Deer #’s down statewide???

[marshall]

Continue to think about this. Do think there are lots of variables, causation and correlation are not the same but here is my speculation.

Ehd ?%
Habitat loss/urban sprawl/new acrages ?%
Predators
Cwd ?%
Increased hunter efficiency/increase pressure on less Habitat ?%

All of these known variables have any impact of varying percentage on any given farm.

I do wonder if there is impact with genetic modifications in crops, increased use of herbicides and pesticides, etc. Iowa has one of the highest rates of cancer in the nation. Is there something with our water sources? I have way more questions than answers.

I do know numbers are down and not bouncing back quickly. Just my opinions.

 

[8bitnes]

Continue to think about this. Do think there are lots of variables, causation and correlation are not the same but here is my speculation.

Ehd ?%
Habitat loss/urban sprawl/new acrages ?%
Predators
Cwd ?%
Increased hunter efficiency/increase pressure on less Habitat ?%

All of these known variables have any impact of varying percentage on any given farm.

I do wonder if there is impact with genetic modifications in crops, increased use of herbicides and pesticides, etc. Iowa has one of the highest rates of cancer in the nation. Is there something with our water sources? I have way more questions than answers.

I do know numbers are down and not bouncing back quickly. Just my opinions.

Rifle usage and cameras increase kill efficiency.

Continued cuts to law enforcement statewide decrease poaching enforcement. How many DNR and Iowa State patrol positions remain open with no effort to fill?

More water is being used to irrigate in ag practices and by Facebook for data farms.

 

[Sligh1]

Another unique but far from anecdotal example….
I’ve got a large farm with everything they need & premium habitat & food for EVERYTHING.

For 2 seasons now we trapped until last legal day for coyotes & bobcats. Then kept killing coyotes into fawn season. We are FOR SURE doing better than anyone I know 10 miles+ in any direction for deer #’s & fawn success. We are for sure doing better than a few years ago when I did get countless “coyote with fawn in mouth” pics. So- I am “almost certain” our coyote war is paying off.

On another front…. We are 5-6 years in TOTAL WAR on coons, possums, etc. “Extinct”!!! The pheasant & turkey population is bananas. Uniquely better than even a few miles away.

I do know areas that get coyotes hunted hard & I’m envious. . We take it upon ourselves & getting more to join in. Staying on the predators is a BIG GAME CHANGER IMO & In my experience.

I’d still say that even though our fawns & #’s are “better than others” - we are lower than I would expect & less than I want. I’ll still be shooting no does this year. Even on my place the mystery ______ going on is real. Pneumonia, a virus, some new chemical - SOMETHING!!!!
Last little feedback…. Amount of guys in N 2/3rd of kansas are really having some problems too!!!

****go to iowawhitetails IG page. Read the comments. Same post on FB & comments are more intelligent. There’s some guys that “get it”. There’s also a good share of our population that has consumed large portions of lead paint chips growing up & clearly had repeated head trauma in some form. Read up!!! We as hunters need to do a better job of recruiting the best & brightest & getting folks through at least a 4th grade eduction.

 

[IowaBowHunter1983]

How late into the year have you guys seen EHD symptoms or deaths? How fast have you seen symptoms arise?

I have a 3 year old that I've become well acquainted with the last two years that I've been beyond excited for. I saw him on the 23rd... perfectly fine. Out cruising, doing normal buck things during the late rut. 3 days later I see him again but this time slowly walking up the crick, stopping every few feet, drooling and foaming from mouth. Head droopy.

I find it hard to believe he burned himself out that bad in 3 days. But maybe? But also surprised EHD would still be a factor in late November. But maybe? No signs of physical injury. He looked like he was in his final days unfortunately.

Big misconception about ehd is that as soon as we get a frost midges die and ehd is over. The only part about that scenario that is true is the disease is no longer transmitted to new deer. EHD will kill infected deer all the way till spring. Some are able to fight it and hang on but eventually succumb. Some make it. In 2019 I was finding fresh dead deer all the way till April.

 

[Muskrat24]

Equally interesting response considering you have zero background knowledge on this agronomist.

Let me give you some background. He is a hunting enthusiast, a Farmer with many conservation practices, holds a PhD, is research minded and solution driven, is equally frustrated by deer numbers, and not employed with an affiliate of Enlist.

But, tell me more about how this person you don't know would give me anything but a straight response.

Also, I would love to read the published articles you mention. Pollinator numbers are down too and have been for some time

I meant no disrespect to him. That wasn’t a jab at him at all. Sorry if I was offensive but what I meant is we all hear not me when the question is raised but it is something.

 

[8bitnes]

Big misconception about ehd is that as soon as we get a frost midges die and ehd is over. The only part about that scenario that is true is the disease is no longer transmitted to new deer. EHD will kill infected deer all the way till spring. Some are able to fight it and hang on but eventually succumb. Some make it. In 2019 I was finding fresh dead deer all the way till April.

That's awful

 

[Sligh1]

*****the “lead paint chips” comment was NOT for anyone on here!!!!!! It was a comment based on some idiots that post on FB or IG. General public & the inbred slice of that public. YOU all are top tier & I love perspectives & varying opinions. Just in case multiple people on here ever think directed at them. I shouldn’t have even said that but having a little fun. U all are the BEST & BRIGHTEST & I truly mean that!!!! Folks on social media…. Not so much.

 

[Ishi]

Another unique but far from anecdotal example….
I’ve got a large farm with everything they need & premium habitat & food for EVERYTHING.

For 2 seasons now we trapped until last legal day for coyotes & bobcats. Then kept killing coyotes into fawn season. We are FOR SURE doing better than anyone I know 10 miles+ in any direction for deer #’s & fawn success. We are for sure doing better than a few years ago when I did get countless “coyote with fawn in mouth” pics. So- I am “almost certain” our coyote war is paying off.

On another front…. We are 5-6 years in TOTAL WAR on coons, possums, etc. “Extinct”!!! The pheasant & turkey population is bananas. Uniquely better than even a few miles away.

I do know areas that get coyotes hunted hard & I’m envious. . We take it upon ourselves & getting more to join in. Staying on the predators is a BIG GAME CHANGER IMO & In my experience.

I’d still say that even though our fawns & #’s are “better than others” - we are lower than I would expect & less than I want. I’ll still be shooting no does this year. Even on my place the mystery ______ going on is real. Pneumonia, a virus, some new chemical - SOMETHING!!!!
Last little feedback…. Amount of guys in N 2/3rd of kansas are really having some problems too!!!

****go to iowawhitetails IG page. Read the comments. Same post on FB & comments are more intelligent. There’s some guys that “get it”. There’s also a good share of our population that has consumed large portions of lead paint chips growing up & clearly had repeated head trauma in some form. Read up!!! We as hunters need to do a better job of recruiting the best & brightest & getting folks through at least a 4th grade

*****the “lead paint chips” comment was NOT for anyone on here!!!!!! It was a comment based on some idiots that post on FB or IG. General public & the inbred slice of that public. YOU all are top tier & I love perspectives & varying opinions. Just in case multiple people on here ever think directed at them. I shouldn’t have even said that but having a little fun. U all are the BEST & BRIGHTEST & I truly mean that!!!! Folks on social media…. Not so much.

In laymen’s terms you mean the tools of Spacebook!!
Keep preaching to the choir Skip as many on that site understand the situation in Iowa

 

[Butch973]

Is there any science to getting handed a pile of depredation tags? I heard of the local farmer saying he killed 28 does in our section last year, now teamed with EHD this year, the numbers are really low where I decided to hold off filling my doe tags during bow. The groups coming this weekend I can guarantee don’t care about numbers so it’ll be interesting next few weeks for sure.

 

[Sligh1]

Is there any science to getting handed a pile of depredation tags? I heard of the local farmer saying he killed 28 does in our section last year, now teamed with EHD this year, the numbers are really low where I decided to hold off filling my doe tags during bow. The groups coming this weekend I can guarantee don’t care about numbers so it’ll be interesting next few weeks for sure.

There’s “evidence” that’s needed. Biologist comes out & says “ya, u have damage. Here’s xyz tags”. Cannot account for ehd or the future of course. What will happen, in theory…. Next inspection, far less deer & damage, lower or no tags. Depends on when next check in time with dnr biologist is. It’s a Frigin shame with examples like that. And almost sad that while we have unmet #’s of hunters that want to shoot does or need places to go- we rifle em in summer time. I’m not saying we should get rid of the program but there’s clearly a disconnect there. & ya- ehd on top of that- easy way to destroy an area for the foreseeable future

 

[Bassattackr]

Is there any science to getting handed a pile of depredation tags?

About the same amount of "science" used by the CDC the last 4 years..

 

[Daver]

Rifle usage and cameras increase kill efficiency.
...

I could not agree more. I often think back to my early deer hunting days and how undetected many/most mature bucks were. Cameras changed all of that, some for good IMO, some for bad too, IMO. But how many times do you hear the phrase, "That's the buck we came in here for...", in all of the various hunting vids? Perhaps as often as the phrases, "Let's go!" or "Smoked him." or "I can't believe that just happened." or "I'm still shaking...". (Yes, I feel like certain phrases are OVERUSED in the vid world.

Back in the day, 80%+ of the time you had NO IDEA what bucks were around, let alone hunt selectively for a buck that you absolutely know is "there" due to camera surveillance. Right or wrong or neither...it is WAY different world these days. And then once the fortunate hunter knows of a certain buck...all of the weaponry advances, to include sitting in nice, comfy blinds, come into play and greatly enhance the odds that Mr. Big going down.

 

[RinggoCy]

Big misconception about ehd is that as soon as we get a frost midges die and ehd is over. The only part about that scenario that is true is the disease is no longer transmitted to new deer. EHD will kill infected deer all the way till spring. Some are able to fight it and hang on but eventually succumb. Some make it. In 2019 I was finding fresh dead deer all the way till April.

Damn. That sucks.
I hope I'm wrong but I'm guessing I'll be finding his carcass in feb-mar. That is if he's not dead in the bed I left him in on the 25th.
Been tough finding mature deer the last couple years and this won't help in 2025. Kinda tired of struggling to find even 1 deer across multiple farms to target.

 

[8bitnes]

There’s “evidence” that’s needed. Biologist comes out & says “ya, u have damage. Here’s xyz tags”. Cannot account for ehd or the future of course. What will happen, in theory…. Next inspection, far less deer & damage, lower or no tags. Depends on when next check in time with dnr biologist is. It’s a Frigin shame with examples like that. And almost sad that while we have unmet #’s of hunters that want to shoot does or need places to go- we rifle em in summer time. I’m not saying we should get rid of the program but there’s clearly a disconnect there. & ya- ehd on top of that- easy way to destroy an area for the foreseeable future

Real shame is that there isn't a program to capture those excess does and transplant them to areas that desperately need numbers

 

[Bassattackr]

Real shame is that there isn't a program to capture those excess does and transplant them to areas that desperately need numbers

Opens too many other issues. Disease transfer, etc.

Better to fix the root of the cause vs. a band aide fix on the back end. More intervention is not the cure IMO.

 

[sep0667]

How late into the year have you guys seen EHD symptoms or deaths? How fast have you seen symptoms arise?

I have a 3 year old that I've become well acquainted with the last two years that I've been beyond excited for. I saw him on the 23rd... perfectly fine. Out cruising, doing normal buck things during the late rut. 3 days later I see him again but this time slowly walking up the crick, stopping every few feet, drooling and foaming from mouth. Head droopy.

I find it hard to believe he burned himself out that bad in 3 days. But maybe? But also surprised EHD would still be a factor in late November. But maybe? No signs of physical injury. He looked like he was in his final days unfortunately.

Same county as you. Last fall i was getting lots of pics daily and seeing good #'s while hunting. Come the end of december I noticed a downtick in pics. Went to shed hunt last winter and found 7-8 dead along the creek and wasnt specifically looking for them. Then this year cameras slow and sightings during season way lower.

 

[whitetail_obsession]

I think I've already chimed in on some other threads with my thoughts. In my area of Zone 5 I believe the numbers are down 30-35%. I have run the same amount of trail cameras in roughly the same areas spread out over 4 counties. I have averaged about 120 pictures per year that I save on either good bucks or ones that catch my attention. This year I have only 76 pictures and I'm behind on pulling my cameras. I know cameras don't tell the whole story but I'd assume they missed roughly the same amount of deer in past years as this year. My in-field observations have reflected what my cameras have shown. I have one farmer who wants all the deer dead and usually says they're like rats but he even admits this year he hasn't seen nearly as many deer as years past. I have even driven around during the rut and found it difficult to find a mature buck roaming fields. Sure, there are deer around but for me the numbers are down and nowhere near where I'd like them to be.

I also talked with Barry Wensel who has about a 400ac property he hunts and agreed the population is down a good 30%. He said he went from having 10 shooters in Sept to maybe 1 come October so maybe EHD in his area but like me we're not finding bodies of the dead deer. He also stated he would see 12-15 deer per sit and now may not see that many in 5 sits combined. He is hearing similar reports beyond IA of declining deer numbers.

I think EHD has definitely played a role but between my brothers and I we have only found 4 dead deer all fall. I would think if the population has decreased substantially from EHD alone we would have found many more carcasses. So I don't think EHD alone accounts for the decline. Coyotes I'm sure are also playing a role with the population but I don't know to what extent. IMO the biggest factor outside of disease that has caused the decline is overharvesting. I believe we need to drastically reduce doe harvest in the Southern counties for a couple years. If we don't get a reduction in tag allocation, I believe we will continue to see harvest numbers higher than we should at this time. The truth is if hunters can get tags they will, and many leisure hunters will fill those tags if given the chance.

 

[8bitnes]

First released September 2024, this map is from the Iowa DNR's deer population study. This was part of a new law in 2022 that requires the study occur every three years. Full study report is available here and is an excellent, though lengthy read - https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/DF/1462727.pdf
These numbers would be pre-EHD this fall. The next report isn't due until 2027

Here is the methodology of arriving at the numbers below:
Researchers used several methods to calculate the population density, including an observation survey from bow hunters, buck harvests, deer-collision reports and a nocturnal spring spotlight survey where DNR staff drive on approximately 50 miles of gravel roads in each county and count the number of deer they see in a spotlight. The report states the bolded was the primary method of data collection while the others were items used to measure fluctuations year-to-year.

Other notable items in the write-up include the following:
* 12 counties have shown an increase in deer population since 1996
* antlerless harvest grew from 2001 (23,000 deer) to 2011 (123,000 deer), a 500% increase on harvesting anterless deer
* The report found the minimum tangible value of deer to Iowa is $181 million per year. USFWS data suggest that the tangible value of deer to the state of Iowa is upwards of several $100s of millions per year
* Deer cause a minimum amount of $129 million in vehicle collision costs annually
* Approximately 0.31% of harvested row crops are damaged or lost annually, with a conservative estimated cost of $5.2 million
* Specialty crops, like fruits, vegetables, nuts and Christmas trees are more susceptible to damage from deer. Surveyed farms reported, on average, 24% of their farmed acreage was affected. The ISU researchers who worked on the report calculated that, collectively, specialty croppers in Iowa experience $3.4 million in deer-related losses annually and spend an additional $832,000 per year on deer management strategies.