ARCHERY DEER HUNTING SEASON OPENS OCTOBER 1

Iowa’s popular archery deer season begins Oct. 1, with nearly 60,000 hunters expected to head to the timber.

Hunters can expect to find similar or slightly fewer deer versus last year.

“When we have good weather during the growing season like we did this year, there is a lot of available food for wildlife, including deer, so I suspect hunters could have a good year,” said Willie Suchy, wildlife research supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Early in the season, the deer herd will have plenty of places to hide as the corn harvest is just getting underway. In these conditions, hunting food sources initially, and then preparing for the rut in late October through mid November is a common strategy.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) that impacted the deer herd in certain local areas was not reported in 2014. Deer will begin moving in to those areas where a void was created by the disease in 2012 and 2013.

The archery season closes on Dec. 5 for the shotgun deer hunting seasons, and then opens again on Dec. 22 until Jan. 10, 2015. Deer regulations are similar to last year with no changes other than fewer paid antlerless deer license in many counties.

There is a listing online of special deer hunts often associated with state parks or urban areas that bow hunters can participate. These hunts, at www.iowadnr.gov/deerhunting, often have extra requirements and the local host organization should be contacted for more information.

All deer taken must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is recovered.  Accurately reporting the kill is an important part of Iowa’s deer management program and plays a vital role in managing deer populations and future 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 at any license vendor.  For hunters with Internet access, the online reporting of your harvest is the easiest way to register your deer.

Hunters reported harvesting 20,278 deer during the 2013 archery season.

November deer harvest tops last year’s figure

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Missouri’s robust deer herd continues to pump millions into

the state’s economy annually and supports 11,000 Show-Me State jobs.

JEFFERSON CITY–Hunters checked 190,089 deer during Missouri’s 11-day November firearms deer hunt, slightly surpassing last year’s figure despite a slow start on opening weekend.

Extremely windy weather, combined with reduced deer populations in some areas, dropped the opening-weekend harvest 10,000 below the 2010 figure. Hunters persevered, however, and more than made up lost ground in the following nine days of the November hunt. In the end, they harvested 1,884 more than last year, a 1-percent increase.

Top harvest counties were Howell with 3,483 deer checked, Macon with 3,393 and Texas with 3,284. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recorded six firearms-related deer-hunting accidents during the November hunt, down from nine last year.

MDC Resource Scientist Jason Sumners said changes to hunting regulations over the past 20 years are responsible for producing more large-antlered deer.

Sumners noted that in 2003, antlered deer made up 37 percent of the November firearms deer harvest. Last year, 40 percent of the harvest consisted of antlered deer. This year, the figure was 43 percent. This narrowing of the gap between doe and buck harvest began with implementation of the four-point rule for antlered deer in 2004.

Missouri’s four-point rule, now in effect in all or parts of 69 counties, allows hunters to shoot an antlered buck only if it has at least four points measuring 1 inch or longer on at least one side. The antler-point restriction allows more bucks to grow trophy antlers while providing effective control of deer numbers.

Sumners said that before implementation of antler-point restrictions, 1.5-year-old bucks made up 40 to 50 percent of the total buck harvest. Today in counties with the antler-point restriction, 1.5-year-old bucks make up 10 to 15 percent of the total buck harvest. After more than four years under antler-point restrictions, 30 to 40 percent of the bucks harvested are 3.5 years and older. That means hunters are seeing and harvesting more larger-antlered adult bucks.

“It’s no wonder the four-point rule has become very popular with hunters,” he said.

MDC has been working for the better part of a decade to balance hunting opportunities against crop damage, deer-vehicle accidents and other problems associated with overabundant deer. The agency’s current challenge is to maintain a healthy, stable deer herd while working with landowners and hunters to fine-tune harvest at the local level.

MDC Director Bob Ziehmer hailed this year’s deer harvest numbers as good news for all Missourians.

“A robust firearms deer harvest is proof of a healthy deer herd that benefits all Missourians, whether they hunt or not,” said Ziehmer. “Resident deer hunters and a significant number of hunters from out of state spend approximately $700 million on their sport. That spending generates more than $1 billion in business activity. In all, deer hunting supports 11,000 Missouri jobs. In these economic times, that’s a big boost to the state’s economy.”

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Iowa: NOVEMBER SEASON PREVIEWS DEER PROSPECTS

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Hunters stepping into the field this weekend will provide a preview of deer hunting prospects during Iowa’s December shotgun seasons. The November season--the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Thanksgiving and only on private property —is to reduce the number of antlerless deer, helping the state reduce herd numbers to mid to late 1990s levels. 

Heading into the opener, there were plenty of tags available in the 41 counties which will be open. That may be an indication that hunters are seeing fewer deer from their bow stands or on scouting trips. As of midday Tuesday, only Polk County--of those counties offering the November hunt--was even close to selling out its antlerless tags.  Sales of those tags began November 12 and continue until they are gone.

“Hunters report seeing fewer deer, notably in eastern and southeast Iowa, where deer numbers are at or close to management goals,” notes Tom Litchfield, DNR deer research biologist. “I would estimate that--over all seasons—the harvest will be down 5-6 percent this year.”

Hunters last year reported harvesting 127,094 deer across all seasons, down about 7 percent from 2009-10.         

The region open for the November antlerless hunt is primarily the southern three tiers of Iowa counties. It also includes the four most northeastern counties, as well as into the Loess Hills region in the west and a belt of four counties across south central Iowa.

Shotguns, handguns, muzzleloaders and bows may be used; though most hunters out in the November season utilize shotguns; a preview in many cases of what they’d see the next weekend as the first of Iowa’s two shotgun seasons gets underway.  Hunters need to remember there will still be camouflaged bowhunters in the woods and hunt accordingly and the licenses are not valid for public ground.

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Iowa: LICENSES ON SALE FOR NOVEMBER ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON

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Licenses are on sale for Iowa’s three day November antlerless deer season Nov. 25, 26 and 27. November antlerless season licenses are valid only on private land in the 42 counties were the antlerless quota has not filled. 

Party hunting is allowed and all hunters must wear blaze orange.  Hunting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.

For a listing of counties with antlerless licenses available, go to http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/DeerHunting/DeerInformation.aspx and click on quota numbers.

All deer taken must be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight the day after the deer is recovered.  Accurately reporting the harvest is an important part of Iowa’s deer management program and plays a vital role in managing deer populations and future hunting opportunities. 

For hunters with Internet access, the online harvest reporting is the easiest way to register the deer. Hunters can report their deer online at www.iowadnr.gov, by calling the toll free reporting number1-800-771-4692, or at any license vendor. 

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Missouri Deer hunters reminded of changed permit format, tagging procedures

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A new YouTube video shows how to “bag it,

notch it, tag it and check it.” Free permit protectors

are available from conservation agents and MDC offices.

JEFFERSON CITY–With the November firearms deer season on the horizon, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds hunters of changes to deer and turkey permits and tagging procedures that went into effect in this year.

The November firearms deer hunt starts Nov. 12. The 11-day season typically accounts for approximately 80 percent of the firearms deer harvest each year.

This year is the first time that Missouri hunters can buy deer and other hunting permits online, print them and use them immediately. Hunters can use this new e-Permits system to buy permits online or purchase them in person at MDC regional offices, nature centers and other offices statewide. Hunters also still can buy permits from hundreds of vendors statewide.

Vendors still are printing permits on the familiar yellow plastic material that has been used in the past. However, the format has changed and no longer includes a separate self-adhesive tag. Within a couple of years, all permits will be issued on plain paper.

The new format does not include separate tags for deer or turkeys as in the past. Under this new e-Permits format, deer and turkey permits are permit-and-tag in one.

With these changes come some changes in deer and turkey tagging and checking procedures. These are explained in the 2011 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, which is available wherever permits are sold or at mdc.mo.gov/node/3656. MDC also has a Web page (mdc.mo.gov/node/3891) explaining the procedure. It even has a short video at youtube.com/watch?v=CHFp_9UiKjg that illustrates the reminder phrase, “Bag it, notch it, tag it, check it.”

“E-Permits offer some significant advantages in terms of convenience,” said MDC Permit Services Supervisor Greg Jones. “We know that changes can be confusing. We want to be sure hunters have easy access to permits and information about the new procedures in whatever form they like best – in person, in print, online text or video. If folks still have questions, they can call or visit any of our offices for help.”

MDC is providing free permit protectors through its conservation agents and regional offices.

-Jim Low-

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