MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - On August 19th, the Township Board will vote on approving the fourth year of the Managed Deer Harvest in Meridian Township. The program was initiated to reduce the overpopulation of white-tailed deer in the Township.

Some problems arising because of overpopulation include ecological damage and lowering of the biodiversity in parks and deer/car collisions. According the the Michigan Deer Crash Coalition, Ingham county had 1,065 deer/vehicle crashes in 2012 and is on the list of top ten deer accident prone counties in Michigan.

Over the past four years data has not been collected on the total affect the Deer Harvest has had on the township, but Assistant Park Naturalist, Nick Sanchez says that long term data is needed and he believes continuing the program is the way to measure the effect the program has on lowering car collisions.

The Managed Deer Harvest in Meridian Township occurs during the regular hunting season and is opened to approved, qualified, competent, and experienced hunters who will be allowed to access Township property for the harvest. The hunt prohibits firearms, but allows bow and arrow and cross bow and takes place on designated properties that will be posted on Meridian Township’s website.

Hunters are allowed to keep their first deer but all remaining deer are donated to local food banks. Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger provides funding for the processing fee, and it is estimated that 6,500 meals were donated through the 2013 Deer Management Program.

Sanchez says the proposed 2014 program will resemble the 2013 program, but with one major improvement, “We’ll come up with a better communication for the hunters, so we don’t have 5 hunters all driving down to the processor, maybe they can meet up somewhere and only one of them would have to drive down."