FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Farmington Hills City Council passed a deer management resolution Monday night (April 28) with a 6-1 vote.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the city of Farmington Hills worked together as a suspected increase in deer population raised concerns for the community.
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In March, residents and leaders began discussing a plan.
The resolution is to have teams of public safety personnel participate in a highly regulated deer hunting program. Firearm use will not be allowed.
Farmington Hills on resolution
Here’s what the city of Farmington Hills says about the resolution:
Contracted professional culls by sharpshooters: The City of Farmington Hills will coordinate professional culls for a period of two to five days per year beginning 2026. This will involve U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sharpshooters using suppressed rifles and thermal imaging at night. Sharpshooters will be positioned to take safe accurate shots. At this time, the locations of the culls have not been identified. The location will be determined by looking at impact data across the City and could be City property or private parcels of five acres or more with approval from the landowner. Culls will occur in accordance with regulatory agencies.
Highly regulated archery hunts by public safety personnel: The City of Farmington Hills will conduct a highly regulated organized pilot archery hunt with five public safety members using bows and crossbows for a period of two days in 2027. Prior to the highly regulated organized archery hunt, the selected public safety personnel will undergo rigorous training and skills testing. During the highly regulated organized archery hunt, the selected public safety personnel will be positioned to take safe accurate shots.
At this time, the locations of the highly regulated organized pilot archery hunt have not been identified. The location will be determined by looking at impact data across the City and could be City property or private parcels of five acres or more with approval from the landowner. Highly regulated organized hunts will occur in accordance with regulatory agencies.
Firearms ordinance suspension strictly during periods of culls and/or highly regulated organized archery hunts: To facilitate these deer management efforts, City Code Sections 18-307 and 19-65(1), which prohibit the discharge of firearms within the City and possession of bows in City parks, will be temporarily suspended strictly for the purpose of authorized deer culls and highly regulated organized hunts and only during the limited identified period of these efforts each year.
Venison to be donated to local food banks: Venison harvested during culls or highly regulated organized archery hunts in the City of Farmington Hills will be processed and donated to food banks to address food insecurity. Annual deer harvest goals will be determined with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and the USDA.
Continued monitoring and participation in regional planning: The City of Farmington hills will continue to be collect data related to deer-vehicle crashes, deer carcass pickup, resident deer concerns and ecological impacts. A Deer Management Report will be provided annually to the Farmington Hills City Council and the Deer Management Plan will be reviewed every five years as part of the City of Farmington Hills Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Additionally, the City of Farmington Hills will continue to work in collaboration with the MDNR, USDA, National Deer Association (NDA) and participating members of the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Coalition to share resources and information. The City will continue to share resources with the community on a dedicated deer management page on the City’s website, in addition to other methods. The Community is encouraged to visit the City’s website for the latest information.
