Names drawn for archery hunt at Huyser park

Fifteen people will hunt deer October through December.

Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission Chairperson Brad Laninga, right, draws a name for the annual archery hunt at Huyser Farm Park on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, from the envelope held by hunt organizer Brett Grams at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road. Parks member Tom Hoekman is in the background.

The names and dates for the annual archery hunt at Huyser Farm Park in Laketown Township are set with 15 of 21 applicants getting the chance to test their skills starting Oct. 1, 2026.

Hunters were notified by email and should stop by the Laketown Township office, 4338 Beeline Road, starting Monday, Sept. 21, to sign a waiver and pick up the hunting packet. The office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.

Hunt organizer Brett Grams held the envelope of applications as members of the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission drew the names at the commission’s meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Laketown Township Hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Check out a video of the process here.

Commissioners could not see any identifying information as they reached into the envelope.

Though there were 21 people who applied, there were 19 applications. Some applications included more than one name, such as spouses and parent-child combinations.

Last year, there were 14 hunters for 15 open hunting times.

The dates and hunters are:

Oct. 1-14: Brad Sawdon, Jack Sawdon and Joseph Sikma.

Oct. 15-28: Greg Cinski, Steve Hamm and Carson Schaaphok.

Oct. 29-Nov. 14: Joshua Bowman, Tyler Smith and Tammi Hamm.

Dec. 1-16: Joseph Stielstra, Caleb Bieske and Jeff Nyland.

Dec. 17-31: Ed Watson, Michael Visscher and William Snow.

Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission member Mary Jo Bertolino, right, draws a name for the annual archery hunt at Huyser Farm Park on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, from the envelope held by hunt organizer Brett Grams at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Hunters are required to fill out a questionnaire after the season. Failure to do so will disqualify the hunter from future permits.

The park property, 4188 64th St., will remain open for hiking, fishing and other recreational activities during hunting times. Signs will be in place in the parking area notifying people that hunting is underway.

The hunting program began in 2008.

In 2025, one hunter reported getting a deer.

In 2024, one hunter was successful in getting a deer.

In 2023, four hunters reported bagging deer.

In 2022, two hunters reported getting deer.