Sugar beets come at a premium this year because lack of farmer's growing the crop
Michigan experiencing sugar beet shortage first year back from baiting ban
GAYLORD, MI -- Hunting season in full swing and this year baiting is back.
But the change hasn't led to more hunters but it does have some businesses cashing in.
"I think we didn't lose hunters, people love to hunt, whether they can bait or not, so I think that baiting hasn't brought back anybody new or nobody dropped off," said Lt. Jim Gorno, a Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer in Gaylord.
And so far people are doing a good job following the law when it comes to baiting. In fact, in his seven county district, officers only write 10-20 tickets a week.
“After the baiting ban, we thought people would really over-bait, but that really hasn't been the case, people have been complying with the baiting ban," said Lt. Gorno.
What has been a problem is the shortage of bait.
To give you an idea of the two gallon legal limit, it'd be about five sugar beets. At Gaylord Feed and Grain, before the ban was put in place, they'd go through sugar beets like crazy, in fact, they'd sell $400,000 to 500,000 worth each year. Of course it hurt when that ban was put in place, now they're happy baiting is back, but they say the problem this year is there aren't enough sugar beets to go around.
"We’re trying our best to get another load in here but they're very, very, very hard to come by this year," said Neil Drzewiecki, owner of Gaylord Feed and Grain.
And when the sugar comes in, it goes fast. Just today, 22 tons of sugar beets were sold and they're twice the price from last year. This is partly due to the repeal no being announced until June and farmers already having their fields planted. One woman has searched for the bait for the last month and a half.
"They should have come out with it in the spring so farmers could have planted and anticipated tis for the hunters, and everyone's hurting because of it," said Donna Kibbe, who ended her long search for beets today.
But hurt or not, hunters say it's a benefit the ban was repealed.
"I think people kind of make a living off these sugar beets, and that's good," said hunter Bill Rosecrans.
“It's definitely a big impact on our business, especially this time of year, which is typically a slower time of year," said Drzewiecki.
Baiting is still banned in portions of Northern Michigan.
Five counties, Presque Isle, Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, and Oscoda, are still under the ban.
To review all of the rules of baiting, CLICK HERE.
