The Iowa Natural Resources Commission on Thursday granted permission for the hunt to begin Sept. 16 and conclude Jan. 10, 2024.

All hunting will be done with bows, with hunters launching their arrows from elevated positions.

Anyone wanting to hunt will have to take a safety course and prove their ability with a bow and arrow during a proficiency test.

“This program has been run efficiently, and more importantly, safely in other communities,” said Assistant City Manager Ryan Maehl. “Our approach is more conservative than other communities. We heard concerns about safety and we wanted to make sure we were above and beyond on that.”

Hunters will have to apply to be part of the upcoming hunt in Fort Dodge. Maehl said the city government will release instructions on the application process soon.

Prospective hunters will also have to complete the International Bow Hunter Safety Education course online at bowhunter-ed.com.

Additionally, they will have to pass a test proving they are proficient with a bow and arrow. Maehl said the Iowa Outdoor Store in Fort Dodge will help with the required test.

During the test, archers will launch 20 arrows at a target. Maehl said 10 of those arrows will be launched from 15 yards away and 10 will be launched from 20 yards away. He said the archers will have to score at least 80 percent to be approved for the hunt.

As a final step, there will be mandatory meetings for hunters in August.

The Natural Resources Commission authorized up to 100 deer tags for the Fort Dodge hunt.

“You are not able to harvest a deer without a tag,” Maehl said.

Where will the hunt take place

All hunting will be done on private land. Hunting will be prohibited on any city-owned property.

To be used for hunting a property must measure at least 200-by-200 yards. Under that criteria there are about 3,200 acres in Fort Dodge that would be suitable for hunting. However, landowners will decide if they will allow hunting on their property. It is possible that not all landowners will allow hunting.

A map of the areas that would be eligible for hunting is on page x of today’s edition of The Messenger.

Evolution of the hunt

Periodically over the last two decades, the City Council has received complaints about deer in the community. The complaints have generally been about deer gobbling up gardens or causing vehicle accidents.

In January 2020, the City Council received a petition signed by 307 people asking that the local government prepare a plan to reduce the deer population in the city.

In August 2020, Iowa Department of Natural Resources staffers advised the council that an archery hunt to thin out the deer herd could be conducted.

In July 2022, the council began moving forward with a deer hunt ordinance. It immediately ran into opposition from people who called it unnecessary and ineffective at reducing problems caused by deer. Several critics pointed out that no survey has been conducted to estimate how many deer actually are in the city.

The measure needed to be approved on three readings by the council to become effective. It was approved on the first reading on a 6-1 vote. As opposition grew in the community, City Council support for the hunt dropped. The measure was approved on a 5-2 vote on the second reading and by a 4-3 vote on the third reading. Having an ordinance pass with a declining majority on each of three votes is rare.

The council’s action sent the matter to the Iowa Natural Resources Commission. The commission unanimously approved a long list of proposed hunts. There was no discussion of the Fort Dodge hunt.