Hunting in Iowa: 5 Things to Know About Urban Deer Hunting in Cities and Suburbs

Iowa has various communities and parks that are officially deer hunting zones. Urban deer overpopulation is linked to many detrimental effects. Deer graze on crops, ornamental plants, gardens, and landscaping bushes. The Telegraph enumerates that deer may also destroy trees and spread diseases. Deer are also notorious for running into the road just as a vehicle passes by.

The resulting collisions result in thousands of dollars worth of damage to vehicles, as well as often causing hospitalization or death of passengers inside of the car. As urban deer populations rise in a community, these incidents occur more frequently.

The only way to successfully address them is to lower the deer population around the area. This may be accomplished by changing regional ordinances concerning deer hunting.

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However, if that fails the next step is to establish the area as a Deer Management Zone. Whether you live in a DMZ or are just interested in learning, here are five things to know about urban deer hunting in Iowa:

1. In 1990, Iowa enacted its first deer management zone hunt. This hunt was authorized to occur in the Springbrook State Park.

2. The first urban deer hunt was held in Waterloo. It was determined that it would be a bow hunt, conducted within Waterloo’s city limits. After the hunt, complaints concerning deer dropped significantly in Waterloo. The government deemed the hunt a success, and Waterloo has acted as a precedent in all urban deer hunting zones ever since.

3. Iowa currently has 18 communities and 25 parks that are officially deer hunting zones. These numbers fluctuate often, based on the season and population of deer in a certain area.

4. To have an area evaluated for potential DMZ status, contact your local depredation biologist.

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5. In Iowa, this is the official timeline from when a request for a DMZ hunt is submitted to when it is approved:

a. Interested parties must confer and agree that the deer population needs to be abated. This consensus must be between both community & municipal Representatives.

b. If a consensus is reached, a decision must then be made whether to reduce the population via a DMZ or by other ways, such as changing country ordinances restricting deer hunting.

c. April 15-May 25: Open period during which all suggested deer management zone hunt requests must be submitted to the local depredation biologists.

d. June: Local department commissioners look over request and either deny or approve it.

e. Fall: If request is approved, the deer management hunt will occur that fall.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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