Damage Management

Topics:

Hunting - Deer

The DNR is responsible for managing Iowa's wildlife for all of Iowa's citizens. One of the DNR's responsibilities is to provide private landowners with the guidance and assistance they need to effectively deal with wildlife damage.

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How do I get started?

A wildlife biologist with the DNR can answer many of your questions and provide technical advice on how to deal with crop damage. Please contact your local depredation biologist.

  • Wildlife Damage Identification - Identifying Crop Damage, 21MB
  • Wildlife Damage Identification - Identifying Tree Damage
  • Wildlife Damage Identification - Techniques to Reduce Damage
  • Wildlife Damage Management - Options for Producers with Deer Damage
  • Wildlife Damage Management - Depredation Program Information
  • Wild Turkey and Crops: Identifying Crop Depredation
  • Deer Management Zone Procedures (City Administration Guidelines)
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What Kind of Help Can I Get?

Once you have contacted the depredation biologist for your area they will visit your property with you to evaluate the extent of the wildlife damage and work with you to find a solution to reduce or stop the damage. This could include:

  • Providing technical advice on how to exclude or deter the animals causing damage.
  • Alternative horticulture or silviculture practices that would minimize the level of damage.
  • Working with neighbors to keep wildlife populations at acceptable levels.
  • Recommendations to increase hunting pressure and take more antlerless deer within existing seasons.
  • Providing extra deer depredation licenses for hunters who hunt your property.
  • Providing you (the landowner or tenant) or your designee with permits to shoot deer outside of existing seasons (all deer taken must be recovered and processed for consumption).

To qualify for extra deer depredation licenses or shooting permits the landowner or tenant must enter into an agreement with the DNR that outlines the goals and timeframe in which deer numbers will be reduced and how normal hunting practices will be used to keep deer numbers at desired levels.

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Doe Hunter Registry (Connecting Farmers with Hunters)

Healthy deer herd management requires doe harvest. Together we strive for a balance between recreational and viewing opportunities, ecological impacts, and the possible damages of white-tailed deer such as agricultural depredation or vehicle collisions. Hunting is the tool for deer population management specifically through antlerless deer harvest. The Doe Hunter Registry is a list of hunters that have expressed an interest in helping farmers and landowners meet their deer harvest goals.

If you are an ethical hunter that is willing to do your part and harvest more does please follow the link below to sign up for the Doe Hunter Registry.

If you are a farmer that wants to increase doe harvest on your farm please follow the link below to get connected with hunters that can help. You can either register specifically as a farmer to be contacted or simply view the hunters that have signed up.

Remember—Private landowners retain the right to refuse access to property. Signing up for the Doe Hunter Registry does not guarantee access or hunting opportunity. It is the landowners responsibility to initiate contact. Please respect private property rights, be responsible advocates for hunting in the field, and report all deer harvest!. Register online: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/2a7deaa8b5de459184389b203c87d98c

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Other Resources and Assistance

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