GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Grand Rapids is holding off on a pilot deer hunt that was proposed to happen next month, after residents in the area expressed opposition to the idea.
City leaders were considering holding an archery hunt on a 12-acre piece of public property on the northwest side of the city, as part of an effort to curb the city's deer population. The month-long hunt would have started Jan. 1, 2025, if city staff decided to move forward with the idea.
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The city has decided to defer the decision to fall 2025 to take more time to address the concerns of residents and find the right location for a pilot hunt, said James Hurt, managing director for the city of Grand Rapids Public Services Group, at the city's Dec. 17 public safety committee meeting.
Dozens of residents who live near the proposed hunting site - a largely forested property at 960 Bristol Ave. NW - were concerned about having an archery hunt near their homes, Hurt said. Fifty-three residents signed a petition opposing the hunt, and the majority of respondents to an online survey were against the idea.
"That caused us to pause, and perhaps look at pivoting," Hurt said. "The majority of the folks that were near that area were not in favor of this."
Hurt said the city will take the coming months to conduct more meaningful engagement with residents about a potential hunt, while also educating private property owners on how to safely hunt on their property, in partnership with the National Deer Association, to try to curb the urban deer population.
Longtime Grand Rapids resident James Smith, who organized the petition, said many parents were concerned that children could be hurt by stray arrows during the hunt.
"I don't think the city realizes how many people go back there," he said.
Commissioner Lisa Knight, who represents the city's Second Ward, said she thinks it would be helpful for the city to provide a visual representation of the distance an arrow could go, to help non-hunters understand what an archery hunt could look like in their backyards.
Archery hunting is currently allowed in city code on both public and private property.
The city was considering a pilot deer hunt to reduce the growing local deer population, which Hurt said has not only created a nuisance issue but also leads to safety concerns due to car crashes.
Kent County ranks No. 1 in Michigan for the number of deer-car accidents, with 2,171 reported crashes in 2023. Hurt said leaders across Kent County have been exploring solutions to handle the deer population.
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Hurt said there are similar deer hunting programs offered in two other Michigan communities: Kent County and Meridian Township. Kent County allows archery hunting for deer and turkey at three county parks, offering 15 permits per location. Meridian Township launched its deer hunting program in 2011 and last year had 67 participants.