Sec. 4.

(1) A cervidae livestock operation is an agricultural enterprise and is considered to be part of the farming and agricultural industry of this state. The director of the department of agriculture shall assure that cervidae livestock operations are afforded all rights, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities of other agricultural enterprises.

(2) Cervidae livestock operations are a form of agriculture. Cervidae livestock facilities and their equipment are considered to be agricultural facilities and equipment. Uses related to the farming of cervidae are considered agricultural uses.

(3) Cervidae products and cervidae species lawfully produced, purchased, possessed, or acquired from within this state or imported into this state are the exclusive and private property of the owner.

(4) An owner harvesting privately owned cervidae species from a registered cervidae livestock facility is exempt from possession limits and closed seasons involving cervidae imposed in parts 401, 411, and 427 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.40101 to 324.40120, 324.41101 to 324.41105, and 324.42701 to 324.42714. This act does not give a cervidae livestock operation authority to take free-ranging animals in violation of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.101 to 324.90106, unless under a permit issued by the department.

(5) Any movement, importing, or exporting of cervidae species or cervidae products shall be in compliance with the animal industry act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.701 to 287.745.

History: 2000, Act 190, Eff. June 1, 2001 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 561, Imd. Eff. Dec. 29, 2006 Compiler's Notes: For transfer of certain powers and duties under the cervidae act from the department of agriculture, or its director, to the department of natural resources by type II transfer, see E.R.O. No. 2004-2, compiled at MCL 287.981.