Urban deer hunting

[dnovo]

We are working on a urban deer management program here in St Louis last year and this year. Some input wanted. Those of you who are involved in different areas of the country please chime in. How many places require a course to be certified in urban deer hunting? How many require some sort of proficiency test? How do you feel about a proficiency test? Thanks for any info.

[xia_emperor]

Des Moines, Ames IA requires both a proficiency test, and a bow hunter safty course.
The proficiency test:
10 arrows at 15 yards
10 arrows at 20 yards
you need to score an 80% on each.

[ChristopherO]

Cincinnati Parks invited me and others to put in for a draw this year.  I couldn't make it due to personal obligations and didn't apply but for those selected their proficiency test was 5 arrows at 20 yards with 4 in a 10" target to pass.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I believe PA requires both. Seems to work out well. Wish I could get in on some of that. Used to hunt a lot of "back yard bucks".

[Ray Hammond]

dnovo,

I won't write a book here...but 9 years ago I started a program here in Atlanta.

If you would like some details to keep from reinventing the wheel, do it right the first time type of info, feel free to give me a call at 678-300-2883

Best of luck.

[JC]

He's being a bit modest...the program Ray started here is immensely successful and provides excellent deer hunting opportunity for hundreds of members. You could certainly do well to call him about this subject....

[ArrowAtomik]

I'm in an urban program in PA.  I use the wheelie bow for that though... not sure if they could handle someone showing up with a stickbow.  Once I get to be Byron Ferguson level I will work to convince them.

We have 3 varying yardage... 8 yards to 28 yards at elevation... must have all kills.  Anyone can put arrows in a target though.  The interview is more telling.  Asking questions and quizzing on hunting regs to get a good handle of ethical real hunter vs. brainless loose cannon.  

Urban deer hunting usually means camoflauging yourself from the general public and the Anti's more than camoflauging from the deer.  You need people that will adhere to extremely strict rules and make every effort to avoid an incident.  He enforce 20 yards and under... elevated only... and never allowing the public a visual of you or your harvested animal.  We have many other rules as well with probation and expulsion as ways of enforcing.

[ArrowAtomik]

Forgot to mention requiring some amount of donation to a food bank can also help with the public relations of the whole thing.