blake
Life Member
From the Iowa DNR:
Shotgun Season IS Deer Season for Most Iowa Hunters
The shotgun seasons continue to be the most popular among Iowa hunters with about 197,000 either-sex and antlerless licenses being sold in 2007. The first of Iowa's two shotgun deer seasons gets underway on December 6 and lasts for 5 days. It is followed by the second shotgun season, which opens on December 13 and runs through December 21. Hunters with paid licenses can only hunt during one of the two seasons.
Last year approximately 85,000 deer were reported during the two seasons and represented 60 percent of the reported harvest for the 2007/08 deer seasons, including the harvest from the 3-day shotgun season extension. Typically, the shotgun seasons represent an even higher proportion of the annual deer harvest in Iowa but the 2007 season was plagued with extreme weather conditions. Hopefully, shotgun hunters will experience better hunting conditions this December.
The shotgun seasons also represent a significant contributor to the state's antlerless harvest. In 2007, about 45 percent and 52 percent of the harvests were does during the Shotgun 1 and Shotgun 2 seasons respectively. Overall, the does killed during the shotgun seasons represented 55 percent of the reported doe harvest in Iowa during the 2007/08 seasons.
The temperatures in Iowa have been more normal this fall although the majority of the state is still above normal for precipitation with river bottoms being flooded frequently this year and as recently as mid-November for portions of Iowa. The main breeding season or "rut" was winding down during the last week of November and a second smaller rut should occur near mid-December.
With the cooler weather and the ending of the breeding season, daily deer activities will again be centered around feeding and bedding areas. Crop fields, alfalfa, food plots, and edge areas will be receiving the bulk of the feeding activity this year. Much of acorn crop has been consumed, hidden, or sprouted (white oak group) by this time of year. The river bottoms have less forage available overall due to the frequent flooding they experienced this year.
The crop harvest also causes deer to redistribute themselves to take advantage of the remaining cover areas. Iowa's harvest was up to two weeks behind schedule, meaning there was a lot of standing corn and some soybeans still in the field as of Thanksgiving. As the weather permits more producers to harvest these remaining fields shifts in deer distribution will occur in these areas also. After a couple of days of hunting, hunters should not be shy about checking out unlikely small patches of cover or tall vegetation. Often deer will use these areas simply because many hunters never think to hunt them.
Properly sighting in your firearm is one of the most important things a hunter can do to help ensure a successful hunt. Drive hunting is an Iowan tradition during the shotgun seasons and is one of the factors that allow a large number of deer to be harvested efficiently. However, drivers and blockers need to always remain aware of the location of all hunters and make sure their field of fire is safe.
Hunters using treestands are reminded that tree stand safety is crucial for a safe hunt. Hunting is generally very safe but climbing into and out of trees should be done with care. Hunters should inspect all of their gear to make sure it is in good condition and is working properly. Hunters should never get into a treestand without a safety harness.
In general, hunters can expect to find similar numbers of deer in northwestern, north central, and central Iowa while deer numbers in eastern and southern Iowa have declined some from 2007. However, deer populations are still strong in central, northeastern, and southern Iowa with densities still above objectives. Hunters can help farmers and landowners by taking an antlerless deer or two during their season of choice. Hunters can also utilize the HUSH program to donate deer to the Iowa Food Bank and provide needed meat for Iowans. Last year hunters donated more than 8,300 deer to the HUSH program making it one of the largest such programs in the nation.
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.
Hunters using blinds during the shotgun seasons are reminded that they are required to display at least a 12-inch by 12-inch piece of blaze orange that is visible from all directions, as outlined on page 22 of the 2008 Iowa Hunting and Trapping Regulations.
License holders for the youth deer season who did not harvest a deer are eligible to use the license and unused tag during one of the two shotgun seasons. However, the youth hunter must follow the weapons restrictions that are in place during the season (a shotgun or muzzleloading rifle 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.
TURN IN POACHERS!
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