Re: Open Meeting/Deer Mangement
I attended this Depredation/Deer Management Meeting that was hosted by the Page County Conservation Commission and presented by the Iowa DNR. The presentation put on by the IDNR was well rehearsed, very professional, and informative.
Those of us in attendance were given the opportunity to openly ask questions during the presentation and meet with the DNR Officer's after the meeting was over. Often I had difficulty determining if we were talking about the depredation program or the general deer hunting season, as many landowners wanted their questions answered immediately as topics came up in the presentation. This was somewhat disruptive, but I will say that the DNR tried to keep on topic re: Depredation aspect of the meeting.
The purpose of this meeting IMO was to educate property owners and hunters to work together to solve the deer population "problems". In other words, get hunters together with landowners experiencing crop damage problems due to the local deer population. The DNR wants to get Iowa's deer herd down to the early 1990's level. This idea was popular with some landowners, but not with many deer hunters.
Some of these landowners acknowledged the fact that some of their neighbors who didn't allow hunting or only allowed hunting on a limited basis were also a huge problem. They complained that deer would come from these sanctuaries and damage their crops because the food sources on the properties in the deer core areas had been depleted or there weren't any food sources in the first place. Basically the sanctuary owners were allowing there neighbors to provide the food sources for the big bucks that they want to hunt.
Another topic off discussion was State and County Wildlife Preserves/Parks that create deer sanctuaries especially when the gun seasons begin. Every deer in the county runs straight to these protected areas. Some State Parks have opened hunting on a limited basis for antlerless deer but they need to harvest more deer. Once the gun seasons are over the deer often migrate back to the original core areas and the problem remains the same for next year. Few if any County parks in the state allow any form of deer hunting. Again one must wonder how we as hunters are expected to reduce the deer herd if there is no access to these sanctuaries.
Leasing by outfitters was briefly discussed and the opinion of the DNR officers present was that outfitting has a negative impact on the deer herd and creates a management problem for the DNR. However, they did not discuss how or if they plan to regulate outfitting in Iowa.
Access to hunting properties was a major topic presented by hunters. Leasing and accusation of property by resident and non resident hunters was discussed. The general feeling was that these individuals are not managing their properties properly. They are shooting bucks only, and not harvesting enough antlerless deer to maintain a proper balance. A couple of farmers mentioned that non-resident land owners should be able to get a buck tag every year and so should there dependent children.
The "Earn a Buck" Program was mentioned by the DNR, but not discussed in length. There is like doubt in my mine that it is an option that is being considered.
The DNR also mentioned making hunters wanting to participate in the depredation program or park hunters to pass an education class and participate in a shooting proficiency test. The DNR feels that landowners and park board members maybe more respective if they knew that hunters wanting to hunt their property had passed a certified safety course and shooting proficiency test.
Other positive aspects of this meeting were getting to meet the region Depredation officers. These are the guys that meet with the farmers having problems with deer and get you the hunter and the farmer in their respective regions working together.
Northeast Iowa: Ross Ellingson 563-929-6001
Southeast Iowa: Greg Harris 319-330-5578
Central Iowa: Bill Bunger 515-975-8318
Northwest Iowa: Maury Muhn 712-320-0611
Southwest Iowa: Mike Olsen 712-250-4436
Landowner Concerns
Several landowners stated that the lack of hunters asking permission to hunt their properties was a major problem. These landowners want more deer harvested off of their land and they don't much care how that happens. Some of the local farmers would like to see the deer population at the 1950's levels. Basically no deer; or a very limited number of deer.
Some of these landowners signed up on a list to allow hunters to hunt their properties. And I was able to talk with several of these landowners and gain permission to hunt as several other hunters in attendance did.
One surprising thing that I learned was that most of the landowners in attendance believe that bow hunters shoot bucks only and don't harvest any antlerless deer. I and several other hunters made an attempt to dispel this misconception. Bottom line folks; is we need to start shooting antlerless deer with our bows and show them to
the landowners.
Other landowners stated that if a hunter wanted to hunt their property he would have to show the landowner that he did in fact have in his procession antlerless tags.
Some of these landowners signed up on a list to allow hunters to hunt their properties. And I was able to talk with several of these landowners and gain permission to hunt as several other hunters in attendance did.
One surprising thing that I learned was that most of the landowners in attendance believe that bow hunters shoot bucks only and don't harvest any antlerless deer. I and several other hunters made an attempt to dispel this misconception. Bottom line folks; is we need to start shooting antlerless deer with our bows and show them to the landowners.
Some of the landowners talked about implementing their own "Earn a Buck" program on their land. Numbers being thrown around were like making the hunter shoot 3-5 antlerless deer before they could shoot a buck.
Other landowners stated that if a hunter wanted to hunt their property he would have to show the landowner that he did in fact have in his/her procession antlerless tags.
And several landowners stated that the lack of hunters asking permission to hunt their properties was a major problem. These landowners want more deer harvested off of their land and they don't much care how that happens. Some of the local farmers would like to see the deer population at the 1950's levels. Basically no deer; or a very limited number of deer.
Several landowners wanted the state to issue them a certain number of tags and they could sell them to whom ever they wished; resident or non resident!
Topics Covered After the Meeting
I had the opportunity to talk with several farmers and hunters after the meeting was over. I found their views very interesting. The following are a few of the subjects that the farmers are less than pleased about:
<u>Leased land for hunting:</u>
Some of the problem areas (deer sanctuaries) are being managed for bird hunting and the funding for these properties is coming from Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, CRP, and timber grants. In some cases the DNR is paying landowners to cut downlocust trees to provide protection for pheasants and quail after the grasses grow up between the downed tree limbs. These properties also make excellent bedding areas and safe havens for the whitetail deer. And with all the funding available there is minimal cost to the landowner. Many of the farmers were upset that these programs are directly responsible and contributing to the "over abundance of deer".
Some farmers felt that the problem is reduced numbers of hunters, and reduced land access. Some felt the DNR also was part of the problem.
In closing my thoughts are these:
We must all work together to reduce the deer herd to and acceptable level for all of use, non hunters, farmers, tree growers, flower growers, city property owners and hunter alike.
We as deer hunters should expect certain entities to try and make some major changes in the deer hunting regulations in the very near future. The Outfitters, Realtors, the Insurance industry, and the State of Iowa are seeing dollar signs.
If the resident deer hunter wants to continue to hunt deer in this great state we had all better become very proactive. These large groups mentioned in the above paragraph are organized, and they are getting stronger every day. If they get their way there will be a very negative impact on the quality of deer hunting in Iowa.
The next couple of months will likely shape the future of deer hunting in the State of Iowa for many years to come. As many of you are aware there are some organizations and companies out there that are trying to make some changes that will adversely affect your deer hunting and hunting in Iowa in general.
If you like to watch deer, photograph deer, hunt deer with gun or bow then you need to become proactive. How you ask, by joining the only organization the actively prompts deer hunting, is a watch dog when it comes to our state reps, and works with the DNR so deer hunting in Iowa can and will remain a great experience for non-resident and resident hunters alike.
Please join and support the Iowa Bowhunters Association, united we can make a difference.<span style="color: #CC0000"> For more information about becoming an IBA member>>>>></span>
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