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Deer #’s down statewide???

8bitnes said:
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.

View attachment 128750

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.
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How accurate does everyone feel these numbers are for them in their area?
I saw this count in the paper earlier this fall and to be honest my first response was "ha, BS".
I looked through my trail camera pictures on my best farm and if I assume a 1:1 buck to doe AND count the bucks that made one random appearance in late November AND count the bucks that disappeared after summer came to an end, I can come out with a number really close to the number for my county but that's a pretty decent piece of ground for deer... scale of 1-10 with 1 being the flattest 40 acres corn field in Kossuth county and 10 being Lee Lakosky's farm, this might be a 6 or 7. There's quite a bit of open pasture and ag in the area that would have very few deer outside of the ones you randomly jump out of a waterway or brushy fencerow. I just don't see it. But I've been wrong before.
 
RinggoCy said:
How accurate does everyone feel these numbers are for them in their area?
I saw this count in the paper earlier this fall and to be honest my first response was "ha, BS".
I looked through my trail camera pictures on my best farm and if I assume a 1:1 buck to doe AND count the bucks that made one random appearance in late November AND count the bucks that disappeared after summer came to an end, I can come out with a number really close to the number for my county but that's a pretty decent piece of ground for deer... scale of 1-10 with 1 being the flattest 40 acres corn field in Kossuth county and 10 being Lee Lakosky's farm, this might be a 6 or 7. There's quite a bit of open pasture and ag in the area that would have very few deer outside of the ones you randomly jump out of a waterway or brushy fencerow. I just don't see it. But I've been wrong before.
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You have to read the whole report where they discuss the methodology, but system they have used for estimating the deer population is widely accepted nationwide and thoroughly vetted with cross-referenced data.

By and large, their annual estimates aligned pretty well with tag allotments UNTIL major disease outbreaks. Then, the tag allotment is at a minimum one year behind and in severe outbreaks, they are out of whack and will have to play catch up.
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
Start reading up on neonic insecticides. Looking at some studies about affecting reproduction in whitetails.
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I know just enough about neonics to be dangerous, and maybe less than that, :). But I know that interested people trying to understand why turkey populations are down so much over huge areas of their habitat have identified neonics as a potential issue. I had not heard that they may also impact deer...hmmm.
 
Daver said:
I know just enough about neonics to be dangerous, and maybe less than that, :). But I know that interested people trying to understand why turkey populations are down so much over huge areas of their habitat have identified neonics as a potential issue. I had not heard that they may also impact deer...hmmm.
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Our deer numbers stink, but are rebounding from ehd last year. Our turkey numbers are fantastic. Noticed larger broods this year after summer trapping aggressively last summer. We do use insecticides with our fungicide pass on corn and beans, but we use a pyrethroid instead of neonics.
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
Start reading up on neonic insecticides. Looking at some studies about affecting reproduction in whitetails.
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Thanks 1983, haven’t read up on the articles but have wondered if there was a correlation. I mentioned earlier in the thread that my guess was a reproductive problem. I have read the neonic affects on turkey poults but have not read up on reproductive correlations.
 
Hmm, not saying it's not something to pay attention to, but I'm not going to buy it just because the cdc says so. Don't forget to get your booster cdc. Yeah they're honest. Pretty sure all the human health problems are from Americans being like 5000% overweight these days. Weigh 330 lbs but blame your problems on a seed treatment.
 
Scary to listen to this and what is the answer? Obviously best answer is to stop using these types of treatments but that is so far out of our control. I plant these food plot seeds every single year, do I stop? The same deer are eating the neighbors crops a lot more than my small food plots. What am I accomplishing if I do stop?
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
"Our children's children will say what the hell were they thinking?"

Strong possibility this statement becomes true.

Asbestos of the ag world.
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Agree. It’s wild how many things we can say that about…. As of today, half our top soil is gone. That took thousands of years to build & a hundred for half to go away. Forever chemicals like PFAS (look that one up!). Heck, running up 35-37 TRILLION in debt. Taking “240 acre farms” & segmenting into 6-10 parcels at auction for a ONE TIME greed grab, lil extra $, forever ruined. Probably could rattle off 50 pages for this post!! Which is sad.
In this short life there’s often times: GIVERS & TAKERS. We all flawed but there’s no doubt we can see examples in any walk of life… in hunting… guys that “give back”. Put time, $, energy into farms. Leaving land better than found. Dudes that hunt by permission & pass deer. Then… the other side “what can I take???” “What’s legal and how far can I push it?” “How can I make the most $ off the resource?!?”… says the dude with overgrazed cattle pasture that’s destroyed but realizes he can find a sucker to lease it to shoot the few deer that make it home. “ME ME ME!!! That’s all it’s about!!!”

Been at this game a long time & no doubt i continue to change with an open mind & readily admit I’m far from perfect. I stopped using treated beans a couple years ago. I reduce herbicides a lot. Be a time in very near future that the only time I am around herbicides is from a drone. Constant changes needed when we get information that shows there’s a “better way” & often times we’d all be better off if the almighty dollar wasn’t the #1 definer of our decisions.
 
I think we need to stop looking for a boogeyman and start looking in the mirror, I think deer numbers, especially mature buck numbers, are mainly down because of ehd and hunters. Every once great place is now ruined because it became popular for producing trophies and the hunters showed up and wrecked it. Buffalo county, west central Illinois and now southern Iowa, I fear we’re circling the drain and if something doesn’t change soon we’re gonna be Pike county 2.0
 
2022:
Ringgold County 240 Acre Farm (CRP, Timber Strips, River): Had many bucks across all age groups that made it through the season and were on the farm the entire time.

Page County 360 Acre Farm (170 in CRP and Timber Strips): Found two bucks from 2021 that were almost definitely EHD. Deer numbers relatively low overall.

2023:
Ringgold County 240 Acre Farm (Same as above): Year started strong, after Mid-Oct extremely concerning decline in buck/overall deer numbers. Never found any EHD deer but I have to think it was a contributing factor in the decline. I'd say overall numbers 70% lower.

Polk County 240 Acre Farm (110 Acres of Timber/Remainder in Crops) Near Red Rock: Deer numbers, ratios, age structure good through the entire season. No signs of EHD

2024:

Polk County 240 (Same one as above): Deer Numbers still good. Farm has more carrying capacity but overall healthy population with no signs I've seen of EHD (did smell a possible dead one once near the pond but couldn't locate it)

Montgomery County 470 (80 acres of timber and creek bottom, remainder in crops): Relatively even buck/doe ratio. Seem to be missing most the 3.5 year old age class. and all but one of the 3 bucks older than that are bully scrubs. Most subtantial cover for a couple miles around. I was told in its prime it'd hold 200 deer during the winter. I didn't see anywhere near those type of numbers when I picked up the farm this past Feb. I estimate the farm hold 25-30 (roughly even buck/doe). I found two likely EHD kills from 2023. I haven't seen signs of if there yet this year....overall nice running water source though the whole farm so hopefully that's helping.
 
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