OneCam
Well-Known Member
DES MOINES – An emergency rule allowing an additional antlerless-only deer hunting season Dec. 21-23 was passed Thursday by the Natural Resources Commission.
The extra season will allow all of those resident hunters who had valid tags during first and second shotgun seasons as well as the youth season to participate in this special hunt. They can only harvest the number of deer that they have unfilled tags for. The rule also extends the late muzzleloader season by three days to Jan. 11-13.
The decision to add this special season came down to a combination of deer harvest and weather. Deer harvest numbers are down compared to last year. It is believed that severe weather, particularly during the first shotgun deer season in early December, contributed to lower hunting participation and lower harvest success. Harvest success has also lagged so far during the second shotgun season currently underway.
It is particularly essential to increase the harvest of does to manage deer populations.
“We are extremely grateful for the Natural Resource Commission’s support of this special season. This is an excellent opportunity for us to continue our work toward reaching deer harvest goals and we hope many of Iowa’s citizens will be able to take advantage of this additional opportunity,” said Director Leopold.
Those hunters still holding unfilled deer tags from any of these three seasons and want the opportunity to participate in the special season are urged to hold on to their existing tags. Those hunters who have thrown away unused tags may get duplicate tags next week at no charge via the internet. Details of the duplicate tag availability along with answers to frequently asked questions will be released by the DNR as soon as possible.
Leopold said the DNR appreciates the feedback and support from many of the hunters this week on the proposed extension of the season.
“We are certainly aware and sensitive to the concerns voiced primarily by muzzleloader hunters about extending the shotgun season through Dec. 23rd. That is why we also are extending that late season for them by three additional days,” Leopold said.
The mandatory reporting system provided biologists with the timely information needed to be able to propose the extended season and hunting opportunity, said DNR Wildlife Bureau Chief Dale Garner.
“Not only did this valuable information from the reporting system allow us make adjustments to increase harvest, but we were also able to get information out to our hunters so they could provide input. That input allowed us to consider the concerns of muzzleloader hunters and make adjustments to that season as well,” Garner said.
It is imperative that hunters harvesting deer during any of Iowa’s seasons report their harvest as required, Garner said.
“Our being able to get accurate, timely information from our hunters is imperative to us being able to successfully manage Iowa’s deer herd both in terms of meeting social tolerance and in maintaining our world-class reputation for deer hunting,” Garner said.
Garner said the current system of mandatory harvest reporting gives biologists the valuable information they need to effectively manage Iowa’s deer population and make adjustments such as this to provide additional hunting opportunities and increase harvest numbers.
“Harvesting a doe effectively takes three deer out of the population because, statistically, most of the females will give birth to twins during the spring,” said Garner.
For additional information, contact Dale Garner at 515-281-6156 or Willie Suchy at 515-281-8660.
The extra season will allow all of those resident hunters who had valid tags during first and second shotgun seasons as well as the youth season to participate in this special hunt. They can only harvest the number of deer that they have unfilled tags for. The rule also extends the late muzzleloader season by three days to Jan. 11-13.
The decision to add this special season came down to a combination of deer harvest and weather. Deer harvest numbers are down compared to last year. It is believed that severe weather, particularly during the first shotgun deer season in early December, contributed to lower hunting participation and lower harvest success. Harvest success has also lagged so far during the second shotgun season currently underway.
It is particularly essential to increase the harvest of does to manage deer populations.
“We are extremely grateful for the Natural Resource Commission’s support of this special season. This is an excellent opportunity for us to continue our work toward reaching deer harvest goals and we hope many of Iowa’s citizens will be able to take advantage of this additional opportunity,” said Director Leopold.
Those hunters still holding unfilled deer tags from any of these three seasons and want the opportunity to participate in the special season are urged to hold on to their existing tags. Those hunters who have thrown away unused tags may get duplicate tags next week at no charge via the internet. Details of the duplicate tag availability along with answers to frequently asked questions will be released by the DNR as soon as possible.
Leopold said the DNR appreciates the feedback and support from many of the hunters this week on the proposed extension of the season.
“We are certainly aware and sensitive to the concerns voiced primarily by muzzleloader hunters about extending the shotgun season through Dec. 23rd. That is why we also are extending that late season for them by three additional days,” Leopold said.
The mandatory reporting system provided biologists with the timely information needed to be able to propose the extended season and hunting opportunity, said DNR Wildlife Bureau Chief Dale Garner.
“Not only did this valuable information from the reporting system allow us make adjustments to increase harvest, but we were also able to get information out to our hunters so they could provide input. That input allowed us to consider the concerns of muzzleloader hunters and make adjustments to that season as well,” Garner said.
It is imperative that hunters harvesting deer during any of Iowa’s seasons report their harvest as required, Garner said.
“Our being able to get accurate, timely information from our hunters is imperative to us being able to successfully manage Iowa’s deer herd both in terms of meeting social tolerance and in maintaining our world-class reputation for deer hunting,” Garner said.
Garner said the current system of mandatory harvest reporting gives biologists the valuable information they need to effectively manage Iowa’s deer population and make adjustments such as this to provide additional hunting opportunities and increase harvest numbers.
“Harvesting a doe effectively takes three deer out of the population because, statistically, most of the females will give birth to twins during the spring,” said Garner.
For additional information, contact Dale Garner at 515-281-6156 or Willie Suchy at 515-281-8660.