LANSING — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Tuesday that reduces the penalty for failing to report a deer harvest or retain a deer harvest confirmation number.

The new penalty is a one-time fine of $150, reduced from a possible misdemeanor resulting in up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500 paying the costs of prosecution. Senate Bill 52 was sponsored by state Sen. John Cherry, D-Flint.

“Our grassroots membership unanimously voted to support decriminalizing failure to report a deer harvest,” said Amy Trotter, Michigan United Conservation Clubs chief executive officer. “We need to be sure we aren’t creating unnecessary burdens for hunters, who fund conservation, and we thank the legislature and governor for getting this done before hunting season.”

Cherry said that as an avid hunter and former Department of Natural Resources employee he understands the significance of gathering deer harvest data to make informed decisions about herd management.

“Yet, it was clear to me that the penalties associated with non-reporting were disproportionate to the offense, particularly considering the absence of direct harm to the resource,” he said. “It’s important that Michigan continue to preserve our hunting heritage, and I’m happy that SB 52 will ensure that our hunters will not be subject to undue penalties.”

A bill passed by the legislature last fall to address the matter would have prohibited the Natural Resources Commission from issuing any order requiring a hunter to report the harvest of deer or retain a harvest confirmation number for that deer.

Whitmer had vetoed that bill but stated she looked forward to “continued conversations on how we can decriminalize the failure to report deer harvests,” noting that it was “something only the legislature can do.”