As problems mount from the southern Lower Peninsula's rising population of whitetail deer, some state lawmakers are proposing to lift bans on baiting deer and elk during hunting seasons. But that's putting them at odds with the state's hunting regulators, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

State Rep. Jennifer Wortz, R-Quincy, has introduced a bill that would allow for baiting deer and elk during open hunting seasons.

In testimony before the House Natural Resources and Tourism Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 10, Wortz said the bill is motivated by challenges faced from "the huge overpopulation of deer." She cited statistics that the deep population has increased fivefold in southern Michigan over the past 40 years, from about 200,000 deer to more than 1 million. Michigan's approxi

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