Novi Outlaws Hunting in City

Since the 1970s, residents of Novi have been allowed to hunt in the city as long as they got special permission from the chief of police – until now.

The Novi City Council passed an ordinance Monday that prohibits the use of weapons for hunting in the city. Previously the city's law that prohibits the use of firearms had an exception where the chief of police could grant individuals 60-day permits to use bows or shotguns for hunting on private property. The new ordinance removes that exception.

Firearms are now only allowed to be used at shooting galleries and ranges.

The new ordinance also adds that bows and arrows may not be shot in the city, except at ranges.

Mayor Pro-tem Dave Staudt and council member Andrew Mutch voted against the ordinance.

Mutch said the law already has standards that are in excess of what the Department of Natural Resources requires and that residents should be allowed to practice archery if they have enough space.

"I recognize that obviously [the city has] changed quite a bit from when this was adopted back in the '70s, but there are still high-acreage parcels, there are still residents who live outside a subdivision, live on pieces of property where I think those activities can be done safely," he said.

Mutch and Staudt both supported a resident who spoke at the meeting and has been hunting on his land for more than 40 years.

"Novi still has areas that are predominantly rural, and to take away property owner rights because it's our preference, to me isn't an acceptable reason to do it," Staudt said. "I don't think there are safety issues in this situation."

Novi Mayor Bob Gatt disagreed.

"I think in the year 2012, most residents of the city of Novi would be shocked that there is still hunting allowed," he said. "Not only is it dangerous, it's  terrible waste of man power when a police officer is called to the scene of a hunter. Now he's got to trudge into the acreage to find the person, determine if that person had permission or not, go back to the owner, it could take hours."