2008 Deer Season: Iowa
Midwest - State by State
For full season details, click here
ESPNOutdoors.com rating (1-10): 6
2007 harvest: 146,214
Sq. Miles: 56,272
Deer/ sq. mile harvested in 2007: 2.6
2008 Outlook:
Hunters should find Iowa in a similar condition as last year, maybe slightly improved, according to deer biologist Tom Litchfield.
"There was an ice storm during gun season last year that kept numbers down," said Litchfield. "It was the first time that anyone could remember having major weather events on the opening of both seasons."
Hunters are unlikely to see a similar event this year.
The deer herd has been declining statewide, which is a planned event.
"Deer are socially damaging to agricultural crops and in deer-vehicle collisions," said Litchfield.
Iowa has 20 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) and most are either reaching towards or have reached their deer population objective.
There are 15 counties across the south-central part of the state where Litchfield advises hunters to harvest more deer. Starting at Jasper and Marion county and reaching straight West to Audubon and Cass counties encompasses the area most in need of additional harvest.
"The problem with these counties is that they are mostly in urban areas," said Litchfield. "That makes it harder for hunters to access and keep the populations in check."
People may be wondering how the spring flooding may have effected the deer population. Litchfield did acknowledge that the rains did effect agricultural crops and some forest/river habitat, but there has been a good mast crop of white oak acorns this year.
— Rob Russow
