TWO DOES GRAZE in Iron Mountain. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo, file)

IRON MOUNTAIN — A total of 82 deer were harvested within city limits during Iron Mountain’s managed archery hunt that ended a week ago, the most since the program began in 2012.

The previous high was 73 in 2015, while the total during the 2023 hunt was 56.

City Manager Jordan Stanchina acknowledged the size of the herd has swelled and many deer remain. “You wouldn’t know it if you went around,” he said Monday of the record harvest.

At the suggestion of city council member Pam Maule, Stanchina agreed to pursue talks with Breitung Township and city of Kingsford officials on a coordinated harvest in 2025.

Kingsford also conducts an archery hunt, with 34 deer taken this past season. Breitung Township has no municipal hunt.

In 2019, when a baiting ban was introduced by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to avoid the spread of chronic wasting disease, the Iron Mountain harvest fell to 17. Numbers in successive years were 34 in 2020, 33 in 2021 and 57 in 2022. The ban was lifted in 2023.

Under the DNR program, the city contributes $10 per antlerless harvest permit, with 85 purchased this year. Three public areas are typically made available to registered hunters, offering 13 total spots. Hunting on private parcels of 5 acres or more is allowed with permission from the owner.

The program coincides with the state’s archery deer season Oct. 1 through Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 through Jan. 1. The Iron Mountain harvest this year included four antlered deer taken on private tags, allowed as an incentive for antlerless success.

Sharpshooters were hired to reduce the herd about 20 years ago. The city has since turned to the archery hunt, as sharpshooter initiatives may cost hundreds of dollars per deer or more.

In other action Monday, the council:

— Approved a letter of agreement with the union representing city firefighters that will allow three employees to carry over unused vacation time into 2025 — about seven shifts in all. Due to overtime issues, it was difficult for the firefighters to use all of their days, Stanchina explained. The hiring of two new firefighters was approved in November, bringing the full-time staff to nine.

— Reappointed Marshall Kesler and Peggy Freeman to four-year terms on the Iron Mountain Housing Commission.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.