Attorney's Note

Under the Michigan Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Gup to 4 years
For details, see Mich. Comp. Laws ch. 777 pt. 2

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 287.967

  • Cervidae livestock facility: means a privately owned cervidae livestock operation on privately controlled lands capable of holding cervidae species. See Michigan Laws 287.952
  • Cervidae species: means members of the cervidae family including, but not limited to, deer, elk, moose, reindeer, and caribou. See Michigan Laws 287.952
  • Department: means the Michigan department of natural resources. See Michigan Laws 287.952
  • Owner: means the person who owns or is responsible for a cervidae livestock operation. See Michigan Laws 287.952
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, association, joint venture, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 287.952
  • Release: means to cause or allow an animal to become located outside the perimeter fence of a cervidae livestock facility not under the direct control of the owner. See Michigan Laws 287.952
    (1) A person shall not release or allow the release of any cervidae species from a cervidae livestock facility. This section does not prohibit the sale, breeding, marketing, exhibition, or other approved uses of cervidae species in the manner provided for by law. An animal that escapes from a facility is considered to be public property if the operator of a cervidae livestock facility does not notify the department in compliance with the standards established under this act.
    (2) An owner shall not abandon a registered cervidae livestock facility without first notifying the department and the Michigan department of agriculture in compliance with the standards established under this act.
    (3) A person shall not intentionally or knowingly do either or both of the following:
    (a) Cause the ingress of free-ranging cervidae species into a registered cervidae livestock facility.
    (b) Release or allow the release of any cervidae species from a cervidae livestock facility.
    (4) A person violating subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $300.00 or imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both, for a first offense and is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or both, for a second or subsequent offense.
    (5) A person intentionally or knowingly violating subsection (3) or violating subsection (2) is guilty of a felony.