Wild game processors in Michigan who receive compensation for their services are now required to have a permit.
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission signed this order at its June meeting. The order states that wild game processors need to be registered with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The requirement is effective immediately.
"If you receive compensation for processing game, you are now required to be registered with the DNR," says Casey Reitz, DNR wildlife permit specialist. "It is a quick and easy process of filling out an online form and then printing off your permit."
She says the no-charge permit is to determine how many game processors are in the state of Michigan and where they are located.
The permit order is part of the state's deer management regulations. These regulations are in relations to hunting licenses, chronic wasting disease response measures, urban conflict and other issues.
"As we work to manage white-tailed deer diseases in Michigan, we need to be able to contact processors who might be able to assist us in processing donated deer," Reitz says. "In addition, we would like to provide this information to hunters so they can have their deer processed relatively close to home. Right now, we do not have those capabilities."
The DNR is recommending that commercial wild game processors start the permit process now in order to be legal in time for the fall hunting season.
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