Capitol Report

State Representative Danny Carroll

March 10 2005

This week the House Natural Resources Committee passed HF 304, a bill designed to increase the number of deer harvested, as well as more accurately count how many deer have been harvested.   Rep. Rayhons, the bill manager, stated, “the Iowa DNR has to step up to the plate, along with our legislators and hunting groups, and start making sense out of our wildlife game policy.” 

In a key effort to reduce the deer herd, the Committee adopted an amendment making it mandatory for an out-of-state hunter who purchases an antlered deer hunting tag for $220.00 to also purchase a reduced price antlerless deer tag for $100.00.  Of course, if a nonresident hunter prefers only one license they can still purchase an anterless only license for $150.00.

The commission is limited to issuing 6,000 nonresident antlered or any sex deer hunting licenses per year; after those have been issued, up to 2500 additional licenses may be issued for antlerless deer only.  With the above requirement of a reduced price anterless tag, out of state hunters could harvest an additional 6000 anterless deer.  The commission will allocate all nonresident deer hunting licenses among the zones based on the population of deer. 

The commission is required to establish a deer harvest reporting system to collect information from deer hunters concerning the deer population in the state.  They will also have the authority to issue annually without fee, two licenses, one antlered or any sex deer hunting license and one antlerless deer only hunting license to the owner of a farm, a family member or the tenant of a farm. 

The commission may also establish special season deer hunts for anterless deer in those counties where deer management is necessary.

I support efforts to better control the deer population.  I hope the DNR will be able to do more under this new law.

You can reach me at home most evenings and weekends at 641-236-7043.  My home address is 244 400^th Avenue, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.  While at the Capitol, you can reach me at the House of Representatives switchboard at 515-281-3221 or by E-mail at danny.carroll@legis.state.ia.us.  My mailing address at the Capitol is House of Representatives, State Capitol, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.