Status and Trends in Wildlife Populations 2019
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TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2018-2019 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Kayla Lyon, Director September 2019 TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2018-19 Compiled by: Peter Fritzell Chapters Prepared by: Tyler Harms White-tailed Deer Jim Coffey Wild Turkeys Vince Evelsizer Furbearers Orrin Jones Waterfowl Todd Bogenschutz Upland Wildlife Stephanie Shepherd Greater Prairie Chicken Stephanie Shepherd Bald Eagle Vince Evelsizer Mountain Lion Vince Evelsizer Black Bear Vince Evelsizer Gray Wolf David Hoffman Trumpeter Swan Tyler Harms Bowhunter Observation Survey CONSERVATION & RECREATION DIVISION September 2018 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Kayla Lyon, Director Table of Contents White-Tailed Deer ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Historical Perspective ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 2018-2019 Hunting Season Results .................................................................................................................................. 2 Population Trend Surveys ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Outlook for 2019 .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Figures .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Tables ................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Wild Turkeys.......................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Historical Perspective ..................................................................................................................................................... 32 Spring Harvest Survey ..................................................................................................................................................... 32 Youth Turkey Season ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 Fall Harvest Survey ......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Brood Survey .................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Rule Changes .................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................................................... 36 Figures ............................................................................................................................................................................ 37 Tables .............................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Furbearers ............................................................................................................................................................................. 57 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Historic Furbearer Harvest ............................................................................................................................................. 58 Licensed Furharvesters and Fur Dealers ........................................................................................................................ 59 Current Fur Market in Iowa ............................................................................................................................................ 59 2018-19 Furharvest Season in Iowa ............................................................................................................................... 59 Figures ............................................................................................................................................................................ 68 Tables .............................................................................................................................................................................. 97 Waterfowl Management, Seasons, and Harvests in Iowa .................................................................................................. 112 Duck Breeding Populations .......................................................................................................................................... 112 Iowa’s Canada Goose Population ................................................................................................................................. 112 Waterfowl Harvests ...................................................................................................................................................... 112 Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 115 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 117 Upland Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................................... 139 Historical Summary of Populations & Harvest ............................................................................................................. 139 Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 143 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 152 Wildlife Restoration 2018-2019 Activities .......................................................................................................................... 177 Greater Prairie Chicken Restoration ............................................................................................................................. 177 Trumpeter Swan Restoration ....................................................................................................................................... 187 Bald Eagle (Halieetus leucocephalus) status in Iowa, 2018 .......................................................................................... 194 Status of Selected Other Species in Iowa............................................................................................................................ 206 Mountain Lion/Cougar Status in Iowa 1995-2018 ....................................................................................................... 206 Black Bear Status in Iowa (2001-Present) .................................................................................................................... 212 Gray Wolf (Timber Wolf) Status in Iowa (2001-Present) ............................................................................................. 216 Iowa Bow Hunter Observation Survey: 2018 summary ...................................................................................................... 220 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................................ 220 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 220 Study Area .................................................................................................................................................................... 221 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................................... 221 Results .......................................................................................................................................................................... 222 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................................................... 223 Management Implications ...........................................................................................................................................