Central Park Deer Population Management Zone Hunt 2024-2025

In 1990, the first deer management zone hunt (then called Special Hunts), was conducted at Springbrook State Park in Guthrie county, Iowa.   Since then Deer Management Zone hunts around the state have been successfully implemented in urban areas, parks, wildlife refuges, and disease management areas.    These hunts help control damage to urban and park vegetation and commodity crops caused by overpopulation of deer in localized areas.

Central Park is included in the parks around the state that control deer populations with managed hunts.  Central Parks managed hunt is for the antlerless resident bow season only.  Hunters participating in this hunt must meet the following restrictions, limitations, and requirements and be approved by the Jones County Conservation Board Director or his representative. 

A Central Park - Resident Deer Hunt Application must be acquired and completed to hunt within Central Park.  In addition to the following: 

1.   Have successfully completed the Iowa Hunter Education Class is born after January 1, 1972.  A copy of the certificate must be attached to the DPMZ hunt application.

2.  Pass a proficiency test administered by the Anamosa Bowhunters.

3.  Demonstrate possession of a hunting license, habitat stamp, and valid Central Park DMZ deer tag.

4.  Qualified hunters have the opportunity to place stands within Central Park on a first come/first served basis.

5.  All stand locations must be approved by the JCCB Ranger prior to placement.

6.  No ground blinds are permitted, unless a special need exists.  Disabled hunters in possession of state issued Disable Hunting License.  Approval will be with the JCCB Ranger on an individual basis.

7.  No motorized vehicles permitted off roadways.

Additional considerations or requirements:

1.  All deer harvested shall be reported to the Park Ranger or his designee AND the IDNR within 24 hours of harvest.  There will be a reporting board located at the Central Park shop for logging harvested deer.

2.  The park remains open to other park users during the hunting season.  Hunters are expected to treat park users with courtesy.

3.  No screw in hardware, bolts, spikes, etc.. shall be fixed to trees within the park boundaries.

4.  The stand owners name and contact information must be affixed to the tree stand.

5.  All shots must be on a downward trajectory and the same equipment used to proficiency test must be used during the hunt.

6.  The Jones County Conservation Board reserves the right to limit the number of registered hunters actively hunting at any one time.  

Hunting at Central Park begins 1/2 hour before sunrise on October 1, 2024 and ends 1/2 hour after sunset on January 10th, 2025.  All stands must be removed No Later Than seven (7) days after the end of the season.  

For a complete and detailed information/application of the Central Park - Resident Deer Hunt Application - 2024 - 2025 please contact the Jones County Conservation Department Administrative Office at (563)487-3541.  

For information on how you can participate or find locations of the Iowa Deer Population Managament Zone Hunts Click Here.