ironwood
Active Member
............this Tuesdays DNR ICN meeting in Johnston. We need to make sure we are heard and that the DNR is supported by the public in their position on deer numbers. PM if you want a ride.. We need a large turn out at all of these ICN locations but this is the one I am personnally working on.
JOHNSTON
Johnston High School, 6501 NW 62nd Ave.
Enter south side of building. Left in hall to last hall on R, R to Rm#226 The front doors (on the south side of the building) will be unlocked one half hour before.
Below is information sent to Farm Bureau Members, written by Rick Robinson, Environmental Policy Advisor for FB. I'm very certain they have a different take on the proposed changes than we do. This may be our one chance to show Gov. Branstad and legislators we are very serious. At the bottom of this email are the locations of these meetings.
One of the statements that FB and Gov Branstad have made and at times are still using today is this; " We can't support an increase in the deer population." No conservation group in Iowa is asking or demanding an increase. What we have continually requested is that the population levels be stabilized at the levels the Deer Study Committee recommended. We have reached those levels in the counties that the DNR has proposed antlerless tag reductions. All we are asking is that the recommendations of the committee be followed. We all knew these levels would be reached in the future, the future is now for those 20 counties.
I was a member of the Governors Deer Study Committee and sat at the same table as Rick Robinson. I have the 72 page document the 18 different shareholder groups agreed to at those meetings, if any of you would like to read it.
Tuesday March 6th 6:00-9:00 PM
Locations listed below.
YOUR ATTENDANCE IS HEREBY FORMALLY REQUESTED. (Bring ten friends)
DNR Proposes Cutting Antlerless Deer Tags by 25,725 in 20 Counties
3/3/2012 11:12:23 AM
Rick Robinson
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is proposing to reduce the number of antlerless deer licenses by 25,725 in 20 counties - mostly in eastern Iowa, remove four counties from the January antlerless season and shorten the length of the season by one week.
The DNR is hosting public meetings on March 6 on the Iowa Communications Network from 6-9 p.m. to outline the planned changes in all of the hunting and trapping regulations for this fall. Iowans can also email their comments to: wildlife@dnr.iowa.gov.
“The regulation changes for deer would allow deer numbers to stabilize in areas of the state where numbers have been reduced to the department’s goal while still allowing hunters to harvest extra does in areas of the state where numbers need to be reduced,” says Dale Garner, wildlife bureau chief. “Without these changes deer numbers in some areas of the state will continue to decline and Iowa will lose its standing as one of the best states for hunting whitetail deer. Failure to make these changes could adversely affect rural areas since deer hunters spend nearly $200 million annually.”
Some of the largest cuts in county antlerless tags include : Clayton - 4,125; Lee - 1,825; Fayette - 1,775; Jackson and Johnson - 1,675 each; Dubuque -1,575; Jones - 1,500; Linn - 1,450; Des Moines -1,350; Henry 1,225; and Muscatine 1,175.
The DNR says deer trend surveys indicate that deer numbers are at the department's goals in these counties. The extra week for the January season is no longer needed to reach the department’s objectives in these counties. The reported harvest during the November season fell to less than 2,000 deer and it is no longer needed to achieve the doe kill required to achieve deer population reductions, the DNR says.
It also proposes to change regulations so that hunters who obtain a paid early muzzleloader license may not obtain a paid antlerless license during the shotgun deer seasons.This change would allow more of the hunters who only want to hunt during the early muzzleloader season an opportunity to obtain a license, the DNR says. The quota for this season has filled in less than a week in each of the past 2 years, it says.
The list of all proposed changes including a map of county antlerless changes is available online at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/proposed_changes2012.pdf.
“These meetings are part of the new process instituted by Governor Branstad last year for making rules in state government,” says Garner. “Any changes must be discussed with Iowa’s citizens who might be impacted by the changes. The new process helps ensure that rule changes serve the public’s wishes and do not unnecessarily impact Iowa’s economy. This new early public comment opportunity will help determine if the changes will be considered later by the Natural Resource Commission.
The ICN meeting will also cover proposed changes in the waterfowl season. Locations of the ICN meetings include:
AMES
Ames High School, 20th & Ridgewood
Enter front door and follow hallway straight ahead to back lobby, turn to left and take stairs down. Once downstairs, take left or right to go around auditorium to back hallway to ICN room.
BURLINGTON
Burlington High School, 421 Terrace Drive
Past the small parking lot, park and enter near the back of the IA building.
CARROLL
Carroll High School, 2809 N. Grant Road
Enter north side of the building. Doors will be unlocked approx imately thirty minutes in advance.
CENTERVILLE
Centerville High School, 600 CHS Drive
Enter south side of Simon Estes Auditorium
CLEAR CREEK/MIDDLE AMANA
Clear Creek/Middle Amana Elementary School
3023 220th Trail, Middle Amana
Enter through Library entrance on the north side of building.
CLINTON
Clinton High School, 8th Avenue S & 9th Street
Enter east side of building past the Commons steps at the far end of the large parking lot. Doors will be unlocked one half hour in advance.
COUNCIL BLUFFS
Abraham Lincoln High School, 1205 Bonham Ave.
Enter main entrance of school.
CRESTON
Creston High School, 601 West Townline Road
Enter the south main doors.
DECORAH
Luther College, 700 College Drive
Room is located in the Preus Library
FORT DODGE
St Edmond High School, 501 N 22nd St.
Enter main entrance off N. 22nd Street
JOHNSTON
Johnston High School, 6501 NW 62nd Ave.
Enter south side of building. Left in hall to last hall on R, R to Rm#226 The front doors (on the south side of the building) will be unlocked one half hour before.
LAPORTE CITY
Union High School, 200 Adams Street
Enter through Activities Entrance, turn left just before gym. Classroom will be at the end of the hallway.
MARSHALLTOWN
Marshalltown AEA 267 Regional Office, 909 S 12th Street
OTTUMWA
Ottumwa High School, 501 E 2nd
Southwest Voc. Tech entrance
ONAWA
Onawa West Monona Jr Sr High School
1314 15th Street
Enter the main high school doors closest to parking lot, follow hallway to the rightinto the middle school.
PEOSTA
Northeast Iowa Community College, 10250 Sundown Road
Park on southeast side of main building in lower parking lot. Room 139 will be just inside entrance.
SHELDON
Northwest Iowa Area Community College
603 W Park Street
Building D
SPENCER
Spencer High School, 800 East 3rd Street
South side - West end
JOHNSTON
Johnston High School, 6501 NW 62nd Ave.
Enter south side of building. Left in hall to last hall on R, R to Rm#226 The front doors (on the south side of the building) will be unlocked one half hour before.