Two does graze in Iron Mountain. (Iron Mountain Daily News file photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Archery hunters culled 54 deer within the city limits of Iron Mountain during this season’s managed harvest, the most since the Michigan Department of Natural Resources introduced a baiting ban in 2019 to curb the spread of chronic wasting disease.

The city harvest was up from 36 in 2021, 34 in 2020 and just 17 in 2019. The highest harvest over the past 11 years was 73 in 2015.

Reviewing the figures on Monday, Mayor Dale Alessandrini said a sizable population remains on the city’s north side.

The city makes three public areas available to registered hunters, offering 13 total spots. Hunting on private parcels of five acres or more is allowed with permission from the owner.

A map viewed by the city council showed 18 deer taken in the Millie Hill area; 16 south of the city’s industrial park; 11 south and east of Cemetery Park, and five near Kramer Drive.

Kingsford also has an archery hunt but reported only 12 harvests this season, the lowest ever.

The Iron Mountain harvest included 52 antlerless deer and two bucks that were taken on private tags, which is allowed as an incentive for antlerless success.

In other action Monday, the council:

≤ Learned that the LED conversion of 31 city-owned street lights along Carpenter Avenue, Ludington Street and Stephenson Avenue has been completed. Total project cost was $7,288, with a rebate incentive of $1,231, said City Manager Jordan Stanchina.

This is apart from the conversion of 770 lights city-wide approved in February 2022 at an estimated cost of $137,700. The city pays a regulated wattage charge on those fixtures, which are owned by We Energies. It’s projected the total investment can be paid off in less than 12 years, after which the city saves $52,000 annually. American Rescue Plan Act funds are being used to cover the conversions.

≤ Heard Stanchina say a special meeting may be scheduled to discuss a private water main that could potentially be turned over to the city at the east limits on U.S. 2.

≤ Agreed to waive a pavilion rental fee for the Wild Rivers Invasive Species Coalition, which will hold its annual meeting at City Park on Wednesday, June 7. The afternoon meeting will be free and open to the public.