Iowa Deer Harvest Declines Slightly During 2024–2025 Season

Iowa deer hunters noticed a modest decline in harvest through the 2024–2025 season, although long-term information proceed to recommend the state’s deer inhabitants stays steady to barely growing.

In keeping with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, hunters reported harvesting 101,282 deer through the season, a 3% lower from the yr earlier than. When estimates for reporting noncompliance and wounding loss are included, whole searching mortality is believed to be nearer to 153,239 deer. Deer license gross sales additionally mirrored a slight downturn, ending the season down 4% in comparison with 2023–2024.

Antlerless deer, which embody grownup does and fawns, accounted for 56% of the whole harvest, a determine that carefully mirrors latest seasons. Antlered deer made up the remaining 44% of the harvest, together with 1,164 shed-antlered bucks. Regardless of small year-to-year fluctuations, Iowa continues to take care of comparatively steady hunter numbers in comparison with many Midwestern states which have skilled sharper declines.

Shotgun seasons once more made up a big portion of the harvest. Mixed totals from the primary and second shotgun seasons had been roughly 1% larger than final yr, whilst license gross sales dipped by about 2%. Throughout these seasons, antlered bucks represented 40% of the reported harvest, whereas does made up 49%. Button bucks accounted for 10%, with shed-antlered bucks making up roughly 1%. The best harvest charges per sq. mile continued to happen in northeastern and southern Iowa, the place deer densities and entry stay robust.

Archery hunters reported harvesting 19,443 deer through the season, marking a 13% lower from the earlier yr. Antlered deer made up 61% of the archery harvest. Each early and late muzzleloader seasons additionally skilled declines, with harvest totals down 23% and 22% respectively.

Nonresident hunters reported harvesting 4,092 deer statewide, together with 2,614 antlered bucks. Youth participation confirmed constructive momentum, with licenses issued growing 3% and reported harvest climbing 13%. Youth hunters tagged 5,361 deer, with antlered bucks making up 57% of that whole.

Particular administration hunts held at 72 places resulted in a harvest of two,493 deer, most of which had been antlerless. Depredation permits added one other 3,551 deer to the whole harvest.

Inhabitants surveys provided combined indicators. Highlight surveys recorded a ten% decline in deer observations per 25 miles, whereas bowhunter remark surveys confirmed a 6% improve in sightings. Deer automobile collisions declined 2% statewide. When mixed with harvest information, long-term inhabitants modeling suggests Iowa’s deer herd has remained steady since 2017 and stays near established administration targets.

Illness monitoring remained a significant focus all through the season. The Iowa DNR confirmed 136 new instances of Persistent Losing Illness, increasing the affected space to 29 counties. Testing continues by the Iowa State Collegelaboratory system.

Hemorrhagic Illness additionally had a major impression in 2024, with greater than 3,000 suspected instances reported statewide. Officers described it as essentially the most extreme and widespread HD outbreak in Iowa historical past.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning outside journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outside column for the Slidell Unbiased Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Out of doors Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith e mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com