The Brief It is now legal to feed deer in your backyard in Michigan. The latest bill allows it under circumstances of recreational viewing or preventing deer, elk, and wild birds from starving. Baiting deer for hunting is still illegal. It is now legal to feed deer and elk in Michigan after a wildlife bill cleared the legislature and was signed into law by the governor. Feeding Michigan Deer and ElkBig picture view:The law expands a previous statute allowing feeding to include both wildlife and birds.