Pikes Peak hunt wraps up, with 12 deer harvested

By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times

Pikes Peak State Park’s first managed archery deer hunt since 2011 concluded on Jan. 10. Twenty-six hunters participated in the three-month-long antlerless hunt, harvesting 12 deer.

Although 100 tags were available, Pikes Peak Park Manager Matt Tschirgi said, “It’s a good start. Everything went well.”

Tschirgi worked with the Iowa DNR’s wildlife bureau and wildlife depredation biologist Ross Ellingson to organize the hunt, which they hoped would cull the growing herd in both the park and the city of McGregor.

The weather played a large role in limiting the number of deer harvested, Tschirgi concluded. 

“It was a wet fall, just a strange year,” he said.

Interestingly, he added, hunters also reported seeing few deer.

According to Tschirgi, a majority of the deer were harvested from parcels around McGregor, like McGregor Heights and St. Mary’s Cemetery.

“Less than half were from the main part of the park,” he said.

Tschirgi was appreciative of Fisk Farm and Home, of Monona, which sold licenses for the special hunt. He heard no complaints from hunters, residents or visitors, and is hopeful another hunt can be conducted next year.