Iowa Deer Harvest Declines Slightly During 2024–2025 Season

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

In line with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, hunters reported harvesting 101,282 deer in the course of the season, a 3% lower from the 12 months earlier than. When estimates for reporting noncompliance and wounding loss are included, complete 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 embrace grownup does and fawns, accounted for 56% of the overall harvest, a determine that intently mirrors current 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 keep up 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 have been roughly 1% increased than final 12 months, at the same time as 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 very 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 in the course of the season, marking a 13% lower from the earlier 12 months. 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 optimistic momentum, with licenses issued rising 3% and reported harvest climbing 13%. Youth hunters tagged 5,361 deer, with antlered bucks making up 57% of that complete.

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

Inhabitants surveys provided blended alerts. Highlight surveys recorded a ten% decline in deer observations per 25 miles, whereas bowhunter commentary 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 serious focus all through the season. The Iowa DNR confirmed 136 new instances of Continual Losing Illness, increasing the affected space to 29 counties. Testing continues by way of the Iowa State Collegelaboratory system.

Hemorrhagic Illness additionally had a big affect 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 Outside 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 electronic mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com