City of Fort Dodge, Iowa

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• Media Release - July 26, 2024 - Urban Controlled Bow Hunt Season Established
• Earn a Buck Program

• Ordinance No. 2358
• Urban Controlled Bow Hunt Map

The urban controlled bow hunting season for 2024-2025 within Fort Dodge will run from September 21, 2024, to January 10, 2025. Approval for this hunting season was granted by the Fort Dodge City Council during their meeting on March 25, 2024 (Resolution 24-03-068).

This year's hunt within city limits will once again permit bow hunting on approved private properties, each measuring at least 200 yards by 200 yards. Only adult hunters (18+) with proven bow and arrow shot proficiency are eligible to participate.

Hunters who want to participate must:

• Complete the International Bow Hunter Safety Education Course available online at www.bowhunter-ed.com/iowa if you haven't done so previously.
• Complete an annual proficiency test. Contact Iowa Outdoor Store for more information: 
  • 1597 3rd Ave NW, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
  • (515) 955-4868 (ask for Aaron)
  • https://iowaoutdoorstore.com/
• Return the completed application and all documents no later than 4:30 pm on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
• Attend the MANDATORY informational meeting on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in City Council Chambers. More information will be provided upon receipt of your application.

• Urban Controlled Bow Hunt Application
• Voluntary Authorization Release
• Urban Controlled Bow Hunt Proficiency Certificate
• Permission to Hunt on Private Property
• Waiver of Separation Form
• Deer Harvested Confirmation Report
• Urban Controlled Bow Hunt Map
• Ordinance No. 2358

In an effort to incentivize the Urban Controlled Bow Hunt program, the Fort Dodge City Council has implemented a “Earn a Buck Program”. This is intended to increase harvests helping to reduce deer numbers within the Urban Deer Management Zone.

ELIGIBILITY:

All hunters who participate in the Fort Dodge Urban Controlled Bow Hunt Program will be eligible for a buck incentive license / tag. To obtain buck incentive licenses / tags, hunter’s will be required three does harvested through the verification process AND confirmed through the IDNR system; this total can occur over multiple hunting seasons. Once a buck tag is obtained it must be used in the current hunting season. Buck tags will not carry over to the next season. Qualifying does can be carried over to next season to count toward obtaining a buck tag.  Pooling, sharing, or utilizing another hunter’s verified harvest will not be permitted. Hunter’s may only receive and use credit for their own harvests. For a doe to be verified, a hunter will be required to remove 1.5” – 2” off either the left or right ear of the doe in the presence of the official verifying the harvest. If a part of the ear is removed before it has been checked in, the doe will NOT be counted towards the hunter’s total.  

It is the responsibility of the hunter to follow all state and local laws, rules, and regulations to harvest deer and ensure they are fully eligible for the buck incentive license / tag. 

PROCESS: 
The Fort Dodge Police Department will keep the “Antlerless Deer Harvest Confirmation Report” by hunter’s name. Once a hunter has harvested three does through the verification process, the Police Department will receive confirmation from IDNR. Once confirmed, Fort Dodge Police Department will notify IDNR of the incentive and the Buck Tag will be issued in the IDNR system; this will be done individually for each hunter. The incentive buck license / tag can only be used within the Fort Dodge Urban Deer Management Zone the following hunting season. Buck Tags are only good for one complete season. The harvesting of a buck must follow all the same requirements of the Urban Controlled Bow Hunt program and all IDNR processes.