Agency says bow and arrow hunting not posing safety hazard

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Bow-and-arrow hunters who want to practice their sport in Clinton Township are still able to do so, since the Michigan Department of Natural Resources denied township official’s request to ban the sport in its boundaries.

Hunting with a firearm has been outlawed in Clinton Township since 1974, but there are still some areas of the 28-square-mile community where people can — and do — hunt with a bow and arrow.

Because the township is so populated and developed, officials felt that hunting in any area of the township poses a safety hazard. Even though several trustees on the board are avid hunters themselves, they don’t feel Clinton Township is the place to do it.

“We believe that hunting in Clinton Township in any area is unsafe,” said Township Supervisor Robert Cannon. “The board is united and unanimous on that.”

The DNR completed its investigation recently, and denied the request to ban hunting, saying adequate regulations were already in place to protect residents, and there are no safety risks as the laws stand today.

Cannon said the township’s legal counsel will look into and exhaust any appeal process possible.

But Lt. Sherry Chandler of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Division said there is no appeal process, and the decision is final.

To make the decision, the DNR hosts a public hearing in the community. Clinton Township’s was held in September, and four residents appeared to make comments. Two were in favor of the ban, and two were opposed, Chandler said. Two written comments were received, one for and one against.

After that, the DNR investigates whether there have been any hunting-related complaints or incidents on record within the last 10 years. In Clinton Township, there were none.

“No testimony or evidence of substantive incidents which would warrant a Hunting Area Control was provided during the public hearing or during the investigation subsequent to the hearing,” Chandler wrote in a letter to the township board.

The DNR has to weigh the rights of hunters versus the safety of the community when considering a ban like this.

Township officials still feel strongly about the need to regulate hunting, and will formally ask the DNR for more information as to how it came to its conclusion.

“What’s disconcerting is there’s no indication whatsoever that the density of population, the proximity of homes to these areas where the control area was sought was considered,” said Township Attorney Jack Dolan. “The bulk of this seems to say that someone has to be injured or killed before action will take place.”

In response, Chandler said there is already a law in place that addresses the township’s population density and the proximity of homes. According to state law, she said, hunting within 450 feet of an occupied dwelling is prohibited.

Although the township can’t regulate hunting and trapping altogether, the township can prohibit hunting on land owned by the township. One of officials’ main concerns is regulating the community’s public parks.

“Which is where the majority of hunting takes place,” Cannon said. “And the reason we know that is we have found blanks.”

The township will consider posting signs on all township property prohibiting hunting and trapping.

“They do have every right to post that on their own property,” Chandler said. “We did notify them of that.”

If anybody would like to make a complaint about someone who is unlawfully hunting, they can call the DNR or local law enforcement, Chandler said. To report a hunting-related safety concern, trespassing problems or reckless discharge of a firearm, call the Clinton Township Police at (586) 493-7800, or call DNR District Law Supervisor Lt. Ron Utt at (248) 359-9051.

The DNR also has a 24-hour hotline to receive complaints, at (800) 292-7800.

You can reach Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586) 218-5006.