About Iowa City’s Deer Management Program

Iowa City’s Deer Management Plan was formed in response to resident concerns about deer in urban and suburban areas. A survey conducted in 2018 revealed the urban deer population had tripled since the City ceased its deer management program in 2010. After coordinating with the Iowa DNR and soliciting public input, the City Council adopted a Deer Management Plan in 2019. This plan was approved through the Iowa Natural Resources Commission and included one year of professional sharpshooting, four years of urban bow hunts, and ongoing public education.

A full timeline and history of the City’s deer management response is available here.

Contacts:

Questions, comments, complaints, or suggestions for staff can be sent to deermanagement@iowa-city.org and the appropriate person will follow up if necessary.

Comments, complaints, or suggestions related to Iowa City's Deer Management Program for City Council can submitted by emailing council@iowa-city.org, submitting written correspondence to Council Members addressed to 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, or addressing the City Council during public comment at regular formal meetings. Individual councilor phone numbers are also available online. Residents who submit public comment must include their full name and should be aware that all correspondence addressed to the City Council becomes a permanent public record and is archived by the City.

Deer Management Plan

2019 – 2020 (Professional Sharpshooting): A report on the results of White Buffalo, Inc.’s 2019 – 2020 deer cull is available here. 

2020 – 2024 (Urban Bow Hunt): Information on the 2021 – 2022 urban bow hunt is available on the Urban Bow Hunt page. Rules and application materials for the 2022-2023 Urban Bow Hunt will be released soon.

Ongoing (Public Education): Please visit our Deer Education and Non-Lethal Management page for tips on living with deer and information on non-lethal deer management solutions.

Public Input

Upcoming Opportunities:

  • The City will hold a Deer Listening Post on Monday, July 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at Emma J. Harvat Hall (City Council chambers) in City Hall, 410 E. Washington St. The public is encouraged to attend and provide comments. Learn more.

Past Opportunities:

  • The community was invited to attend a public input meeting to discuss deer population management  on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, at City Hall, 410 E. Washington St. City staff presented a short history of the City’s deer management, which is included in the document entitled “Council Information Packet:  Urban Wildlife-Deer.” Tony DeNicola of White Buffalo, Inc. presented the study completed last winter on the estimate of the deer population in Iowa City, which is Exhibit B to the document entitled “Letter to Natural Resources Commission.”  The meeting was then opened up for comments and questions from the public (limited to 3 minutes per person). View the meeting here.

Annually:

  • The City provides an Annual Report and update to the City Council twice per year, prior to the start of the annual bow hunt and following it's conclusion. The public is encouraged to direct comment to the City Council or during a City Council meeting public comment period during these times.
  • Questions, comments, complaints, or suggestions for staff can also be sent to deermanagement@iowa-city.org at any time.

Documents

Links & Resources

City Government