Mason City participating in Deer Management Zone hunt for upcoming deer season

(ABC 6 News) – Mason City is again participating in the Deer Management Zone (DMZ) hunt with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the 2022 deer season.

The DMZ is an effort to help control the urban deer population and mitigate the impact of deer inside of the city limits, specifically as it relates to property damage and vehicle crashes.

Tags for the DMZ hunt are now available at Hart Brothers, 613 S Federal Ave, Mason City.

Again this year, incentivized tags for the 2023 deer season will be offered to hunters who fill
three or more antlerless tags this season.

All deer must be sight checked at the Mason City Police Department pursuant to the guidelines which can be viewed HERE.

Mason City has participated in the DMZ hunt since 2016. There are 185 tags available this year
for urban bow hunters.

Interested hunters can stop by the Mason City Police Department to pick up a packet of information
about the 2022 DMZ hunt.

Hunters will need to return the completed packet along with copies of their hunting license, their Mason City DMZ deer tag, and their passing score on the proficiency test, and their driver’s license to the Mason City Police Department.

Mohawk Archery Club is also handling the proficiency testing.

After reviewing the documents, an urban bow hunting permit will be issued by MCPD.

Hunters must abide by the rules of the property owner, in addition to all Iowa DNR rules and special
zone rules covering the bow hunting of deer.

Any violation of the rules may result in the revocation of privileges or criminal charges, as appropriate.

The main goal of the hunt is to reduce the deer herd by harvesting female deer, or does. The special hunt
will begin September 17, 2022 and end January 12, 2023.

The special hunt in city limits will remain open even during the dates of the regular gun seasons that take place outside of city limits.

All 2022 DMZ licenses are for antlerless deer only, unless a hunter has received an incentivized tag from the 2021 hunt. All deer harvested in a deer management zone hunt must be sight checked and reported to IDNR.

If you are a property owner who would like to have a hunter bow hunt deer on your property
during the 2022 season, please contact MCPD at 641-421-3650.