blake
Life Member
Taxidermists Confirm it: Deer Numbers Declining in Iowa
Taxidermists say the decline in Iowa’s deer herd has been reflected in the number of trophy bucks coming through their doors.
Jeff Morris, proprietor of Big River Taxidermy in the heart of deer country at Lansing, said his shop barely handled 100 deer this year – down 50 percent from his 2006 record of about 200 deer.
Several factors have contributed to the decline, including the recession and the fact that Morris raised his prices.
“But the biggest factor is that the deer herd has been sliding the wrong direction since late 2007. The liberal doe seasons have taken their toll,” he said.
The emphasis on harvesting does – the centerpiece of the state strategy for shrinking the herd to socially acceptable levels – is reflected in the annual harvest statistics, which show a steady decline from 150,552 in 2006, to 146,214 in 2007, to 142,194 in 2008, to 136,504 in 2009 and to 127,094 in the recently completed season.
“There seems to be a trend there,” said Tom Litchfield, the Department of Natural Resources biologist who manages the state’s deer herd.
Joe Meder, who operates the world-famous Kodiak Ltd. Taxidermy Studio in rural Solon, said his deer numbers were down about 10 percent this year after 10 straight years of increases.
“Does make bucks. You almost have to expect a decline,” he said.
Though the number of bucks was down this year, the size of their antlers was not, Meder said.
Both Meder and Marion taxidermist Jim Kindig said the peculiarities of the 2009 and 2010 Iowa corn harvests contributed to an increase in large-antlered bucks this year.
The extremely late 2009 harvest provided millions of acres of bonus deer cover during most of the hunting season, allowing many bucks to survive into 2010, which had ideal conditions for antler growth, Kindig said.
Then, with last fall’s exceptionally early corn harvest, those bucks were forced into terrain where they were vulnerable to hunters, he said.
At Kindig’s All Seasons Taxidermy shop, that translated into a 10-inch increase in the average size of antlers processed, he said.
While Kindig handled a few more deer this year than last, he said it is time to put the brakes on the doe harvest.
“I think the deer population is as low as we want it to go,” he said.
Agreed, said Casey Knight, proprietor of Whistlin’ Wings Taxidermy in rural Cresco.
Knight said he took in 82 bucks in 2010, up slightly from 78 in each of the two preceding years, but his own extensive hunting has convinced him that deer numbers are “way down.”
During the archery season, Knight said he spent almost every day between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15 in the woods.
“I saw as many or more bucks as usual but almost no does,” he said.
Knight said he attributes the imbalance to the increased hunting pressure on does and to hunters’ increased willingness to pass up shots at small bucks in the hope that they will mature into trophies.
I received this article from a friend who thought everyone on IW should be aware of what’s happening with Iowa’s deer herd.
There is some important proposed legislation in process right at the state level that will also adversely effect Iowa’s deer herd.
It’s time to get involved, please contact your state representatives right away.
