Trends in Iowa Wildlife Populations and Harvest 2017-2018
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TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2017-2018 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Bruce Trautman, Acting Director September 2018 TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2017-18 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 Bruce Trautman, Acting Director TABLE OF CONTENTS White-Tailed Deer ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Historical Perspective ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 2017-2018 Hunting Season Results .................................................................................................................................. 2 Population Trend Surveys ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Outlook for 2018 .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) .............................................................................................................................. 6 Figures .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Tables .............................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Wild Turkeys.......................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Historical Perspective ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Spring Harvest Survey ..................................................................................................................................................... 35 Youth Turkey Season ...................................................................................................................................................... 36 Fall Harvest Survey ......................................................................................................................................................... 36 Brood Survey .................................................................................................................................................................. 38 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................................................... 39 Figures ............................................................................................................................................................................ 40 Tables .............................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Furbearers ............................................................................................................................................................................. 62 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 62 Historic Furbearer Harvest ............................................................................................................................................. 63 Licensed Furharvesters and Fur Dealers ........................................................................................................................ 64 Current Fur Market in Iowa ............................................................................................................................................ 64 2017-18 Furharvest Season in Iowa ............................................................................................................................... 64 Figures ............................................................................................................................................................................ 73 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 102 Waterfowl Management, Seasons, and Harvests in Iowa .................................................................................................. 117 Duck Breeding Populations .......................................................................................................................................... 117 Iowa’s Canada Goose Population ................................................................................................................................. 117 Waterfowl Harvests ...................................................................................................................................................... 117 Waterfowl Seasons ....................................................................................................................................................... 118 Waterfowl Banding ....................................................................................................................................................... 118 Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 120 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 122 Upland Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................................... 144 Historical Summary of Populations & Harvest ............................................................................................................. 144 Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 149 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 155 Wildlife Restoration 2017-2018 Activities .......................................................................................................................... 178 Greater Prairie Chicken Restoration ............................................................................................................................. 178 Trumpeter Swan Restoration ....................................................................................................................................... 188 Bald Eagle (Halieetus leucocephalus) status in Iowa, 2017 .......................................................................................... 195 Status of Selected Other Species in Iowa............................................................................................................................ 207 Mountain Lion/Cougar Status in Iowa 1995 - 2017...................................................................................................... 207 Black Bear Status in Iowa (2001-Present) .................................................................................................................... 212 Gray Wolf (Timber Wolf) Status in Iowa (2001-Present) ............................................................................................. 216 2017 Bow Hunter Observation Survey ................................................................................................................................ 220 Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 222 WHITE-TAILED DEER Historical Perspective White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were reported to be abundant when European settlers arrived in Iowa in the early 1800’s. Although the clearing and cultivating of land for agriculture may have initially improved the suitability of the landscape for deer, uncontrolled exploitation for food and hides rapidly reduced deer numbers. By 1880 deer were rarely sighted in much of the state and in 1898 the deer season was legally closed. By this time, deer had been virtually