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The
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to collect deer tissue samples
from willing hunters as part of its effort to monitor for and track the
presence of chronic wasting disease.
The
Iowa DNR’s wildlife staff has a goal of collecting 5,465 samples. The bulk of
Iowa’s deer harvest occurs during the two shotgun seasons which provide an
opportunity to collect a significant number of tissue samples. Most samples are
obtained by wildlife staff, checking with hunters in the field or at home
processing points.
“We’ve
had really good cooperation from our hunters so our focus now is collecting
samples from some pretty specific areas within our target counties in order to
reach our quotas,” said Terry Haindfield, wildlife biologist with the Iowa DNR
leading the CWD collection effort.
He
said the DNR is looking for samples from deer harvested from the southeast
quarter of Allamakee County; the northwest quarter of Clayton County; the
northwest quarter of Winneshiek County; and the northeast quarter of Howard
County. In western Iowa, the DNR needs samples from each county along the
Missouri River.
“Hunters
willing to provide a sample should call their local wildlife biologist to see
if the county or area where the deer was taken has filled its quota or is still
in need of a sample,” he said.
The DNR
lists the cell phone numbers for its wildlife biologists on p. 45 of the hunting regulations.
Hunters from the targeted areas needing additional help making contact to
provide a sample can call Haindfield at 563-380-3422.
All
counties have a quota of at least 15 samples, with an increased quota and
collection effort in portions of northeast and eastern Iowa near Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois, in each county bordering the Missouri River west of I-29, and
south-central Iowa near Missouri, where CWD has been detected.
Additional
testing is been conducted in Pottawattamie, Cerro Gordo and Davis counties,
following positive tests from captive facilities. The disease has been found in every state
around Iowa.
Since
testing began in 2002, more than 62,500 tissue samples have been collected and
tested looking for the presence of CWD in Iowa’s wild deer herd.
CWD is a neurological disease belonging to the
family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or
prion diseases. It attacks the brain of infected deer and elk causing the animals to lose
weight, display abnormal behavior, lose body functions and die. It is always
fatal to the infected animal.
The disease first appeared in Iowa’s wild deer herd
in 2013 and each year since, the DNR has placed extra emphasis to find the
extent to which disease is in the area, and to help slow the spread by removing
additional adult deer from the local population.
The
Iowa DNR has more information about CWD and other infectious disease online at www.iowadnr.gov/cwd.
Media Contact:
Terry Haindfield, Wildlife Management Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural
Resources, 563-380-3422.
The 2017 Iowa deer harvest is running 4.5 percent ahead of the 2016 totals. So far this fall, 55,793 deer have been reported, compared to 53,191 for the same period last year.
Iowa’s 2017 deer hunting options enters the late stages with the second shotgun season opening Saturday (Dec. 9-17), followed by the late muzzleloader season and archery season, both of which are Dec. 18-Jan. 10, 2018.
Anglers can buy the Missouri and Big
Sioux River paddlefish license from Dec.
15-Dec. 31 and Jan. 1- Jan. 7. A
limited number of paddlefish licenses are available - 950 resident and 50 nonresident.
Anglers must buy the paddlefish license on the DNR
website at www.iowadnr.gov or by
calling 800-367-1188.
A resident license sells for $22 and a nonresident license is $42. Anglers must
also have a valid Iowa fishing license.
The paddlefish season was opened on the Missouri
and Big Sioux rivers March 1, 2015 after being closed since 1986 due to
concerns of habitat loss and declining population numbers. The paddlefish slot
limit on the Missouri River requiring the release of all 35- to 45-inch fish
protects the primary breeding stock to ensure sustainability.
Many changes, from angler suggestions, have been
incorporated in this year’s season to make the special season more enjoyable
and provide a greater chance to capture a paddlefish.
- Anglers can buy up to two tags – one from Dec. 15
to Dec. 31 and an additional tag from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, or two tags if you
didn’t buy one in December.
- The season has been extended, opening Feb. 4 and
running through April 30.
- Rough fish, including Asian Carp, can be harvested
during the paddlefish snagging season.
Last year, Iowa anglers bought 286 paddlefish
licenses and nonresident anglers bought 50 paddlefish licenses. The Iowa DNR
received 60 survey cards from last year’s season (~17.8 percent response). Anglers
averaged just fewer than four paddlefish trips and the average length of fish
harvested last year was about 33 inches.
The license, harvest tag(s), regulations, and
survey card will be mailed to purchasers in mid-January. The postage paid
survey card helps the Iowa DNR evaluate the success of the paddlefish season,
so please fill out and return survey cards whether a paddlefish was harvested
or not. The Iowa DNR is always working
to improve the paddlefish season for anglers; any input provided is considered
and is greatly appreciated.
Media
Contact: Ryan Hupfeld, Fisheries Management Biologist, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, ryan.hupfeld@dnr.iowa.gov
or 712-249-1997.
Iowa’s late muzzleloader deer season
begins Dec. 18, which is the final season that any-deer licenses are available.
Nearly 40,000 hunters participated in
the late muzzleloader season in 2016 and the DNR expects similar numbers again
this year. Archery season also re-opens on Dec. 18 so bow hunters with unfilled
tags will likely be heading back to their tree stands as well.
Hunters hunting with firearms are
required to wear blaze orange during the late muzzleloader season but party hunting
is not allowed.
Iowa’s second shotgun ends on Dec. 17.
If
hunters are seeing fewer deer where they hunt they may want to refrain from
harvesting extra does. Hunters should check with landowners to see if deer
numbers are at an acceptable level and tailor their harvest accordingly.
Hunters
are reminded to report their harvest within 24 hours of recovering their deer.
This information is an important part of the data needed to manage Iowa’s deer
herd.
Nonresident Holiday Deer Season
The
nonresident holiday deer season is Dec. 24-Jan. 2, and is open in counties where the
nonresident antlerless deer license quotas have not filled. Licenses for this
season are on sale starting Dec. 15.
Antlerless
licenses for the nonresident holiday deer season is $78, which is below the
regular nonresident antlerless license fee of $228. The season
was created to be an affordable option for individuals who come home to Iowa for the
holiday to have the opportunity to go hunting while they are back.
Nonresidents
must have a valid Iowa hunting license and habitat stamp in addition to the
deer license. More information is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/nonresidenthunting
Iowans can start buying 2018 resident
hunting, fishing and other licenses on December 15. Licenses purchased for 2017 expire on Jan. 10.
The menu of license options includes
the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license
for $47; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $53; and the
Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $86.
Also available is the Bonus Line
option for $12 letting resident and nonresident anglers to fish with one
additional line in addition to the two lines allowed with the regular fishing
license.
Hunting and fishing are often enjoyed
with family and friends. A fishing or hunting would make a great stocking
stuffer. Licenses are available at
nearly 900 locations across the state, and on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov.
Nonresidents may begin purchasing 2018
licenses on Jan. 1.
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