Be a partner in disease surveillance; turn in deer heads for TB

lschultz • December 9, 2020

Guest Writer: Phil Durst, MSU Extention and Ian Fitzgerald, MUCC Policy Assistant

Turning in the heads of deer taken is important for the management of Bovine Tuberculosis.
There is a critical need in December to meet the county level goals set by USDA in Northeast
Michigan. The help of every hunter and landowner is needed.

Hunting season may be winding down, but there is still important work to be done, and you can help. Michigan needs to have deer heads submitted for tuberculosis (TB) testing. This is a critical element of Bovine tuberculosis disease surveillance. “Knowing whether or not the disease has spread is vital to managing it’ says Phil Durst, of Michigan State University Extension .

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) work in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish surveillance quotas in order to detect changes in the occurrence of bovine TB in free-ranging white-tailed deer.

Under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Michigan must test at least 2800 deer heads from the Bovine TB Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ), that is, Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Oscoda counties (area in yellow on the map). In addition, in each of the counties that border the MAZ (counties in orange on the map), 300 deer heads must be submitted for testing. The exception to that number is Presque Isle County, from which 500 must be tested. 

If you have a deer hanging, or if you have further opportunities to hunt, submitting the head of the deer harvested is critically important. To submit a deer for testing, remove the head of the animal below the larynx and take it to a DNR Check Station or drop box ( www.michigan.gov/deercheck ).  Wear disposable rubber gloves when field dressing, removing the head, and processing deer and follow best practices for carcass disposal to reduce the spread of disease.

At a drop box, be prepared to attach certain information with each deer head, including the contact information for the hunter, where and when the deer was killed, along with information about the deer (gender and adult or fawn).

A small number of game processors are assisting in collecting deer heads for TB testing, after receiving permission from the hunter/customer. If you take your deer to a processor, ask if they are participating. If not, encourage your processor to contact the DNR about how they can assist with head collection.

There are real consequences of not meeting the testing goals that reach beyond hunters and the health of the deer population. In each county where the goal is not met, whether, by little or much, all cattle herds must then be tested for TB over a three-year period. Testing will include all animals over 12 months of age and any purchased animals, no matter their age. This is both costly to the state and a major inconvenience to the farmers. 

If you want to follow the numbers to see how a county is doing on meeting the goal for deer head submissions, the count is on mi.gov/bovineTB under “Data & Statistics” or click on: Deer test statistics .

If you have been issued a permit to remove deer from your property by the DNR, make sure all heads from those deer are submitted for TB testing.

More detailed reporting of bovine TB surveillance can be found at  www.Michigan.gov/bovineTB

Recent Posts

By Justin Tomei June 30, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MUCC Submits Public Comment in Support of Line 5 Tunnel Project Lansing, MI — Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), the nation’s largest statewide conservation organization, has submitted formal public comments urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project. In a letter submitted today, MUCC emphasized the need to move this critical infrastructure forward to protect the Great Lakes while maintaining safe, reliable energy transportation. “MUCC supports the tunnel project as the best available alternative to reduce the risk of an environmental disaster in the Straits of Mackinac while continuing to deliver essential energy products to Michigan families and industries,” said Amy Trotter, CEO of MUCC. “We believe the tunnel project strikes a balance between protecting the environment and maintaining energy security.” MUCC’s position is backed by a formal resolution passed by its membership, which includes thousands of hunters, anglers, trappers, and outdoor enthusiasts across Michigan. The resolution supports the tunnel as a long-term solution that replaces the aging and exposed pipeline segment currently crossing the Straits, offering greater environmental safeguards through secondary containment. The organization cited the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which acknowledges the tunnel’s benefits, including reduced spill risk and a controlled, buried environment for transporting light crude oil and natural gas liquids. MUCC also rejected the "no action alternative," which would allow the existing line to remain in operation without any new protective infrastructure. “Other alternatives, like transporting fuel by truck or rail, are inefficient and carry greater environmental and safety risks,” Trotter added. “Allowing the current line to operate exposed on the lakebed indefinitely is simply not acceptable.” MUCC’s comment stresses that the organization is not weighing in on the type of energy transported, but rather on the environmental risks and safety benefits of the tunnel itself. Originally approved by the Michigan legislature and governor in 2018, the Great Lakes Tunnel Project represents a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and environmental protection. MUCC urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue the necessary permits and move forward with construction without further delay. For Media Contact: Justin Tomei jtomei@mucc.org 517-346-6488 #####
By Olivia Triltsch June 26, 2025
Since its inception, MUCC has made great strides in the conservation of natural resources through advocacy, habitat, youth education, and communications.
By Katelyn Helsel June 25, 2025
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, MUCC’s On the Ground program partnered with the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (PCCI) for a native plug planting day in Barry County. Located on 850 acres, the institute offers both environmental education opportunities and serves as a biological field station for conducting research. Many diverse native communities from wetlands to prairies are present at PCCI, and many rare or threatened species in Michigan like the eastern box turtle call the institute home. 
More Posts