Michigan pilot program connects deer hunters with private landowners in Kent County

Kent County, Michigan, is trying something that more places with suburban deer problems should be willing to try: connect responsible hunters with private landowners instead of pretending deer manage themselves.

A new online platform called Deer Connections launches this fall as a pilot program in Kent County. The tool lets landowners review hunter profiles, invite selected hunters to connect, set expectations through guided prompts, and use a customizable access agreement to put the arrangement in writing. Landowners can also opt into hunting liability insurance through a National Deer Association partnership.

The reason is hard to ignore. A Grand Valley State University study commissioned by the Kent County Deer Management Coalition found that in 2024 more deer were killed in vehicle crashes in the county than were harvested by hunters. Kent County includes Grand Rapids and has the fourth highest human population of any county in Michigan, so this is the real-world edge where deer, traffic, backyards and hunting politics all collide.

The pilot also includes a venison donation angle, helping hunters and landowners get harvested deer to individuals and organizations dealing with food insecurity. That is the full circle right there: manage the herd, reduce conflict, create access, and put meat where it can do some good.

Urban and suburban deer management does not need more hand-wringing. It needs safe, legal hunters, clear landowner expectations and enough backbone to admit that controlled harvest is conservation, not a problem to hide from.