IOWA’S DEER HARVEST DECLINED FOR EIGHTH STRAIGHT YEAR

For the first time since the mid-1990s, Iowa’s deer harvest has dropped below 100,000. Hunters reported 99,406 deer for the 2013 season, which is a decline of 14 percent, from 2012, and 34 percent from its high in 2006. The 2012 reported deer harvest was 115,606.

 “Hunters responded when we asked them to reduce the size of the herd, but now we are encouraging them to work with landowners and base their harvest decisions on local herd conditions,” said Dr. Dale Garner, chief of Wildlife for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The harvest data will be used as a consideration when the DNR begins the process of discussing hunting seasons later this winter.

Deer hunters purchased 359,956 licenses, nearly 18,500 fewer than in 2012.

Deer hunting in Iowa provides an economic impact of nearly $214 million, paying more than $15 million in federal taxes and nearly $15 million in state taxes. It supports more than 2,800 jobs, and provides more than $67 million in earnings.

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New laws increase fines for poaching antlered deer, recreational trespass

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New state laws designed to deter poaching of antlered bucks, especially those with trophy-sized racks, and to reduce recreational trespass are now in effect in Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today.

The new laws make several changes to the fines and restitution payments for poaching deer, including a progressive penalty system:  

• For any deer with or without antlers, the base restitution will be $1,000;
• For any antlered deer, there will be an additional restitution of $1,000 plus;
• For antlered deer with 8 to 10 points, an additional $500 will be assessed for each point; and
• For antlered deer with 11 or more points, an additional $750 will be assessed for each point. 

A “point” is defined in the bill as being at least 1 inch long as measured from its tip to the nearest edge of the antler beam.
As an example, illegally killing a 10-point buck in Michigan will now result in a $7,000 restitution plus fines and court costs.

Poachers also now face stronger penalties related to hunting privileges. Under previous law, poachers would lose their hunting privileges in Michigan for remainder of the year of the conviction plus three years. Under the new law, poachers who kill an antlered buck will now lose their hunting privileges for an additional two years on their first offense (potentially six years in total) and an additional seven years on second and subsequent offenses (potentially 11 years in total).

In addition, the new laws address recreational trespass by increasing the civil damage award that a landowner may recover. Previously under the law, the maximum amount a landowner could recover from someone who trespasses on his or her land to hunt or engage in other recreational activity was $250 or actual property damages. Under the new law, the civil action increases to $750 or actual property damages. Additionally, if someone kills any protected animal, game or fish while trespassing, the new law creates a new misdemeanor with higher fines than allowed for a first violation.

“Poachers who are targeting trophy deer will commit multiple violations to do so, including trespass, unlawful shining, hunting at night and not wearing hunter orange,” said Dean Molnar, assistant chief of the DNR Law Enforcement Division. “These new laws give us more tools to go after these individuals, and are designed to reduce poaching of antlered deer in particular.”

North Dakota Deer Management Meetings Start Feb. 17

Eight public meetings to discuss deer management in North Dakota are scheduled to

begin in mid-February.

State Game and Fish Department officials will present an overview of current deer population and prospects for the future, and look for input on possible options for changes in the way deer licenses are allocated.

Each meeting will begin at 7 p.m. local time.

• Feb. 17 – Devils Lake, Lake Region Community College Auditorium
• Feb. 17 – Casselton, City Fire Hall
• Feb. 18 – Dickinson, Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge
• Feb. 18 – Anamoose, VFW Club
• Feb. 24 – Tioga, Farm Festival Building
• Feb. 24 – Fordville, Community Center
• Feb. 25 – Bismarck, North Dakota Game and Fish Department
• Feb. 25 – Jamestown, The Bunker

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Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approves rules to implement Deer Trustee Report for 2014 season

The Natural Resources Board approved today emergency rules to begin

implementing Deer Trustee Report recommendations on the ground, authorizing a new deer program and regulations that will be in place prior to the 2014 deer hunting season.

"This is a major milestone in the Deer Trustee Report implementation process and the future of deer management in Wisconsin," said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp. "Throughout the process, DNR has been the ears while partner groups, tribes, and the public have been the voices. This has been no small feat, and many thanks go to all who have provided input - and to DNR staff who have continued to move implementation forward. We have embraced this opportunity to build on our strong deer management foundation, and look forward to implementing the rules in cooperation with deer hunters, landowners, and other partners."

The rules revise deer hunting season frameworks, management units, and revise antlerless deer hunting permits. The rule provides additional opportunities to evaluate herd size and impacts in counties in addition to using population models to estimate the size of the herd, simplifies state park deer hunting regulations, and establishes a Deer Management Assistance Program. Not all provisions will be in implemented in time for the 2014 season. Some are delayed until 2015. The permanent rule hearings and Board approval will occur in 2014, so that it can be implemented in time for the 2015 season.

For an executive summary of the Deer Trustee Report rule package, visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "deer trustee report."

"The Deer Trustee Report rule package is a culmination of the recommendations of Dr. James Kroll, a robust public outreach effort involving volunteer action team implementation proposals, surveys, online feedback, 35 public hearings, conservation roundtables, and stakeholder feedback," Stepp said. "This is Wisconsin's deer herd, not the DNR's, and these rules are reflective of Wisconsin's desires for enhancing deer management in the state."

The implementation of the approved rules will involve public outreach to inform hunters, landowners and others about changes and opportunities prior to deer season. From here, the department will proceed with development of draft permanent rules with anticipated public review and Natural Resources Board action in 2014.

For more information, please visit dnr.wi.gov and search keywords "deer trustee report."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Hauge, DNR wildlife management bureau director, 608-266-2193; Eric Lobner, Deer Trustee Report implementation coordinator, 608-235-0860

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Michigan DNR invites Upper Peninsula deer hunters to series of open houses

Information meetings will cover new hunting license structure, regional deer management and the U.P. Deer Advisory Team

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Upper Peninsula Deer Advisory Team (UPDAT) invite Upper Peninsula deer hunters to a series of open houses in January and February to learn more about regional deer management, UPDAT activities, and hunting license changes for 2014.

Open houses are being held in eight U.P. locations through Thursday, Feb. 6.

The open house format includes a short presentation on the above-mentioned topics followed by a question and answer session and the opportunity to visit with local UPDAT members and DNR biologists.

“The first two meetings in Sault Ste. Marie and Ironwood had a good turnout of local deer hunters,” said DNR deer program biologist and UPDAT co-chair Ashley Autenrieth. “Everyone seemed to enjoy the chance to talk to each other, and we even had several attendees submit applications to be future UPDAT members.”

Each open house takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. local time. The remaining open houses are:

Jan. 21 - Iron Mountain, Bay College West, Fornetti Hall, Room 104
Jan. 23 - Marquette, Ramada Inn
Jan. 28 - Munising, Sydney's Restaurant
Jan. 30 - Baraga, Ottawa Sportsmen's Club
Feb. 4 - Newberry, Comfort Inn
Feb. 6 - Escanaba, Bay de Noc Community College

"It is our hope that by the end of the evening, you will know how the UPDAT functions, the type of issues being discussed, the name and contact information for your local representative, and – most importantly – how you can participate in the process," said DNR Regional Wildlife Supervisor Terry Minzey.

The UPDAT is a group of citizens who work with the DNR Wildlife Division to provide input from local communities on regional deer management issues.

Each region of the state – the U.P., northern Lower Peninsula and southern Lower Peninsula – has its own Deer Advisory Team. Similar open houses will be held in the northern and southern Lower Peninsula in the future when the Deer Advisory Teams for those regions have proposals ready to share with the public.

Visit www.michigan.gov/deer for more information on the DNR's Deer Advisory Teams and deer management in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

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North Dakota Deer Management Meetings Announced

The State Game and Fish Department has scheduled eight public meetings in February

to discuss deer management in North Dakota.

Department officials will present an overview of the current deer population and prospects for the future, and look for input on possible options for changes in the way deer licenses are allocated.

“We’re all aware that the state’s whitetail and mule deer populations have declined considerably in recent years,” said Game and Fish Department wildlife chief Randy Kreil. “In 2013 we had approximately 40,000 hunters who applied for a deer gun license and didn’t get one. We’re looking at some ideas that might help get more hunters in the field if deer populations remain similar to what they are now.”

In the long term, Kreil said Game and Fish’s strategy is to build deer numbers to a point that would provide a reasonable chance for anyone who wants to hunt to be able to get some kind of license. “Right now we have a high public interest in deer hunting in North Dakota,” he said. “We’re hoping to come up with some solutions to help us maintain that.”

Each meeting will begin at 7 p.m. local time.

• Feb. 17 – Devils Lake, Lake Region Community College Auditorium
• Feb. 17 – Casselton, City Fire Hall
• Feb. 18 – Dickinson, Ramada Grand Dakota Lodge
• Feb. 18 – Anamoose, Community Center
• Feb. 24 – Tioga, Farm Festival Building
• Feb. 24 – Fordville, Community Center
• Feb. 25 – Bismarck, North Dakota Game and Fish Department
• Feb. 25 – Jamestown, The Bunker

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White-tailed Deer from 3F2 in North Dakota Tests Positive for CWD

A second deer taken from unit 3F2 during the 2013 deer gun season has tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

A hunter shot the adult whitetail buck in western Grant County and submitted the head for testing as part of the hunter-harvested surveillance program. Testing was performed at Michigan State University, and verification of initial tests results are pending from a national lab in Ames, Iowa. In addition, results from the remaining 3F2 samples, as well as all samples from the eastern third of the state, should be known in another month.

This is the fifth deer to test positive for CWD since 2009, and all were from the same general area within unit 3F2 in southwestern North Dakota.

The hunter-harvested surveillance program annually collects samples taken from hunter-harvested deer in specific regions of the state. In addition to unit 3F2, samples during the 2013 deer gun season were collected from units in the eastern third of the state.

CWD affects the nervous system of members of the deer family and is always fatal. Scientists have found no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans or livestock.

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