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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2019
Peosta, Iowa - Deer hunters who hunt in Dubuque County take note– chronic wasting disease (CWD) has shown up in your area. A tissue sample collected from a road killed deer 2-1/2 miles southeast of Dubuque has tested positive for the always fatal disease.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled a meeting on Jan. 17, at 6:30 p.m., at the Peosta Community Center, 7896 Burds Road, in Peosta, to discuss the status of CWD in Iowa and how deer hunters can help stop or slow the spread of disease.
Terry Haindfield, wildlife biologist for the Iowa DNR who is leading the effort to combat CWD, will coordinate the meeting.
“We want people to come to this meeting, ask their questions, hear the concerns from other hunters,” Haindfield said. “Deer hunting is an important tradition and, for some, a large part of their identity. It is also important to us and we need to work together to combat this disease. Our goal is to provide quality deer hunting today, tomorrow, and for future generations.”
Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.
Media Contact: Terry Haindfield, Wildlife Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 563-546-7960 or 563-380-3422.
COUNCIL BLUFFS – The trout stocking and family trout fishing event scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 19, at Big Lake has been postponed due to unsafe ice conditions.
The stocking will be rescheduled as soon as there is safe ice or open water this spring.
Media Contact: Bryan Hayes, Fisheries Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 712-769-2587.
MAQUOKETA, Iowa – The Maquoketa Caves staff along with the friends group will be hosting a public informative meeting on January 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hurstville Interpretive Center.
The meeting will provide attendees with information about the operations and improvements of Maquoketa Caves as well as overall State Parks operational plans and funding.
A light dinner will be provided at the meeting by the friends group.
The public is invited to a Trumpeter Swan Soiree, celebrating North America’s largest waterfowl species, at Walnut Woods State Park from 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., on Jan. 26.
Programs will be given indoors and outdoors at the Walnut Woods State Park Lodge with concurrent outdoor viewing and interpretive presentations of trumpeter swans and wildlife given by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines Parks and Rec, and Polk and Dallas County Conservation naturalist. Spotting scopes and binoculars will be provided.
An estimated 160 trumpeter swans are wintering at the Dale Maffitt Reservoir and surrounding area southwest of Des Moines, providing a rare opportunity to view good numbers of free flying trumpeter swans.
Hot chocolate, hot cider, cookies, hotdogs and other snacks will be provided free of charge. Donations will be accepted with proceeds going towards Iowa trumpeter swan restoration.
Jan. 26
Walnut Woods State Park Lodge, 3155 Walnut Woods Dr., West Des Moines
10:30-10:55 a.m. Trumpeter Swans- Bringing Back a North American Treasure
Margaret Smith, Director, Trumpeter Swan Society
11-11:25 a.m. Conservation funding for wetlands and water quality
Mike Shannon, Ducks Unlimited
11:30-12 p.m. Live Trumpeter Swan Presentation- See, touch and learn about
swans
Dave Hoffman, Iowa DNR
12:20-12:50 p.m. Trumpeter Swan Restoration in Iowa
Dave Hoffman, Iowa DNR, and Ron Andrews
12:55-1:25 p.m. “Return of the Trumpeter Swans” North American film documentary preview
Steve Harryman, Filmmaker
1:30-2 p.m. SOS: Saving Our Swans: Stories from the Willows Waterfowl
Sanctuary
Holly Welch and Mary Nelson
2 p.m. Guided field trip and Nature Photography 101, Swan and wildlife
viewing with hands-on photo tips
Eric Williamson and Holly Welch, Wildlife Photographers at
Dale Maffitt Reservoir and southwest Des Moines
10:30-2 p.m. Youth activities- Bills & Beaks- How birds eat, a swan touch kit,
swan pine cone crafting, bird wings and trumpeter runway
Anne Riordan, Iowa DNR
More information on Walnut Woods State Park can be found at: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Places-to-Go/State-Parks-Rec-Areas/Iowas-State-Parks/ParkDetails/ParkID/610133
Trumpeter swans were once common in Iowa, but were gone from the state by the late 1880s. By the early 1930s, only 69 trumpeter swans remained in the Lower 48 states. As the largest North American waterfowl, these magnificent all-white birds can weigh up to 32 pounds with an 8-foot wingspan. Public support is vital in restoring trumpeter swans to Iowa.
Walnut Woods State Park is on the southwest edge of Des Moines. From the intersection of I-35 and Hwy. 5; travel 1.5 miles east to SE 35th Street (exit 102), travel 1/4th mile north to Army Post road, ½ mile west to SW 105th Street, then 1.5 miles north and east on Walnut Woods Drive to Walnut Woods State Park.
This event is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Polk and Dallas County Conservation Boards, Des Moines Water Works, Des Moines Parks and Recreation, Walnut Woods State Park, and the Trumpeter Swan Society.
For more information, contact David Hoffman, Trumpeter Swan Restoration Coordinator, Wildlife Bureau, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 641-425-0737 cell, 641-357-3517 office, or David.Hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov
Des Moines – The Natural Resource Commission (NRC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 1 p.m., Jan. 23, in the Wallace State Office Building, second floor north conference room, 502 East Ninth Street, in Des Moines.
The commission will hold its annual joint meeting with the Environmental Protection Commission of the Iowa DNR at 10 a.m. in the second floor north conference room of the Wallace State Office Building. Both meetings are open to the public.
Members of the NRC are Kim Francisco, Dennis Schemmel, Margo Underwood, Marcus Branstad, Phyllis Reimer, Tom Prickett and Laura Hommel. The acting director of the DNR is Bruce Trautman.
Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.
The following is the agenda for the Jan. 23 meeting.
- Approve Agenda
- Consent Agenda*
- Contract with Ducks Unlimited
- Contract Amendment #5 with Bachman Aero, Inc.
- Management Agreement Renewal – Lenon Mills Park – Guthrie County Conservation Board
- Management Agreement – Lost Island Lake Recreational Trail through Blue Wing Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) – Palo Alto County Conservation
- 2018-2019 Deer Management Zone Hunts (Amended – Dubuque)
- Approve Minutes of Dec. 13 Meeting
- Acting Director’s Remarks
- Division Administrator’s Remarks
- Donations
- *Contract Amendment #5 with Bachman Aero, Inc.
- *Contract with Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
- Contract with Pheasants Forever
- Contract with the City of Des Moines (Easter Lake South Watershed Ponds Dredging and Improvements)
- Public Land Management Projects
- *Management Agreement Renewal – Lenon Mills Park – Guthrie County Conservation Board
- *Management Agreement – Lost Island Lake Recreational Trail through Blue Wing Marsh WMA – Palo Alto County Conservation
- Public Land Acquisition Projects
- Oxford Junction WMA, Jones County – Eastern Iowa Conservation Foundation
- Green Hollow WMA, Fremont County – Storm Properties LLC
- Small Construction Projects
- Construction Projects
- Pavement Repair and Maintenance, George Wyth State Park – Black Hawk County
- Asphalt Overlay, Big Creek State Park – Polk County
- Water System Improvement, Nine Eagles State Park – Decatur County
- Generator Installation, Manchester Fish Hatchery – Delaware County
- Oxbow Excavations, White Horse WMA – Sac County
- *2018-2019 Deer Management Zone Hunts (Amended – Dubuque)
- General Discussion
- Next Meeting, Feb. 14, in Des Moines
For a complete agenda, go to www.iowadnr.gov/nrc
POLK CITY, Iowa - The Olofson shooting range in Polk City will be hosting a series on learning to hunt turkeys beginning Feb. 26. The four part series will be held from 6-9 p.m., on Tuesdays through March 19. There is a fee of $15 per session and participants can attend any number of sessions.
February 26: Turkey Scouting and Shotgun Patterning https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/136160
March 5: Turkey History, Biology & Calling https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/136159
March 12: Turkey Hunting Tactics https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/136162
March 19: Turkey Field Dressing & Cooking https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/136168
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Iowa Hunter Education Instructor Association to offer the series. The program is designed anyone age 16 and older but youth under 16 may attend if accompanied by an adult.
Media Contact: Jamie Cook, Iowa State Coordinator, Pheasants Forever Quail Forever, 859-779-0222.
Residents in Central Iowa who are interested in outdoor activities, like hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife conservation, firearm safety and more, but have little experience, are encouraged to explore the Connecting Individuals to the Outdoors program.
Connecting Individuals to the Outdoors program offers monthly skill building clinics and events pairing participants, age 18-45, with certified mentors who provide individual support during the activities. Cost of the program is $150 which includes instruction, session materials and required licenses to participate in the various hunts included.
A kick-off event will be held at Sportsman's Warehouse in Ankeny on January 26, from 9 a.m. to Noon. This program is made possible by the National Wild Turkey Federation and Polk County Conservation Board.
A complete agenda and application is available at https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/136328
Media Contact: Jamie Cook, Iowa State Coordinator, Pheasants Forever Quail Forever, 859-779-0222.
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