A PAIR OF DEER on Foster Street in Iron Mountain. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News file photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — If you’ve hit a deer with a vehicle in Iron Mountain recently you’re not alone.

Iron Mountain City Council learned Monday that city crews removed 19 deer from roadsides over a six-day period from Nov. 6 to Nov. 11.

Casualties also included a bear and a cub near the Bay College campus on North Stephenson Avenue, Director of Public Works Scott Thomas said.

The rash of deer collisions likely coincided with the rutting or mating season, which increases crash frequency. More collisions occur in October and November than the rest of the year, according to the National Highway Safety Administration.

To reduce the size of the herd, the city annually conducts a managed archery hunt that as of Friday had culled 44 animals. That compares with 36 at the same time a year ago, City Manager Jordan Stanchina said.

The hunt began Oct. 1 and continues through the end of the year. Last year’s harvest total was 56.

Kingsford also conducts an archery hunt and Iron Mountain council member Pam Maule asked Monday if a joint harvest will be pursued with Breitung Township, which currently has no municipal program for deer control.

Stanchina said the idea remains on the table, but no talks have taken place as it would have to be organized for 2025.

Sharpshooters were hired to reduce the herd about 20 years ago, but the city has since turned to the annual archery hunt. City officials have said the archery hunt is limited, in part, by the number of parcels available for safe harvests.

A mild winter this past year has likely contributed to an expansion of the herd.