As many students may be aware, deer season officially opened Thursday, Oct. 1.

The majority of the deer population is found in urban areas, where there are few predators for deer to contend with.

However, if the deer population is not controlled, problems can arise, said Jim Zohrer, wildlife biologist with the Wildlife Bureau.

Bow-hunting is one method of controlling deer population and helping to preserve the environment, Zohrer said.

“Bow hunters are very important in keeping deer population down. Usually within city limits, bow-hunting is the only thing allowed,” Zohrer said.

“Hunters born after a certain year have to have a certificate,” Zohrer said. “Basically everyone now has to have a certificate and or a proficiency test.”

Hunters also are limited in the number of deer they can kill. One deer per license is permitted each season, but hunters may have more than one license if they want to use more than one weapon. For example, a hunter can have one license for a shotgun and another license for a bow.

Zohrer said although deer hunting may appear cruel, it is an important part of the ecosystem. Without deer hunting, a massive deer overpopulation would develop, which would destroy much of the plant life and in turn, destroy other wildlife in the region.

Some Iowa State students are new to the sport of deer hunting.

“I have hunted little stuff like pheasants and other small birds,” said Adam Peuse, undeclared freshman. “This year will be my first deer hunting experience, and I am really looking forward to it.”

Other students are veterans in the deer hunting field.

“I go deer hunting every year — I really enjoy it,” said Lukas Payne, freshman in forestry. “I get to get away from all the noise and see some nature.”

For more information on this subject, students can check out the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Web site at http://www.state.ia.us/wildlife.