Two additional firearm deer hunts are planned for January 4-7 and 11-14 in portions of Ionia and Montcalm counties, according to an announcement of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The goal of the extra hunts is to help with monitoring chronic wasting disease that has been found in some deer in these counties.
Participants in the hunt will be required to turn in the heads of the deer they kill for testing.
The DNR advises not to eat the deer until test results are back.
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal neurological illness that affects white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose.
According to the DNR, no cases of chronic wasting disease have been reported in humans.
The DNR said killing and testing more deer will help the department manage the disease.
More information about chronic wasting disease can be found here.
