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Countywide deer survey and carcass tracking to inform Grand Rapids policy, staff says
Summary
City staff told the Public Safety Committee that Kent County and Grand Valley State University will begin countywide deer-survey work this fall and that local road agencies are now geocoding collected deer carcasses; staff will return with options including possible limited hunting on city property.
Mr. Hurt gave the Public Safety Committee an update on countywide deer-management work, saying Kent County agencies are now geocoding deer carcass pickups and that Grand Valley State University will begin conducting population survey sampling this fall.
Why it matters: the new data stream — road-agency reports of carcass locations plus academic surveys and a planned countywide community survey — will produce maps and shared datasets staff hope will let municipal policymakers weigh local treatments and not rely on anecdote.
What Mr. Hurt told the committee: city and county public-works crews have begun tracking where they remove deer carcasses so the locations can be shown on a county map. Grand Valley will lead seasonal survey sampling, with a graduate assistant hired to lead field data collection; an agreement will permit data sharing through the Grand Valley Metro Council and Kent County’s planned web portal, expected to be live around November. A countywide community survey will also be distributed this fall to collect residents’ observations and preferences.
State regulatory context: Mr. Hurt said the state has adjusted hunting seasons to address overpopulation in parts of the Lower Peninsula, extending archery seasons and expanding some firearm-season access to public lands in several counties, including Kent County. He noted rules beginning in 2025 will restrict some special hunts to antlerless deer and described new youth and disability hunts.
Local options and next steps: Commissioners asked whether the city could authorize limited hunting on city-owned parks or property under existing municipal code. Mr. Hurt confirmed the city’s ordinance allows hunting on parks property if authorized by the parks director; staff agreed to analyze that option and return with recommendations in coming months. The committee also discussed forming a multi-jurisdictional committee to review the fall data and propose tailored treatment options rather than a one-size-fits-all policy.
The committee did not take formal action; staff said they will report back periodically.
