Hunting application period open for Iron Creek Preserve
Photo courtesy of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
by Sara Swanson
Are you a deer hunter looking for somewhere to hunt in the area?
Legacy Land Conservancy announced that the application period for the 2026 hunting program at Iron Creek Preserve located at 11703 Noggles Rd in Manchester Township is now open. They state that interested hunters may now apply for the opportunity to help keep the local deer population in check as part of the program launched last fall.
Hunters may apply to hunt either/or both the fall archery period from October 1 to November 6, 2026, or the late firearm period from December 4, 2026, through January 1, 2027. (A third hunting period will occur November 15 to November 30 in partnership with the Black to the Land Coalition.) Two hunters will be selected for each open permit period by weighted lottery with preference given to applicants who intend to harvest more deer and spend more time on the preserve hunting. Hunters are required to take one doe before a buck and follow a list of rules specific to hunting in the preserve.
Legacy states, “Over the last two decades, white-tailed deer populations have increased dramatically. Because deer prefer to eat native over nonnative plants, a large deer population can significantly impact an ecosystem and reduce biodiversity by overbrowsing. This is a particular concern at Iron Creek Preserve, where it is important to protect species in the rare prairie fen, as well as the regeneration of oaks and other native trees.”
The preserve will be closed to visitors during firearm season, November 15 through January 1 during hunting hours (dawn to 11:30am) but will stay open during archery hunting. Visitors during archery hunting are encouraged to wear blaze orange or bright clothing and always stay on marked trails, keep pets leashed, and not to approach active hunters or tree stands.
See https://legacylandconservancy.org/hunting-and-foraging/ for more information. To apply, fill out the application linked on that page. Applications will be accepted until July 17 and hunters will be determined and notified by July 24. If you have questions or are unable to complete the application online, call 734-302-5263.
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