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HSB 764

OneCam

Well-Known Member
Iowa is a one of the best deer hunting resources period – Iowa hunters (resident and non-resident) we have a tremendous resource and a strong passion to fight for a continuation of this high level hunting experience.

Restrictions on non resident landowners, limiting our non resident allocated tags, hunter education, habitat restoration, and an emphasis on doe harvests are all keys to Iowa's exceptional deer herd. If not for our DNR managing our deer herd and great organizations like the IBA and PH working to limit changes that could decrease land access for Iowa hunters and insure a quality deer herd we would find ourselves in similar circumstances of some neighboring states where land access is extremely limited and their quality is diminishing.

Iowa has seen its land prices more than double in the past few years, many acres have changed hands for hunting, we are starting to see land being leased, outfitter numbers and outfitter leased acres are on the rise - yet Iowa is still very far from the land access issues for local hunters in our neighboring states.

States where many resident hunters have to rely on high dollar leasing and outfitters to hunt. Neighboring states that have out of control deer herds, yet unlimited quotas on non-resident tags. States where large sections of land are now being broken into small plots of 80, 40 and 20 acres at an alarming rate and sold for high dollar to urban sprawl and recreational use. States where non residents are assured of a deer license making the demand that much greater yet he deer herd impacts are heading in the wrong direction. An over harvest of bucks and few does being tagged - many try to manage but herd management is tough without the tools, time and access needed.

Resident and non-resident hunters alike have a vested interest in keeping Iowa on track for a consistent high quality hunting experience - and this is achievable because the Iowa DNR is very restrictive in its rules and regulations regarding deer hunting. These rules keep the deer quality and land access at a very high level. This is why we wanted to bring a specific bill that could negatively impact our hunting future to your attention.

HSB 764 has a clause that distinctly modifies the rules and interpretation of an Iowa resident. It is much more restrictive modifying the Iowa residency standard by increase the days physically residing from 30 days to 180 days along with other subjective language to insure the primary residency is in Iowa - more details can be found on the link below.

On the surface this sounds like a strong bill that we should support to further restrict of a hand fool of "loop-hole" residents for the purpose of slowing down land sales and further strengthen our restriction to keep up with our land access concerns.

So why should we be concerned? A class action lawsuit is the reason - we currently have a hand full of hunters that own land in Iowa that have made sacrifices such as paying Iowa taxes and purchasing a temporary residence to call Iowa there home state yet they may live most of the time in another state. These same individuals are very well off, they have already made a tremendous investment in Iowa and I know that if they can no longer be considered an Iowa resident they will file a Federal lawsuit. Passage of HSB 764 will wake a sleeping dog and quite possibly put Iowa in much worse position – just the opposite as the bill intention.

The suite has a strong possibility of winning as no other State in the US will not let a non resident hunt land they own. If a judge rules in their favor it could open the flood gates to non residents wanting to buy and hunt their own land. Land prices would skyrocket, and every 40 acres with a tree would be up for grabs – displacing Iowa hunters at an alarming rate.

I don’t want to be misunderstood nor am I siding with any one group – I am just trying to state the facts, stay a step ahead and help avoid what could be a disastrous direction for Iowa whitetail hunting. Please consider calling your local and state level representative, IBA, PH and voice your concerns with this bill.

Thank you!


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The following link is for HSB 764. Look closely at Division II and scroll down to the "Explanation" section. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-IC...82&hbill=HSB764

The phone number to reach your Senator is 515/281-3371 & for your Representative is 515/281-3221. To access bills, E-Mail address for legislators, & other info on the Internet go to http://www.legis.state.ia.us

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