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Council approves 2025–26 archery deer hunting program after debate over efficacy and habitat concerns
Summary
Following lengthy discussion about hunt effectiveness, alternative population controls and habitat impacts, the Galena City Council voted to approve the 2025–26 archery deer hunting program (agenda item 25C-0096).
The Galena City Council voted to approve the archery deer hunting program for the 2025–26 season after extended discussion on March 10.
An initial motion to cancel the program for 2025–26 was presented and seconded; councilmembers and commenters debated the program’s return on investment, recent low harvest counts, the potential use of drones to improve population counts, and the program’s impact on habitat. Some members argued for a one-year pause to conserve funds and reassess the population using drones; others noted persistent deer concentrations in some neighborhoods and argued continuing the program provides an option for population management and public safety.
After debate, the council voted to approve the 2025–26 archery program. Council discussion included suggestions to refresh the participant list (removing people who have signed up in past years but did not hunt) and to pursue nonlethal or habitat-based solutions in the longer term. No new funding allocations beyond regular program costs were adopted at the meeting.
The council did not adopt a new population-control plan or change hunting rules at this session; the action approved only continuation of the established archery program for the coming season.
