IOWA NEWS: Hunters reduce Ottumwa deer by 58

OTTUMWA -- The City of Ottumwa's 13th deer season for bow hunters began Sept. 15 and concluded Jan. 10.

During the season, 37 hunters registered with the police department to participate in the program. Twenty-three of the 37 were successful in harvesting at least one deer.

During the four-month season, 51 does, five bucks, and two button bucks were harvested bringing the total harvest number to 58.

Twelve hunters qualified for buck tags that will be issued during for the 2019/2020 season next fall.

The Ottumwa city deer hunting program was started in the fall of 2005 as a means to reduce the deer population in Ottumwa. Since then, a total of 921 deer have been harvested from within the city limits through the program.

The start of the city's 2019/2020 deer season for bow hunters will be announced this summer.