blake
Life Member
<span style="color: #000099">“The Iowa DNR's Mission:
"To conserve and enhance our natural resources in cooperation with individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life for Iowans and ensure a legacy for future generations.”</span>
<span style='font-size: 14pt'>From the Iowa DNR :</span>
Final Either-sex Deer Season of the Year has Begun
The Late Muzzleloader season began on December 22, and represents the last deer season in the 2008-09 deer hunting cycle where any-sex licenses are available. The season closes on Jan. 10, 2009.
Hunters are faced with a number of challenges during this season with the foremost being that, coming on the heels of the shotgun seasons, there are substantially fewer deer in most areas and those remaining are more sensitive and alert to human disturbances. Also, the weather can be severe during some seasons, testing the dedication of hunters.
On the other hand, the Late Muzzleloader season offers the hunter some advantages. Severe weather, while testing hunter resolve, also tends to concentrate deer and makes them actively seek out quality food sources. Also, of all the Iowa deer seasons with unlimited any-sex licenses available, the Late Muzzleloader season has the fewest number of hunters afield, so there is more elbow room.
Temperatures well below normal and snow or snow and ice have characterized the weather over the last several days throughout Iowa. Temperatures are forecasted to become more seasonal in the upcoming days with more snow being predicted as well (and ice, depending on where you hunt). In southern Iowa a couple days of thawing temperatures would be beneficial to melt the ice and thick crust that has formed that inhibits the feeding of many birds and mammals up to and including deer.
Deer will concentrate on high quality feeding areas, like standing corn and soybeans, while the temperatures remain well below freezing. In the portions of the state that have powder snow, waste grain will be utilized as well but the ice has pretty much locked out the deer, as well as turkeys, pheasants, quail, squirrels, and other small mammals and songbirds, from any food source laying on the ground in southern Iowa.
Last year, about 36,700 any-sex and antlerless-only licenses were issued for this season. Hunters reported killing about 11,200 deer with antlered bucks and does making up 31 and 56 percent of the harvest respectively. The approximately 6,300 does reported in the Late Muzzleloader season represented more than 8 percent of Iowa's total doe harvest last year.
Hunters planning to use tree stands are reminded to practice good tree stand safety and to utilize a safety harness at all times. Remember that the colder temperatures and bulky clothing associated with late hunts decreases one's agility and further heightens the need for care. Hunters are required to wear blaze orange when participating in the Late Muzzleloader hunt and party hunting is not allowed. Hunters that hunted during the Early Muzzleloader season or one of the Shotgun Seasons with an any-deer license are still eligible to purchase an antlerless-only license(s) for the Late Muzzleloader season and hunt antlerless animals.
Deer populations are strong in central, northeast, and southern Iowa with densities still above objectives. Hunters can help farmers and landowners by taking an antlerless deer or two during the season. Hunters can also utilize the HUSH program to donate deer to the Iowa Food Bank and provide needed meat for Iowans.
A tagging requirement that is new for 2008 requires a hunter who kills an antlered buck to place the transportation tag on the animal's antler. It is recommended that the tag be placed on the antler beam either at the base or between two points. This new law was passed by the Legislature during their last session.
License holders for the Youth Deer Season with any-deer licenses who did not harvest a deer are eligible to use the license and unused tag during the Late Muzzleloader season. However, the youth hunter must follow the weapons restrictions that are in place during the season (a muzzleloading rifle or bow only for youths) and be under the direct supervision of an adult mentor.
Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. All deer taken must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is recovered. This is the third year where hunters have reported their kill and it is a very important part of the deer management program in Iowa, playing a vital role in managing deer populations and hunting opportunities. Hunters can report their deer on the DNR website (www.iowadnr.gov), by calling the toll free reporting number (1-800-771-4692), or also at a license vender. For hunters with Internet access, the online reporting of the harvest is a quick and easy way to register your deer.