City of Kalamazoo officials presented Comstock Township’s board with a proposal for managed deer hunting and forest thinning at McLinden Nature Trails.
City of Kalamazoo officials presented Comstock Township’s board with a proposal for a managed deer hunting and forest-thinning program at two city-owned water utility properties within the township during the board’s August 19 special meeting.
James Baker, the city’s Public Services Director and City Engineer, told the board the city’s water utility maintains 13 well-field treatment sites across the 11 municipalities it serves, including two in Comstock Township: McLinden Nature Trails (Station 25), a joint Comstock Township–City of Kalamazoo park with more than two miles of trails dating back to 1979, and a smaller site off Miller Drive near Galesburg (Station 39). Baker said a hired forester found the sites’ hardwood stands are not regenerating, pointing to dense tree canopy, storm damage and heavy deer browsing on young oak and hickory saplings as contributing causes.
The city’s water programs manager, who also presented, said test plots fenced off from deer showed significantly better tree regrowth than unprotected areas. The city is proposing two related efforts: a managed timber-thinning program to reduce canopy density, and a managed deer hunt modeled on a program the city ran last year in Ross Township.
How the hunt would be regulated
Under the proposal, participating hunters would need a permit from the city and would be required to check in daily. Violations of hunting rules would be reported to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the city’s local conservation officer; non-hunting violations such as trespassing or vandalism would be referred to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office. City staff said they’ve made trail and signage improvements at McLinden Nature Trails, including trimmed sightlines, marked trails, a QR-code trail guide, and signage marking restricted areas. Staff also said the hunting schedule is designed around a neighboring farmer’s crop calendar; the farmer, who supports the plan, would benefit from reduced deer damage to his fields in exchange for allowing hunters access.
No vote taken
City staff said the presentation was informational and did not request formal board action. Trustee Jerry Amos, Clerk Amber Lawrence and Treasurer Sandra Bloomfield each said they support the concept. City staff said they plan to return with additional information, including answers to resident questions, before moving forward. The region’s hunting season begins September 12, though staff said implementation would likely be delayed to allow more time for community input.
