Hunter
7/18/19
Iowa City is still without a deer management plan after the Natural Resources Commission rejected a third proposal from the city.
The latest proposal included the most agreeable solution, employing trained sharpshooters to thin the herd, but also included a bow hunt in subsequent years. That has raised the ire of area residents, especially the Iowa City Deer Friends group, who wants the deer population to be left alone altogether.
The Press-Citizen reports that language used in the proposal was not agreeable to the NRC, who last week objected to the phrase “when necessary.” Commissioners believe that the city is relying too heavily on the sharpshooter option and must be more committed to a bow hunt.
Mayor Jim Throgmorton was at that meeting and told the City Council this week that the bow hunt would need to last at least 30 days to be approved. They would also need to discuss where the hunting would be allowed to take place, and who would qualify to hunt the deer.