Iowa lawmakers debate a proposed hunting season expansion aimed at helping
farmers, despite concerns over the long-term stability of the state’s deer population.

A new bill in the Iowa House of Representatives has sparked debate about balancing farmers’ needs with the stability of Iowa’s deer population.

House File 65 would open up a 10th annual hunting season from Jan. 11 to 31, but only for farmers dealing with land damage by deer. This season would be an extension of Iowa’s deer depredation (or destruction) program, which allows farmers to hunt deer causing crop damage.

The House Natural Resources Committee advanced the bill to the floor for a full vote. Every Republican voted in favor of the bill, while every Democrat voted against it.
Those opposed to its passage are hesitant about increased hunting while Iowa’s deer
population suffers from two fatal diseases (more on this later).

How Deer Seasons Work
Deer hunting in Iowa is convoluted. There are nine annual deer hunting seasons, each primarily defined by dates and which weapons are allowed.

For example, last year’s “early split” archery season (which only allows bows and arrows; no firearms) lasted from Oct. 1 through Dec. 6. The various annual seasons run from roughly midSeptember through early January.

Iowa’s Depredation Program
The proposed deer depredation season expands upon an existing program. Under current law, if a farmer suffers at least $1,000 of crop damage by deer in a growing season, verifiable by a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologist, they can purchase depredation tags to kill antlerless deer only.

Also, farmers can only use depredation tags during the nine hunting seasons (from September to January) and must follow each season’s rules. So if it’s archery season, they must use a bow, and so on.

Farmers’ Needs
Rep. Michael V. Sexton (R, Rockwell City), a farmer and member of the Natural Resources subcommittee that considered HF65, believes the timing of the current depredation program is the real issue.

“When farmers are given those depredation tags, it is the time of the year when they’re in the fields combining and doing fieldwork,” Sexton said. “We’re unbelievably busy and don’t have time to sit in a deer blind and shoot the deer.”

Sexton also believes the current program is flawed because it only includes crop damage. He said deer eat his hay, animal feed and corn silage, but he can’t get depredation tags because it’s not crop damage. So, Sexton amended the bill to include all agricultural losses, not just crops.

If this bill were to pass, farmers would acquire depredation tags through the process that already exists. A DNR biologist would assess the deer damages and issue tags accordingly. Farmers would then have a season in January to hunt. The damage doesn’t even have to happen in January; tags issued since Feb. 1 of the previous year are valid in this season.

Also, there would be fewer weapon restrictions during this season. Tag holders could use any weapon from previous seasons.

Iowa’s Deer Population Stability
As of last year, Iowa had a healthy deer population, according to a study from Iowa State University. That could change if Iowa’s deer continue to suffer from Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).

In the past two years, Iowa’s deer population has experienced two of the most severe outbreaks of EHD in the state’s history. According to DNR State Deer Biologist Jace Elliot, an estimated 30,000 died last year. Elliot also said deer eventually develop immunities to EHD, making CWD the more serious disease.

CWD festers for over 18 months before damaging the brain enough to kill the deer. It’s 100% fatal, according to the Iowa State study. The long incubation process prevents the DNR from estimating its contagious spread, but more cases are expected in upcoming years.

“It’s without question the greatest long-term threat to the health of our deer population,” Elliot said.

Hunters are worried about opening another deer season while the population is at risk. Even today, hunters claim to see fewer deer because of disease.

“I hear all the time from hunters: ‘I am purposely not hunting this year, or season, because of how low the deer numbers are in my area,’” lobbyist Phil Jeneary said on behalf of the Iowa Sportsman’s Club.

Next Steps
When HF65 passed through the Natural Resources Committee, Sexton amended the bill to include all agricultural damage, not just crops. The bill was renumbered to House File 378 and placed on the calendar for later discussion.