Deer season update
Iowa hunters have reported harvesting nearly 54,000 deer through the first weekend of the first shotgun season. First shotgun deer season ends on Dec. 7.
Second season shotgun deer season is Dec. 10-18, offering hunters two weekends in the field. The second shotgun season typically has about 50,000 hunters but could see an increase in hunter participation by hunters who normally go during the first season, but opted for second season due to the warmer weather.
Report your harvest
The deer is down, tagged and on its way to the truck. But the harvest is not complete until the deer is registered; either online, over the phone or at a license vendor.
Online, it takes just a couple minutes. Go to www.iowadnr.gov/deerhunting and click (left margin) on ‘Report Your Harvest.’ From there, scroll down and follow instructions. Be ready to enter your tag’s nine-digit harvest report number. By phone? Call 800-771-4692.
The deer should be reported by the hunter whose name is on the tag…and it must come before midnight, the day after the deer is tagged.
Safety reminder
Hunters are encouraged to use safe hunting practices and to discuss the hunting plan so each member of the hunting group knows where the others will be at all times during the hunt.
Tips
· Treat every gun as if it is loaded
· Wear plenty of blaze orange
· Be sure of the target and what’s behind it
· Don’t shoot at running deer
Turn in poachers
See something in the field that doesn’t look right? Report hunting violations to Turn in Poachers as soon as possible by calling 1-800-532-2020. Provide as much information as possible like a description of the individual(s), vehicle and time and location of the violation.
You can remain anonymous.
Deer tissue samples
The Iowa DNR’s wildlife staff will continue collecting tissue samples to test for the presence of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Iowa’s wild deer herd.
Many hunters voluntarily contribute samples of their harvested deer for these testing efforts. Most samples are obtained by wildlife staff, checking with hunters in the field or at home processing points.
Iowa DNR’s website provides information about CWD and other information on infectious disease at: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/DeerHunting/CWDEHDInformation.aspx
Extend the hunt
Hunters looking to spend more time in the timber this fall can purchase antlerless only deer tags that are still available in 27 counties. Iowa’s late muzzleloader season is Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2017 and archery season reopens Dec. 19-Jan. 10, 2017.
Antlerless tags available
County Number Available
ADAIR 420
ADAMS 989
ALLAMAKEE 824
APPANOOSE 1028
CLARKE 896
DALLAS 508
DAVIS 1940
DECATUR 1309
DES MOINES 185
FREMONT 179
GUTHRIE 398
HENRY 213
JEFFERSON 892
LEE 428
LUCAS 391
MILLS 284
MONROE 839
MONTGOMERY 332
PAGE 358
POLK 119
RINGGOLD 1528
TAYLOR 1511
UNION 820
VAN BUREN 2480
WAPELLO 1061
WAYNE 1137
WINNESHIEK 465