The final deer hunting season begins Jan. 11, in the 38 counties in southern and western Iowa where antlerless deer licenses are available.
Success during the January antlerless season depends on finding where deer are feeding and upon the weather. Cold weather will spur the deer to feed more heavily, so browse lines and food plots will be attractive. Although hunters may see fewer deer as numbers have declined, the season offers some excellent hunting opportunities.
Party hunting is legal and firearm hunters must wear blaze orange. Shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and bows are legal options in all open counties. Centerfire rifles (.24 caliber or larger) are legal in the 21 counties in the southern two tiers of the state.
Last year, 81 percent of the 8,300 deer reported during the January antlerless season were does. To avoid harvesting a shed-antlered buck, hunters should pass up shots at lone deer and wait for deer traveling in groups of does and fawns.
In late December and January, bucks may be found traveling together in bachelor groups of 2-4 animals, but these groups will usually consist of only adult deer. If a small group of adult deer contains even one antlered buck, then the group is typically all bucks. But, if the group contains fawns, it is likely composed of does and fawns. Patience and binoculars are especially useful for identifying the type of deer.
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 to avoid over-harvesting deer where they hunt.
Hunters may observe the added effect of this year's EHD outbreak as areas south of I-80 and in counties bordering the Missouri River had higher incidents of the disease. Counties open during the January antlerless season are within that region.
Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Beginning Jan. 11, a 2013 hunting license and habitat fee will be required. The January antlerless season closes Jan. 20.
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.
Deer Hunting Information for Midwest Deer Hunters - midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com [part of family-outdoors.com network]
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Thursday, December 27, 2012
News Roundup: 12/27/2012
US Fish and Wildlife Service reports, " Of the 13.7 million hunters that took to the field in 2011, 11.6 million hunted big game, 4.5 million hunted small game, 2.6 million hunted migratory birds, and 2.2 million other animals."
From Wisconsin:
Gun deer hunters have one final opportunity this year to harvest a deer in the chronic wasting disease management zone of south central Wisconsin. The season, called the Holiday Hunt, runs Dec. 24 through the end of the ongoing late archery hunt, Jan. 6, 2013.
Hunters can fill unused antlerless tags, unused Gun or Archery Buck Carcass Tags or CWD Deer Carcass Tags. Bonus buck rules apply. Deer can be harvested with the use of any legal firearm, bow or crossbow. Archery hunters must meet legal blaze orange requirements during this open firearm season. This includes the wearing of at least 50 percent blaze orange outer clothing above the waste. The goal of the holiday hunt is to provide additional hunting opportunity as well as herd control.
From Michigan:
Michigan's Hunting Access Program (HAP) – a long-time Department of Natural Resources offering that provides hunters with more places to hunt – had been slipping into oblivion in recent years, but seems to have found a new lease on life. In fact, the latest news is pretty encouraging.
HAP, which began in the late 1970s as a way to give hunters access to private property in southern Michigan, at one time boasted more than 790 farms totaling 188,000 acres. In 2011, HAP included just 45 farms offering some 7,400 acres.
A year later, however, after the DNR decided to reinvigorate the program, HAP includes more than 150 farms that encompass 17,032-plus acres – and all of it accessible to Michigan hunters.
To learn more about the Hunting Access Program, visit www.michigan.gov/hap. To explore hunting opportunities and land resources available through the DNR, visit www.michigan.gov/hunting or www.michigan.gov/mihunt.
From Wisconsin:
Gun deer hunters have one final opportunity this year to harvest a deer in the chronic wasting disease management zone of south central Wisconsin. The season, called the Holiday Hunt, runs Dec. 24 through the end of the ongoing late archery hunt, Jan. 6, 2013.
Hunters can fill unused antlerless tags, unused Gun or Archery Buck Carcass Tags or CWD Deer Carcass Tags. Bonus buck rules apply. Deer can be harvested with the use of any legal firearm, bow or crossbow. Archery hunters must meet legal blaze orange requirements during this open firearm season. This includes the wearing of at least 50 percent blaze orange outer clothing above the waste. The goal of the holiday hunt is to provide additional hunting opportunity as well as herd control.
From Michigan:
Michigan's Hunting Access Program (HAP) – a long-time Department of Natural Resources offering that provides hunters with more places to hunt – had been slipping into oblivion in recent years, but seems to have found a new lease on life. In fact, the latest news is pretty encouraging.
HAP, which began in the late 1970s as a way to give hunters access to private property in southern Michigan, at one time boasted more than 790 farms totaling 188,000 acres. In 2011, HAP included just 45 farms offering some 7,400 acres.
A year later, however, after the DNR decided to reinvigorate the program, HAP includes more than 150 farms that encompass 17,032-plus acres – and all of it accessible to Michigan hunters.
To learn more about the Hunting Access Program, visit www.michigan.gov/hap. To explore hunting opportunities and land resources available through the DNR, visit www.michigan.gov/hunting or www.michigan.gov/mihunt.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Missouri Conservation Commission set dates for 2013 turkey- and deer-hunting seasons
Conservation Commission sets 2013 turkey, deer season dates
Early action helps hunters who must plan vacation ahead of time.
JEFFERSON CITY–The
Missouri Conservation Commission set dates for 2013 turkey- and
deer-hunting seasons at its December meeting, giving hunters
plenty of time to schedule vacation.
The Commission set the following dates for turkey hunting.
Ø
Youth season, April 6-7
Ø
Regular spring season, April 15-May 5
Ø
Fall firearms turkey season, Oct. 1-31
Bag
limits and shooting hours remain the same as last year. Additional
details, including spring managed turkey hunts and regulations for
spring turkey hunting on conservation areas, will be published
in the spring turkey hunting regulation guide in March.
The Commission set the following dates for 2013-2014 firearms deer hunting.
Ø
Urban portion, Oct. 11-14
Ø
Early youth portion, Nov. 2-3
Ø
November portion, Nov. 16-26
Ø
Antlerless portion, Nov. 27-Dec. 8
Ø
Alternative methods portion, Dec. 21-31
Ø
Late youth portion, Jan. 4-5
The
Conservation Commission also simplified requirements for tagging
harvested deer, effective June 1, 2013. Other deer-hunting regulations
will be set in the spring of 2013. Details will be published
in the fall deer and turkey hunting regulation guide.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Time is running out to apply for the Pure Michigan Hunt!
 |
| Seal of Michigan |
Purchase
unlimited $4 Pure Michigan Hunt applications for a chance to win the
ultimate hunting prize package! Three lucky winners will be randomly
selected mid-January 2013 and will receive an elk and bear license,
crossbow package, hunting gear and much more! The deadline to purchase
an application is Dec. 31. You can apply as many times as you like.
You can purchase a Pure Michigan Hunt application anywhere licenses are
sold or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com (Item #300 under miscellaneous).
For more information on the Pure Michigan Hunt, including a full prize list, visit www.michigan.gov/
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Kansas COMMISSION BIG GAME PERMIT DEADLINE JANUARY 1
Permits help conservation groups raise money
PRATT – Seven numbers will be drawn by Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commissioners at their scheduled public meeting in January. The numbers will represent state conservation organizations that applied for the coveted Commission Big Game permits, which can be auctioned off to raise money for conservation projects.
Any Kansas-based nonprofit organization that actively promotes wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage is eligible to apply. Only one permit per organization will be awarded; however, individual chapters of the same organization may receive permits. A chapter or organization is eligible to receive only one Commission Big Game permit in a three-year period.
Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commissioners will conduct the drawing when they meet on January 10, 2013 at Butler County Community College in El Dorado. Applications must be received no later than Jan. 1, 2013.
To apply, organizations must submit an application that includes a copy of their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, articles of incorporation, and mission statement, as well as the organization’s preference for an elk, antelope or deer permit. Applications can be downloaded from KDWPT’s website, www.ksoutdoors.com; enter “2013 Commission Big Game Permit” in the search box. Mail applications to Sheila Kemmis, Commission Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124.
Seven permits will be issued, which may include one elk, one antelope and up to seven deer, depending upon the preferences of the drawn organizations. Organizations that draw a permit must pay KDWPT the permit fee, and they will be issued a voucher. The final recipient must remit the voucher to KDWPT’s licensing section to receive the big game permit. Permits may be issued to resident or nonresident hunters and are valid in management units and seasons listed on the permits.
Once an organization sells a permit, not less than 85 percent of the amount is returned to KDWPT to be spent on mutually agreed-upon projects. The remaining 15 percent can be spent at the organization’s discretion. (If Kansas Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (KFHFH) receives a permit, not less than 15 percent of the funds raised is remitted to KDWPT with 85 percent staying with KFHFH.)
PRATT – Seven numbers will be drawn by Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commissioners at their scheduled public meeting in January. The numbers will represent state conservation organizations that applied for the coveted Commission Big Game permits, which can be auctioned off to raise money for conservation projects.
Any Kansas-based nonprofit organization that actively promotes wildlife conservation and the hunting and fishing heritage is eligible to apply. Only one permit per organization will be awarded; however, individual chapters of the same organization may receive permits. A chapter or organization is eligible to receive only one Commission Big Game permit in a three-year period.
Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commissioners will conduct the drawing when they meet on January 10, 2013 at Butler County Community College in El Dorado. Applications must be received no later than Jan. 1, 2013.
To apply, organizations must submit an application that includes a copy of their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, articles of incorporation, and mission statement, as well as the organization’s preference for an elk, antelope or deer permit. Applications can be downloaded from KDWPT’s website, www.ksoutdoors.com; enter “2013 Commission Big Game Permit” in the search box. Mail applications to Sheila Kemmis, Commission Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 512 SE 25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124.
Seven permits will be issued, which may include one elk, one antelope and up to seven deer, depending upon the preferences of the drawn organizations. Organizations that draw a permit must pay KDWPT the permit fee, and they will be issued a voucher. The final recipient must remit the voucher to KDWPT’s licensing section to receive the big game permit. Permits may be issued to resident or nonresident hunters and are valid in management units and seasons listed on the permits.
Once an organization sells a permit, not less than 85 percent of the amount is returned to KDWPT to be spent on mutually agreed-upon projects. The remaining 15 percent can be spent at the organization’s discretion. (If Kansas Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (KFHFH) receives a permit, not less than 15 percent of the funds raised is remitted to KDWPT with 85 percent staying with KFHFH.)
Monday, December 17, 2012
The SD GFP Commission held their December meeting last week in Pierre.
The Commission finalized the 2013 SD Spring Turkey Seasons
and proposed the 2013 Bighorn Sheep Season. To see a summary of the
meeting or to listen to an audio recording of any of the meeting, click here. To see the Bighorn Sheep proposal, click here.
To see video recordings of information items regarding bighorn sheep, the Legacy Projects that GFP has proposed or the new snowmobile trails smartphone application, click here.
To comment on the proposed Bighorn Sheep season, click here. Please include your name and city of residence to be included into the public record.
The next GFP Commission meeting will be held at the Ft. Pierre Americinn on Jan. 10-11, beginning at 1 PM CST on Thursday, Jan 10.
To see video recordings of information items regarding bighorn sheep, the Legacy Projects that GFP has proposed or the new snowmobile trails smartphone application, click here.
To comment on the proposed Bighorn Sheep season, click here. Please include your name and city of residence to be included into the public record.
The next GFP Commission meeting will be held at the Ft. Pierre Americinn on Jan. 10-11, beginning at 1 PM CST on Thursday, Jan 10.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
North Dakota Sign Up for Winter BOW
The
North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
program is accepting registrations for
a one-day winter workshop Jan. 26 at Upper Souris National Wildlife
Refuge, Lake Darling, and a three-day workshop Feb. 22, 23 and 24 at
Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau.
A darkhouse spearfishing class is offered for $50 at Upper Souris.
Classes at Lake Metigoshe include winter camping, making fish decoys, snowshoeing, winter survival, darkhouse
spearfishing, and cross-country skiing. Cost of the workshop is $135.
Women interested in the workshops are encouraged to
register online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Those interested should sign up immediately, as each class is limited to 12 participants. Preregistration with
payment is required. Equipment will be provided.
More information is available by contacting Nancy Boldt at (701) 328-6312, Brittany Fish at (701) 527-3075, or email
ndgf@nd.gov.
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