A meeting for all bow hunters or any interested person regarding the urban deer within the city limits has been scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

This meeting is to make sure hunters and property owners are aware of the rules and regulations regarding the urban hunt. This special hunting area has been created to help control the deer population within Marshalltown.

"We strongly encourage anyone who is thinking about this program to attend the meeting," said Terry Gray, director of the Marshalltown Parks and Recreation Department, in an earlier interview about deer hunting.

Permits are now available for hunters wishing to participate in Marshalltown's urban deer hunting program. Bow hunters wanting to hunt within the city limits are required to take the Bow Hunter Safety Education course as well as pass a proficiency test.

Any proficiency test by a certified International Education Foundation (IBEF/NBEF) instructor will be accepted. Proof is required.

Once a hunter has completed the course and proficiency test, a permit to hunt within the city limits must be obtained at the Marshalltown Parks and Recreation office. There is a $10 permit fee. The permit will then enable the hunter to get an urban hunting license available at the General Store, 116 E Church St. There are 75 licenses available.

The committee in charge of recommending the deer hunt decided the doe population was to be the main focus of the hunt. Though even the chair of the committee, Jack Harkness, told the Times-Republican some modification of that limitation may be needed in the future.

"I kind of think we are going to need to put an incentive in," Harkness said.

Earlier in the year, the committee had talked about allowing a hunter the opportunity to hunt a buck, after taking a doe. However, the committee decided to hold off on any action.

Property owners that may be interested in allowing a hunter on their property or hunters interested in being matched with a property owner may call and leave their names with the parks and recreation department.

Complete information and rules about the urban deer hunting program is available at the parks and recreation office or online at www.ci.marshalltown.ia.us.

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Contact Ken Black at 641-753-6611 or kblack@timesrepublican.com