Michigan's firearm deer season is important to those who make their way into the woods to score that trophy buck and fill their freezers with meat, but it is also a contributor to Michigan's economy.

"Michigan has more than 725,000 deer hunters who harvest an average of 450,000 deer annually, and they've done this consistently over the past decade," said Jordan Pusateri Burroughs, wildlife outreach specialist in the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. "Total retail spending by deer hunters contributes more than $700 million annually to the state's economy, and the deer hunting industry all total accounts for almost 12,000 jobs."

Michigan ranks fourth nationally in the amount of annual retail sales to all resident hunters, at just over $1.3 billion, and its hunters contribute more than $94 million in state and local tax revenues, according to the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Healthy deer are not only important to wildlife watchers, hunters and biologists, they are also important to a wide variety of businesses that support hunters, including restaurants, gas stations, hardware stores, sporting goods outlets, meat processors and even department stores.

This year, hunters in Michigan's Lower Peninsula will face more challenges than the weather and wiles of their prey. One case of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease of deer and elk, was confirmed in a privately-owned deer breeding facility in Kent County this past August, ultimately resulting in a peninsula-wide ban on feeding or baiting elk and deer.

While some hunters have traditionally placed corn, sugar beets, apples or carrots to entice deer to their favorite hunting spot, it's a practice that contributes to unnatural congregation of animals that can accelerate the spread of CWD or bovine tuberculosis (TB), another disease that has been found in parts of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

"These diseases can be transmitted when deer come to eat at a deer hunter's bait site or backyard feeder where homeowners may watch deer. An infected deer can transmit the disease by direct contact with another deer, or contaminate food items or soil with infected saliva, feces or urine," said Mrs. Burroughs.

As far as hunting and feeding bans by the state in the Lower Peninsula, Mr. Burroughs said this year may require more scouting ahead of time to better understand deer travel routes and identify habitat that can support deer during the hunting season.

While Mrs. Burroughs notes that the locations many Michigan hunters choose are rooted in family traditions, participation in the sport does not require a trip to the far north.

"There are plenty of opportunities in southern Michigan to hunt deer," she says. "Southern Michigan has an abundant deer population, many antlerless licenses available, and been the location in the last few years where several of the big bucks have been harvested."

Those hunters who are successful can get tips for safely handling their deer through two products available from MSU Extension.

"Field Dressing & Butchering Your Venison" is a 94-minute presentation focused on food safety and preservation. It is available for $25.

"Michigan Venison" is a 46- page bulletin that includes tips on everything, from butchering to handling various cuts of venison, processing, and cooking the meat. It is available free online or as a booklet for $2.25.

Both products can be obtained from the Mackinac County MSU Extension office by calling 643- 7307, or online at the MSU Extension Educational Materials Distribution Center at www. emdc.msue.msu.edu.