Bow hunting season for deer inside Muscatine city limits is set

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The 2021-2022 deer bow hunting season within the limits of the City of Muscatine will be held Sept. 12, 2021 through Jan. 10, 2022. The hunting season was approved by the Muscatine City Council at its July 15 meeting.

The City of Muscatine has participated in a city wide deer hunt program with the guidance of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources since the 2006-2007 Deer Hunting Season. This year’s hunt within the city limits will again be for bow hunting on approved private property with two (2) acres or more. Property owners may combine contiguous parcels to reach the two (2) acre minimum.

In advance of the upcoming bow hunting season for deer within the city limits, the City of Muscatine will once again host a qualifying shoot for interested parties. In order for individuals to be eligible to participate in this year’s hunting season within the city limits, they must pass a shooting proficiency test.

The required proficiency test will be for the hunter to successfully shoot three of five arrows inside a five-inch circle on a target located at a distance of 20 yards. Only two chances will be allowed per day.

The test will be given at the lower level lot of the Weed Park Maintenance Facility, 1211 Weed Park Drive, on the following dates:

  • Saturday, August 28, 2021 – 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, September 1, 2021 – 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 8, 2021 – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition to the proficiency test, an informational meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at the Weed Park Aquatic Center. Hunters interested in participating in this year’s hunt are required to attend this meeting.

The City of Muscatine has participated in a Deer Management Zone Program in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the past 15 years with a total of 719 deer harvested including 57 last year. The program has successfully accomplished its goal of a controlled reduction of the deer population and that benefits citizens with less motor vehicle-deer accidents and less landscape destruction.

A total of 24 hunters took the 57 deer killed in the 2020-2021 season hunt (47 doe, six buck, and four button buck). There were 40 hunters who passes the proficiency test and 40 hunters who attended the preseason hunt meeting.

Questions concerning the City of Muscatine’s 2021/2022 deer hunting season can be directed to the Parks and Recreation Department at 563-263-0241.

Additional information on Parks and Recreation programming is available by contacting the Muscatine Parks and Recreation Department office by phone at (563) 263-0241 or via email at parksoffice@muscatineiowa.gov.

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