A deer hunting season is underway in Fort Dodge. It began Saturday, and chances are many people have seen no indication that it is happening.

The fact that the ongoing hunting isn’t obvious to everyone in town is a good thing. We hope it stays that way because that means the hunt is being conducted flawlessly by expert archers.

The hunt will continue through Jan. 10, 2025, on privately owned land that meets size requirements. Most of that property is on the northern, eastern and western edges of the city.

The decision to allow what is called an urban controlled bow hunt within the city limits was one of the most controversial ones the City Council has made recently. It was made last year over the course of three long and contentious meetings.

The first hunt began in September 2023 and concluded in January of this year. Hunters harvested 43 does. The Police Department did not receive any complaints about the hunt.

We hope the current hunt comes to a successful conclusion with no problems also.

The burden for making that happen rests mainly on the hunters. To its credit, the City Council put in some fairly stringent requirements hunters must meet in order to participate. That means that everyone out there hunting is a serious sportsman who wants to safely and efficiently bag a deer. Not just anyone can grab a bow and go hunting during this season.

Those who are not hunters and who want to go out hiking in the woods on private lands should get permission to be there in the first place. And when getting that permission, they ought to ask the landowner if hunting is being allowed on that property.

The area is blessed with a variety of city, county and state parks They offer a great option for getting outdoors during this urban hunting season and at any other time of the year. We encourage people to visit any one of them.