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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2017
Iowa’s
2018 reported spring turkey harvest is
approaching 9,300 birds. Last year, hunters reported nearly 11,800 turkeys.
Iowa’s spring turkey hunting season ends May 20.
Annual
spring night population survey of
deer, skunks, badgers, opossum, red fox, coyotes and other furbearers is
wrapping up. The data is used as one factor to estimate Iowa’s deer population
and is important for guiding management decisions on furbearers. The survey
began in the late 1970s.
Two
cooperative projects between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and
Iowa State University are underway – one is evaluating the use of wetlands by spring migrating ducks in north central
and northwest Iowa’s prairie pothole region and the other is evaluating the use
of wetlands in the same region by breeding
ducks.
A
survey of Canada goose nesting pairs used to estimate the statewide population was completed in April.
These
research projects and others, including harvest reporting data and hunter
surveys, is used to guide season setting and species quota proposals enjoyed by
Iowa hunters.
The
DNR is concluding its annual burning
for the spring that is critical to maintaining diverse grassland habitat for a
variety of grassland wildlife species. Burning is likely done in southern Iowa
and nearly finished in central Iowa. The frequent April snowstorms that blanketed
northern Iowa have moved their burning schedule back a few weeks. Federal,
county and other agencies also burn and their schedule may differ from the DNR.
Trout stocking is in full
swing in northeast Iowa. A calendar with the stream stocking schedule is
available at www.iowadnr.gov/trout
The
DNR’s annual collection of broodstock walleyes,
northern pike and muskies for their eggs has ended for the season. Winter’s
ice-covered hold on the northern lakes pushed the collection back to the latest
ever at Storm Lake. Walleyes from the nearly 3,100-acre natural lake in Buena
Vista County produced 497 quarts of eggs – its second highest amount ever.
Mother’s Day is May 13.
Don’t forget to take mom fishing and give her the most important gift of all –
your time. A list of places to fish is available at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Where-to-Fish
The
Iowa DNR waves the fishing license and trout fee requirement for Iowa residents
June 1-3. All other regulations are in place. For someone looking to give
fishing a try, there is a list of free fishing
clinics on the general fishing calendar at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing
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