The News Outside
Life jackets a must for boaters, Steve Sarley, May 21
DNR needs sustainable funding, Dale Bowman, May 21
Bowfrogging for trophy croakers, Don Gasaway, May 21
Parts of Johnson-Sauk park closed, Star Courier, May 21
Pros, cons of Hackmatack refuge, Northwest Herald, May 20
MORE NEWS
SUBSCRIBE!
Heartland Outdoors magazine is published every month.Or call (309) 741-9790 or e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Archive
| May 2012 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 29 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 |
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
Heartland Outdoors
Iowa deer harvest down again
Tue, February 21, 2012
By THE IOWA DNR
Hunters reported harvesting 121,407 deer in Iowa during the 2011-12 seasons, which is 4.5 percent lower than the 127,094 deer reported in 2010-11.
To date, Iowa’s deer population has been reduced by 30 percent from its peak in 2006, and is still declining.
“Deer numbers in many areas are near or below the department’s objective,” said Dale Garner, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau. “We are hearing complaints from hunters that they are not seeing the number of deer that they had in the past and some are voicing their concerns that the herd reduction may have gone too far.”
The DNR will review the harvest and population surveys this spring and make proposals to reduce the deer kill and stabilize deer where deer numbers are at or below the goal. Current data indicates that it will be necessary to adjust the antlerless quota and season structure to stabilize declining deer numbers.
In areas where deer numbers have not reached the department’s goal, hunters will still have the option to kill extra does. Many of these areas are near cities and towns where hunting is restricted due to safety or in southern Iowa where hunting pressure is lower.
There were 392,930 deer licenses issued during 2011-12, down slightly from the previous year’s total of 394,298. Does were the majority (52 percent) of the reported harvest for the seventh consecutive year.
Comments
HeartlandOutdoors.com is owned by Lampe Publications LLC. Heartland Outdoors is a registered trademark.
Heartland Outdoors, P.O. Box 745, Elmwood, IL 61529
Copyright © 2012 Heartland Outdoors. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
So its more of a midwest trend rather than an isolated Illinois issue?I think the popularity of deer hunting is great, but maybe that has something to do with the decline. More hunters shooting more deer over the past 6 years, and with the new hunting gear on the market maybe its making it easier and easier to kill a deer, and with the extended seasons, this is an obvious outcome. I know several people who kill (or try to kill) 10+ deer a year and i am not saying they are wrong for doing so by any means, but what do you expect to happen when thats whats going on? I mean do you really need that much meat? I also think some hunters have been spoiled and now that things arent as plentiful they say something is wrong when really its just the result from over harvesting. Deer are not growing wings and flying away, and bucks libido is not on a decline…its all strictly a result from over harvesting (and the state being greedy and issuing more tags to get more money) in my opinion. Again, just my opinion…
Posted by BucknBass84 on February 21
BUCK…you’re right on with overharvesting. I’ve been saying that for a long time. The state can hand out as many tags as they want, but it’s us hunters who actually do the killing. The state is the dealer and we are the user. Both at fault in my humble opinion. If you want more deer at your place, stop shooting so many and try to get your neighbors to do the same thing. If your neighbors keep overkilling, your part will still help, even if only a little. Plus, the deer will learn what properties to avoid if they keep getting shot and shot at on a certain property. Give your deer better habitat, especially bedding, and you’ll give those overhunted deer a safer place to reside.
Posted by Treehugger on February 21
Buck and treehugger, thanks for the refreshing comment, i agree 100%. It is also nice to a release from a state actually admit the obvious, the deer population is shrinking, possibly below the population goal in some areas. Has anyone actually seen a release from ILDNR ever say anything similar to this in the last 10 years?
Posted by carrollcountyhunter2024600 on February 21
I think its funny that our state dnr feeds us BS about how there are plenty of deer. I went on a deer lap tonight checking for shed bucks. The lap was almost 20 miles total. The only deer i seen with no exception were on properties that i have posted. I have no idea why the state wants to completely wipe them out with these new stupid laws.
Posted by clintharvey on February 21
Wow! Scary stuff..I’ve been driving for the last four years, back and forth from Thomson, IL to Davenport IA, 5 days a week for work. Not fun at all. But there are many scenic routes that can be taken. Each year I see fewer deer. I rarely see road kills anymore (although recently I think the mild winter has contributed to that). I think there are several factors that are leading to the decrease in both Illinois and Iowa. Illinois will continue to do whatever they can to generate revenue. Our state is so out of sorts, we’d be naive to think they could properly manage our land and wildlife.
Posted by mgehant on February 22
Oh, and yes. I agree with eveyone who posted above. There are way too many deer being harvested by hunters…and the DNR.
Posted by mgehant on February 22
Good posts…
these numbers are harvested deer…what about all these deer that get shot and never found….. it seems to me i have heard about more and more of the cripples in the past few years!
It comes down to the main evil in humans….selfishness.. People not caring for others just themselves…people taking horrible shots on animals they shouldn’t be shooting at, people not thinking about the future years and how what their doing now effects that! People just wanting to say, “I shot 10 deer last year!” Sweet, sweet, then you’re a killer not a hunter.. go kill sparrows or squirrels then.. hahahaa
people get all kinds of fired up about deer hunting…. if its ment to be itll be.. you cant fight it!! that deers not your deer until you slip an arrow through it and find it laying there on the majestic illinois soil!!!
Yeah, people will shoot 10 deer(prolly off several farms)….why ….very few average size farms can handle that hunting pressure!!
Ok lets say…(assuming 0 cripple losses, and no neighbors, I understand there are many other variables)
2010- On your trail cams you have all kinds of does and fawns…when really you have 5 does and 8 fawns cruising most every day…
Then you shoot 3 does and a 2 doe fawns…ok now if every other deer makes it..
Next year you have…..2 mature does, and if your lucky 2 doe yearlings.. (4 yearling bucks if lucky)
2011- so now if you shoot 2 does, you just cut your herd in half again!!!
I hear people say.. ooh we gotta shoot does, when last season they were complaining about not seeing does!!
Its hard to sit all year and not see deer, then let one walk, because your thinking about next year… but that’s why were in this predicament!
Posted by foodplotPhil on February 22
“Its hard to sit all year and not see deer, then let one walk, because your thinking about next year… but that’s why were in this predicament!” Right on the money!
Posted by Treehugger on February 22