OSKALOOSA — The City of Oskaloosa is preparing for the upcoming 2025/2026 Urban Deer Hunting season, to be held within the Oskaloosa city limits. The 2025/2026 hunting season will run from September 20th, 2025, through January 10th, 2026. During this season, qualified hunters will be allowed to harvest deer within the city limits using bows and arrows.
Bow hunters interested in participating in this hunting season are required to pass an archery proficiency test, consisting of 5 shots, made from 20 yards. Hunters must score at least 80% accuracy, within an 8-inch circle target, to qualify for this hunt. Hunters are allowed two attempts to pass this test.
There has been one (1) date set up for qualifications for this upcoming season. This testing will be held at the Gateway Church of the Nazarene in the Southeastern portion of the parking lot. The Gateway Church of the Nazarene is located at 140 Gateway Drive, Oskaloosa, IA 52577. The testing date and time are set for Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Any hunter interested in participating in this hunting season must attend and pass this proficiency test. Hunters must bring a current form of identification and their current/valid Iowa hunting license to this testing.
**CROSSBOW QUALIFIERS** — Crossbow hunters will need to schedule a time with Officer O’Day or Sergeant DeKleine of the Oskaloosa Police Department and bring a crossbow target to qualify. If the crossbow hunter would like to qualify at the set times at the Gateway Church of the Nazarene, the crossbow hunter must bring a crossbow target to utilize for qualifications.
The Oskaloosa Urban Deer Management Program has established rules that each hunter must follow to participate in the program. A copy of these rules can be found on the city website. It will also be available to anyone attending the proficiency testing at the Gateway Church of the Nazarene on the provided date.
A special note regarding the proficiency testing date: All hunters wishing to participate in the 2025/2026 Oskaloosa Urban Deer Hunting Season must appear and shoot on the provided date and time. Failure to test on the provided dates and times will disqualify anyone from participating in the 2025/2026 Oskaloosa Urban Deer Season, except for crossbow qualifiers. Crossbow qualifiers can reach Officer O’Day or Sergeant DeKleine at the email listed below to arrange a qualification time for qualifications. If hunters can not make it to the provided date and time, they are encouraged to speak with either Officer O’Day or Sergeant DeKleine to see if arrangements can be made. There is no guarantee that alternate arrangements can be made.
During the 2024/2025 season, hunters harvested 19 deer within the Oskaloosa City Limits. The Oskaloosa Police Department encourages qualified members of the community to help in harvesting deer within the City of Oskaloosa during this Oskaloosa Urban Deer Management program.
Anyone with questions regarding this program is encouraged to contact Officer Andrew O’Day, of the Oskaloosa Police Department, by calling (641) 672-2557 or by email at: aoday@oskaloosaiowa.org or Sergeant Justin DeKleine at: jdekleine@oskaloosaiowa.org.
