For over three decades, Michigan has been locked in an overblown crusade against bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in its white-tailed deer population. The result? A costly disaster that has burned through millions of taxpayer dollars, hamstrung farmers, and turned hunting—one of Michigan’s proudest traditions—into a bureaucratic nightmare.
The Numbers Don’t Lie—But They Do Make You Laugh
Since 1995, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been hunting bTB cases harder than hunters themselves chase a trophy buck. Their efforts have turned up a laughable infection rate of less than 0.3%. Yes, all this fuss for a disease that barely exists. In 2020, for instance, the DNR tested 5,091 deer and found a grand total of 16 cases. That’s 99.7% of deer walking around, perfectly healthy, while the state runs around with its hair on fire.
How much has this cost taxpayers? Estimates vary, but it’s clear we’re talking millions—if not tens of millions—over three decades. And for what? To confirm that almost all deer are fine while punishing everyone who interacts with them.
Farmers: Caught in the Crossfire
Michigan’s farmers are among the hardest hit by this never-ending “crisis.” To “protect” against a disease that almost never crosses the fence from deer to cattle, farmers face stringent testing, movement restrictions, and bureaucratic headaches that make running a farm an Olympic-level exercise in patience. Cattle farms in bTB “hotspots” are forced to spend extra time and money on compliance, all while living under the constant threat of herd quarantines or slaughter orders. It’s a classic case of government overreach punishing the people it claims to protect.
Hunters: Enjoyment Prohibited
Then there are the hunters, Michigan’s proud conservationists and a key player in controlling deer populations. The DNR’s overreaction has turned hunting from an enjoyable pastime into a frustration-filled slog. Take baiting, for example. To “combat” bTB, Michigan has banned baiting and feeding deer in many areas—a move that decreases hunter success rates and sucks the joy out of the experience. Hunters used to enjoy the sight of deer at a bait pile, even if they didn’t take a shot. Now, they’re left to watch empty fields and wonder why their tags are going unfilled.
Without baiting, deer are harder to track and bring into range, especially for young or inexperienced hunters. The ban has reduced the recruitment of new hunters and driven some seasoned ones to hang up their gear. For a state that relies on hunting license sales to fund conservation efforts, this is a self-inflicted wound.
Biologists’ Dream Disease: No Cure, No End
Of course, the biologists are loving every minute of it. Diseases like bTB—chronic, manageable, but with no real cure—are their bread and butter. Why would they want to solve the problem when they can keep studying it for eternity? It’s a guaranteed funding pipeline, complete with research grants and job security. As long as the word “tuberculosis” floats around, so does the money.
The Real Cost
This isn’t just a waste of money—it’s a cultural and economic disaster. Michigan’s farmers are bearing unnecessary costs. Hunters are giving up their rifles and bows. Rural communities, reliant on hunting seasons for tourism and commerce, are losing out. And all for a disease so rare that most hunters and farmers have never seen it in the wild.
The Bottom Line
Michigan’s bovine TB “crisis” is a textbook example of government incompetence and overreach. It’s wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, hurt farmers, and sucked the life out of hunting—all to chase a disease with a near-zero infection rate. This isn’t about public health; it’s about perpetuating a never-ending project to justify funding and control.
The real epidemic here isn’t bTB—it’s bad policy. It’s time for Michigan to put an end to this farce, stop punishing its farmers and hunters, and admit that the bTB crisis is about as real as Bigfoot riding a unicorn.
If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to become a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us Help keep us ad-free by donating here.
Substack: American Free News Network Substack
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA