An
expected 30,000 hunters will be participating in Iowa’s late
muzzleloader season which begins Dec. 17. Although hunters may see fewer
deer as numbers have declined in eastern and southern Iowa, the season
offers some excellent hunting opportunities.
Last
year, 55 percent of the 8,950 deer reported during the late
muzzleloader season were does. To avoid over-harvesting deer where they
hunt, hunters are encouraged to work with landowners to determine if
deer are at desirable levels, and base decisions on how they use the
remaining antlerless tags on local herd conditions.
Success
during this season depends on finding where deer are feeding and upon
the weather. Look for corn or soybean fields that have been combined but
not tilled under. Deer will search for waste grain in these areas. With
the warm weather there are still some areas with some green grass,
clover or cover crops such as winter wheat or winter rye that also would
be very attractive. Cold weather will spur the deer to feed more
heavily.
Party
hunting is not allowed in the late muzzleloader season and hunters are
required to wear blaze orange. Hunting hours are one-half hour before
sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Hunters
are also reminded that the statewide archery deer season resumes so
they be sharing the woods with bow hunters. About 10 percent of the bow
harvest occurs during this late portion of the season.
Deer
must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day
after the deer is tagged. Hunters’ accurately reporting their harvest
is an important component of Iowa’s deer management program and future
hunting opportunities.
Hunters may report their harvest at www.iowadnr.gov, by calling 1-800-771-4692
or at any license vendor. For hunters with internet access, reporting
the harvest online is the easiest way to register the deer. Hunters
preferring to donate their deer may do so through the Help Us Stop
Hunger (HUSH) program, which provides needed meat to Iowans through the
Food Bank of Iowa. Iowa has one of the largest programs in the nation.
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