Hunting

Two of Polk County Conservation Board's areas are open to hunting. Most of Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt and several remote areas of Jester Park are available to hunt all game.  A portion of Jester Park along Saylorville Lake is open to waterfowl hunting only.All state and federal hunting laws apply.

Waterfowl Blinds
Polk County Conservation Board initiated a controlled waterfowl hunting program at the Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt in 1973. Each year, the program allows the reservation of up to 12 hunting blinds per day. Up to four people are allowed per blind. Hunting is allowed Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from legal opening time until 1 p.m. during the October to early December season. Blinds are located adjacent to waters that are part of a five hundred acre refuge. The program has been very popular with cnetral Iowa hunters. The County's operation is one of several programs in Iowa and the only one in the central part of the state. The others are along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. It has been popular for older hunters who find it difficult to wade in many public marshes, but can walk to individual blinds over dry land at Chichaqua. The layout of the area, access to the blinds, and the need for no boats make it more attractive.

Waterfowl hunting blinds at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt can be reserved by calling the Chichaqua office at (515) 967-2596 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The twelve blinds are located in both marsh and woodland settings. Daily reservations are $25 per hunting blind. Hunting is allowed from legal opening time to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday throughout the season. Chichaqua is a half hour northeast of Des Moines near Elkhart and Bondurant.

Non-Toxic Shot
Non-toxic shot (non-lead) is required of shotgun hunters on all Polk County Conservation Board land. The only exceptions include deer and turkeys. Lead shot may still be used at the designated trap range at Chichaqua. This new policy brings the Polk Co. Conservation Board in line with current regulations on many state and federally-owned Waterfowl Production Areas.

Controlled Bowhunt
This fall, the Polk Co. Conservation Board will issue special use permits allowing bowhunters to participate in a controlled bowhunt for antlerless deer at several Polk County Conservation Board parks. A limited number of special use permits will be issued for Brown's Woods, Four Mile Creek Greenbelt, Jester Park, Mally's Weh-Weh-Nee-Kee Park, Sycamore Trail,Thomas Mitchell Park, and Yellow Banks Park. The bowhunt is limited to antlerless deer only, and will take place from September 13, 2008 to January 25, 2009.

This controlled bowhunt is being held in response to continued growth in the urban deer population that has resulted in damage to natural vegetation, increased deer/vehicle collisions, and damage to private landscaping. Urban deer populations can double every 3 to 4 years if left unchecked.

What is the Urban Deer Bowhunt Program?
Hunter Information
Bowhunting Guidelines
Application for Controlled Bow-hunt
2007-2008 Controlled Bowhunt Deer Report
H.U.S.H. (Help Us Stop Hunger)
Map of Deer Management Zone

To participate in this program hunters must do the following:

• Pass an approved bowhunter safety education course
• Pass an archery proficiency test
• Apply with PCCB for a special use permit
• Meet with the Conservation Board Ranger to review rules of the hunt and the boundaries of the special hunting areas
• Purchase a special anterless deer license or a regular Iowa bowhunting license

Contact the following organizations and contacts to locate other places to hunt:

Des Moines Park and Recreation	Mike Gaul	515-208-0310
West Des Moines Park and Recreation	Sally Ortgies	515-222-3447
Des Moines Water Works	Scott Atzen	515-283-8727
City of Johnston	Jim Sanders	515-278-2344
City of Urbandale	S.K. Prophet	515-278-3900
Polk County Conservation Board	Brian Herrstrom	515-967-4889
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers	Brian Nail	515-276-4656 ext 6515
Walnut Woods State Park	Tim Gedler	515-285-4502
City of Clive	Kelly Canfield	515-223-5246
City of Pleasant Hill	Heath Ellis	515-208-5212