ElkHunter
Life Member
Great choice of words "stabilize"
My choice might have been decimate in many counties, but hey I look at things differently.
Branstad Intervenes to Stabilize Upcoming Deer Harvest
5/13/2011 12:36:56 PM
Rick Robinson
By Dirck Steimel, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman Editor
After hearing a wide range of concerns by a new coalition of Farm Bureau and other groups interested in the size of the Iowa deer herd, Gov. Terry Branstad last week instructed the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to revise its original plan which would have significantly reduced antlerless deer licenses in the 2011-12 hunting season.
The coalition also includes the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Soybean Association, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the Iowa Insurance Institute and the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association.
The coalition raised concerns that a reduced deer harvest would result in increased damage to field crops, as well as, horticultural crops, forests and other private property. The coalition also said that a higher deer population could hinder economic development and would likely raise the number of deer-vehicle accidents in Iowa. The likelihood of deer-vehicle accidents in the state is already the second highest in the nation, according to a recent insurance company study.
Antlerless Deer Quota Unchanged
At its May meeting the Iowa Natural Resources Commission, which sets state hunting rules after reviewing recommendations from the DNR, approved a Branstad-approved plan that would keep the upcoming antlerless deer harvest quota unchanged from the 2010-11 total. The commission, however, added language to a revised notice of intended action that also instructed the DNR to accept additional comments on last year’s harvest quota before it makes a final ruling at its July 14 meeting.
However, Rick Robinson, IFBF environmental policy advisor, says it’s his understanding that the additional language added by the NRC will not be supported by the Governor’s office.
"This makes it important for farmers to continue to make comments on the number of deer they see on their farms and in their counties," he said.
In March, the DNR had proposed reducing the number of antlerless deer licenses in 35 counties of the state for a total reduction of 23,500 during the 2011-12 season. The antlerless deer licenses are a primary method that the DNR uses to reduce the number of does and control each county’s overall deer population.
The DNR explained in March that the harvest of antlerless deer could be reduced because the state’s deer population was under control in a large part of Iowa.
Deer Population Larger Than Management Goal
But a new coalition countered that the DNR currently projects the statewide deer population remains 5 to 10 percent above the department’s management goal of a post-harvest population of 170,000 to 200,000 head. That is approximately the size of the population in the mid-to-late 1990s. The coalition members also expressed concern that the DNR planned to reduce the antlerless harvest in several counties where many citizens believe the population remains too high. Some of the proposed reduction in licenses would be in the northeast counties, including Clayton, Winneshiek, Allamakee and Fayette, which have some of the state’s highest deer populations.
The preliminary plan, “would be the largest one-year reduction in deer tags in recent history,” the coalition said in its May 10 letter to Branstad. “Iowa hunters and antlerless tags play a vital role in controlling Iowa’s deer herd. It is critical that we use this tool as effectively as possible.”
The coalition also noted to Branstad that the state has yet to implement all of the recommendations made to the 2009 session of the Iowa Legislature by a 16-member deer study committee. “We encourage you and your staff to review these and discuss them with the DNR director. It seems a progress report by the department to all Iowans is in order before final decisions are made on this year’s hunting rules,” the coalition wrote.
In addition, the coalition recommended that the DNR meet annually with a deer study committee and other stakeholders to review progress in managing the deer herd and recommendations for future actions.
The NRC will give its final approve to the 2011-12 resident deer hunting rule at its July 14 meeting in Windsor Heights.
(DES MOINES) –Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced they will be holding a series of town hall meetings across Iowa.
The following events are free and open to the public:
Monday, May 23, 2011
3:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Chickasaw County town hall meeting
Chicakasaw Community Centre
301 N. Water Ave.
New Hampton, IA
5:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Howard County town hall meeting
C US Bank – Grange Hall
111 North Elm Street
Cresco, IA
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
10 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Allamakee County town hall meeting
Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank - Basement
201 W. Main Street
Waukon, IA
12:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Clayton County town hall meeting
Johnson’s Restaurant
916 High Street NE
Elkader, IA
2:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Fayette County town hall meeting
Luigi’s Restaurant
1020 South Frederick
Oelwein, IA
4 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Buchanan County town hall meeting
Independence Senior Center- Main Dining Area
400 5th Avenue NE
Independence, IA
For more information please visit www.governor.iowa.gov.
My choice might have been decimate in many counties, but hey I look at things differently.
Branstad Intervenes to Stabilize Upcoming Deer Harvest
5/13/2011 12:36:56 PM
Rick Robinson
By Dirck Steimel, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman Editor
After hearing a wide range of concerns by a new coalition of Farm Bureau and other groups interested in the size of the Iowa deer herd, Gov. Terry Branstad last week instructed the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to revise its original plan which would have significantly reduced antlerless deer licenses in the 2011-12 hunting season.
The coalition also includes the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Soybean Association, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the Iowa Insurance Institute and the Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association.
The coalition raised concerns that a reduced deer harvest would result in increased damage to field crops, as well as, horticultural crops, forests and other private property. The coalition also said that a higher deer population could hinder economic development and would likely raise the number of deer-vehicle accidents in Iowa. The likelihood of deer-vehicle accidents in the state is already the second highest in the nation, according to a recent insurance company study.
Antlerless Deer Quota Unchanged
At its May meeting the Iowa Natural Resources Commission, which sets state hunting rules after reviewing recommendations from the DNR, approved a Branstad-approved plan that would keep the upcoming antlerless deer harvest quota unchanged from the 2010-11 total. The commission, however, added language to a revised notice of intended action that also instructed the DNR to accept additional comments on last year’s harvest quota before it makes a final ruling at its July 14 meeting.
However, Rick Robinson, IFBF environmental policy advisor, says it’s his understanding that the additional language added by the NRC will not be supported by the Governor’s office.
"This makes it important for farmers to continue to make comments on the number of deer they see on their farms and in their counties," he said.
In March, the DNR had proposed reducing the number of antlerless deer licenses in 35 counties of the state for a total reduction of 23,500 during the 2011-12 season. The antlerless deer licenses are a primary method that the DNR uses to reduce the number of does and control each county’s overall deer population.
The DNR explained in March that the harvest of antlerless deer could be reduced because the state’s deer population was under control in a large part of Iowa.
Deer Population Larger Than Management Goal
But a new coalition countered that the DNR currently projects the statewide deer population remains 5 to 10 percent above the department’s management goal of a post-harvest population of 170,000 to 200,000 head. That is approximately the size of the population in the mid-to-late 1990s. The coalition members also expressed concern that the DNR planned to reduce the antlerless harvest in several counties where many citizens believe the population remains too high. Some of the proposed reduction in licenses would be in the northeast counties, including Clayton, Winneshiek, Allamakee and Fayette, which have some of the state’s highest deer populations.
The preliminary plan, “would be the largest one-year reduction in deer tags in recent history,” the coalition said in its May 10 letter to Branstad. “Iowa hunters and antlerless tags play a vital role in controlling Iowa’s deer herd. It is critical that we use this tool as effectively as possible.”
The coalition also noted to Branstad that the state has yet to implement all of the recommendations made to the 2009 session of the Iowa Legislature by a 16-member deer study committee. “We encourage you and your staff to review these and discuss them with the DNR director. It seems a progress report by the department to all Iowans is in order before final decisions are made on this year’s hunting rules,” the coalition wrote.
In addition, the coalition recommended that the DNR meet annually with a deer study committee and other stakeholders to review progress in managing the deer herd and recommendations for future actions.
The NRC will give its final approve to the 2011-12 resident deer hunting rule at its July 14 meeting in Windsor Heights.
For those who live in NE Ia. you might want to attend town hall meetings.
Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds
announce town hall meeting tour
(DES MOINES) –Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced they will be holding a series of town hall meetings across Iowa.
The following events are free and open to the public:
Monday, May 23, 2011
3:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Chickasaw County town hall meeting
Chicakasaw Community Centre
301 N. Water Ave.
New Hampton, IA
5:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Howard County town hall meeting
C US Bank – Grange Hall
111 North Elm Street
Cresco, IA
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
10 a.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Allamakee County town hall meeting
Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank - Basement
201 W. Main Street
Waukon, IA
12:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Clayton County town hall meeting
Johnson’s Restaurant
916 High Street NE
Elkader, IA
2:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Fayette County town hall meeting
Luigi’s Restaurant
1020 South Frederick
Oelwein, IA
4 p.m. Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds hold Buchanan County town hall meeting
Independence Senior Center- Main Dining Area
400 5th Avenue NE
Independence, IA
For more information please visit www.governor.iowa.gov.
Ya know do my part to reduce the herd.........
