By Kyler Moran, Preserve Stewardship Manager and Dane Page, Preserve Stewardship Associate
This fall marks a new chapter for Legacy Land Conservancy: for the first time, regulated bow and firearm hunting will take place at one of our preserves. After careful research, planning, and input from the preserve’s donors, Legacy has launched a deer population management program at Iron Creek Preserve.
Why Hunting and Why Now?
Iron Creek is home to many beautiful natural communities–the trillium and spring beauties on the oak-hickory slopes, the witch-hazel and spicebush in dappled light beneath walnut and black cherry trees, and most notably, the rare prairie fens which support uncommon wetland plants like yellow lady slippers and fringed gentian. This incredible biodiversity faces the serious challenge also affecting much of southeast Michigan, an overabundant deer population.
Greater abundance of deer at Iron Creek means they will be browsing more of their favored diet–native shrubs, saplings, flowering plants, and grasses. Combined with increased competition from invasive species, which deer prefer not to eat, native vegetation is under a lot of pressure.
Michigan’s deer population has increased by 300,000 in the last decade and is estimated around 2 million today. In addition to population growth, herd distribution has shifted throughout the state. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has observed that deer populations in the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula have decreased, while populations in the highly-populated southeast and western parts of the state have increased.
The donors of Iron Creek understood this challenge. In their original letter of intent, they asked that a hunting program be created to manage deer numbers and safeguard the preserve’s biodiversity.
In addition to protecting these native ecosystems, Legacy sees the venison harvest from this program as a way to support local food systems and, in the future, expand equitable access to hunting for individuals and communities who have historically faced barriers to participating.
How the Program Works
For 2025, hunting will be limited to one Legacy-approved hunter, who has hunted the property for more than 30 years. Through this enduring relationship and comprehensive knowledge of the land, this hunter brings a strong commitment to safety and population management, prioritizing the removal of does to help balance herd numbers.
Hunting seasons at Iron Creek Preserve will run as follows:
- Bow Hunting: October 1–31 and January 12–31. Preserve remains open.
- Firearm Hunting: November 1–January 11. Preserve closed from dawn until 10:00 a.m. each day.
Visitor Guidelines:
- Hunting hours are from dawn until 10:00 a.m. from October 1 through January 31
- During bow season, the preserve remains open, but we recommend wearing blaze orange or bright clothing.
- Always stay on marked trails, keep pets leashed, and do not approach hunters or tree stands.
Looking Ahead: 2026 Applications
Legacy’s long-term vision is to open access to additional hunters, especially new hunters, BIPOC, Indigenous, urban, and other communities historically excluded from hunting opportunities.
Applications for the 2026 season will open in early summer. Interested hunters can contact Legacy staff to be notified when applications go live.
To ensure safety and effectiveness, the program will follow best practices for population management, including requiring hunters to harvest a doe before a buck. This helps focus hunting on sustaining healthy ecosystems and providing locally sourced food, rather than trophies.
A Balanced Path Forward
Introducing hunting to a preserve is a significant step, and one we’ve taken with care. By managing deer populations at Iron Creek, we are protecting rare species, honoring the wishes of the preserve’s donors, supporting local food systems, and creating new access to the outdoors.
It’s another way Legacy is working to balance people, wildlife, and land–today and for generations to come.
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