OneCam
Well-Known Member
Iowa compared to its neighboring states is relatively easy to gain hunting access to private grounds. Iowa Sportsman and women have shown they want to keep it this way by taking a strong stance within the legislative front by stifling all efforts to increase non-resident tags – specifically either sex tags.
Land access is still slowly shrinking with the ever-increasing demand on land and leasing. Laws and regulations are the only means for slowing this trend to reasonable levels. Simply put the more non-resident tags made available the more demand thus the more land acquisition and leasing. Currently non-residents are hesitant to purchase or lease land in Iowa because tags are not readily available on a yearly basis. If non-residents can be guaranteed tags each year demand for land will increase tremendously thus further eliminating overall land access.
During the 2004-2005 hunting season the IDNR sold 8,479 non-resident deer licenses – 6,000 either sex tags and 2,479 antlerless tags. The either sex tags of course are the most sought after by allowing those that possess one to harvest a potential Iowa trophy buck. Antlerless tags are becoming increasingly more popular each year even at the cost of $150 plus $80 license and an $8 habitat fee.
Antlerless tags are sought after by the following groups;
* The first group is one that I believe we all can fully support. They are family members hunting during the special Holiday season which tags are purchased at a low rate of $50. Yet this group makes up the least tag purchases of my grouping.
* Individuals with special interest in Iowa and Iowa’s land will purchase these tags as they may either own or lease ground in Iowa.
* Party hunters. Did you know a Non Resident hunting during the first or Second shotgun season can purchase a cheaper antlerless tag and legally shoot a buck. In fact that individual can shoot as many bucks as they have individuals possessing either sex tags hunting with them.
* The final group is in my opinion purchasing “temptation tags†with some coming to Iowa with every intention on shooting a buck.
So antlerless tags that at first seem to create a harmless void are in effect allowing non-resident hunters a means to hunt the state for bucks each and every year. One could even make the argument that individuals that purchase antlerless tags displace more hunters than the average individual that purchases an occasional either sex tag.
Many are aware of the recent Senate bill, which is for the most part a very positive. Topics addressed in this bill cover landowner certification, depredation tags, harvest reporting, special hunts and allocating an additional antlerless tag with each successful either sex tag drawn. The one area of concern for Iowa hunters should be the proposed removal of the 2,500 cap on non-resident antlerless tags.
Senator Black and others will state that the removal of the cap on NR antlerless tags will allow the DNR to reduce the number of as they see fit. Stating the DNR will set the number of tags sold based on Biological standards. Yet the DNR has already stated that non-residents are not a factor in the overall population control strategy. At the same time the DNR has repeatedly asked for increased numbers of both either-sex and antlerless tags. Increased revenue is on the agenda and you should be very concerned that the total sales of antlerless tags will be increased substantially.
Still don’t see why these tags will displace hunters – let me paint a picture … New Iowa Outfitter dialog with a non-resident hunter that was unsuccessful drawing a “buck†tag, “Don’t worry about drawing a tag, you can still come hunt with us and when you shoot your trophy buck my cousin will tag it and it’s perfectly legal … oh and by the way I just leased 3,000 more acres so tell your buddiesâ€.
Now is the time to act – contact your Legislators and your Conservation group leaders. Be polite and tell them your stance on the proposal to remove the cap on antlerless tags.
Land access is still slowly shrinking with the ever-increasing demand on land and leasing. Laws and regulations are the only means for slowing this trend to reasonable levels. Simply put the more non-resident tags made available the more demand thus the more land acquisition and leasing. Currently non-residents are hesitant to purchase or lease land in Iowa because tags are not readily available on a yearly basis. If non-residents can be guaranteed tags each year demand for land will increase tremendously thus further eliminating overall land access.
During the 2004-2005 hunting season the IDNR sold 8,479 non-resident deer licenses – 6,000 either sex tags and 2,479 antlerless tags. The either sex tags of course are the most sought after by allowing those that possess one to harvest a potential Iowa trophy buck. Antlerless tags are becoming increasingly more popular each year even at the cost of $150 plus $80 license and an $8 habitat fee.
Antlerless tags are sought after by the following groups;
* The first group is one that I believe we all can fully support. They are family members hunting during the special Holiday season which tags are purchased at a low rate of $50. Yet this group makes up the least tag purchases of my grouping.
* Individuals with special interest in Iowa and Iowa’s land will purchase these tags as they may either own or lease ground in Iowa.
* Party hunters. Did you know a Non Resident hunting during the first or Second shotgun season can purchase a cheaper antlerless tag and legally shoot a buck. In fact that individual can shoot as many bucks as they have individuals possessing either sex tags hunting with them.
* The final group is in my opinion purchasing “temptation tags†with some coming to Iowa with every intention on shooting a buck.
So antlerless tags that at first seem to create a harmless void are in effect allowing non-resident hunters a means to hunt the state for bucks each and every year. One could even make the argument that individuals that purchase antlerless tags displace more hunters than the average individual that purchases an occasional either sex tag.
Many are aware of the recent Senate bill, which is for the most part a very positive. Topics addressed in this bill cover landowner certification, depredation tags, harvest reporting, special hunts and allocating an additional antlerless tag with each successful either sex tag drawn. The one area of concern for Iowa hunters should be the proposed removal of the 2,500 cap on non-resident antlerless tags.
Senator Black and others will state that the removal of the cap on NR antlerless tags will allow the DNR to reduce the number of as they see fit. Stating the DNR will set the number of tags sold based on Biological standards. Yet the DNR has already stated that non-residents are not a factor in the overall population control strategy. At the same time the DNR has repeatedly asked for increased numbers of both either-sex and antlerless tags. Increased revenue is on the agenda and you should be very concerned that the total sales of antlerless tags will be increased substantially.
Still don’t see why these tags will displace hunters – let me paint a picture … New Iowa Outfitter dialog with a non-resident hunter that was unsuccessful drawing a “buck†tag, “Don’t worry about drawing a tag, you can still come hunt with us and when you shoot your trophy buck my cousin will tag it and it’s perfectly legal … oh and by the way I just leased 3,000 more acres so tell your buddiesâ€.
Now is the time to act – contact your Legislators and your Conservation group leaders. Be polite and tell them your stance on the proposal to remove the cap on antlerless tags.
