×

Archers away

Third city deer hunt begins Saturday in Fort Dodge

-Messenger file photo
The third annual urban bow hunt within the city limits of Fort Dodge will begin Saturday and end on Jan. 10, 2026.

Archers will again be able to hunt deer in the city limits of Fort Dodge, starting Saturday.

The urban bow hunt, the third one to be held in the city, will end on Jan. 10, 2026.

The City Council approved the hunt on April 14.

Two previous deer hunts have been held in the city. The most recent one concluded in January. According to the Police Department, no issues have been reported with the previous two hunts.

A total of 74 deer were taken in the last two hunts.

The upcoming hunt will be done by bow hunters on private property where land owners have given permission for hunting.

But hunting can only be done in areas that measure a minimum of 200 yards by 200 yards and have no buildings on them. Most of the property that meets those requirements is on the northern, eastern and western edges of the city.

Hunters are required to launch their arrows downward from a tree stand or other elevated position so that if an arrow misses a deer it will go into the ground.

To participate, hunters must pass the International Bow Hunter Safety Education Course, pass an annual archery proficiency test and attend a mandatory safety meeting.

The council approved hunting in the city limits in 2022 in response to many complaints over the years about deer eating up gardens and nearly causing crashes on the streets.

The first hunt began in the fall of 2023 and concluded in January 2024.

Starting at $4.94/week.

Subscribe Today