed, unweighted hook would be allowable.
