TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2019-2020 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Kayla Lyon, Director September 2020 TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2019-2020 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 2019-2020 Hunting Season Results .................................................................................................................................. 2 Population Trend Surveys ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Outlook for 2020 .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Figures .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Tables ................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Wild Turkeys.......................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Historical Perspective ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Spring Harvest Survey ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Youth Turkey Season ...................................................................................................................................................... 31 Fall Harvest Survey ......................................................................................................................................................... 31 Brood Survey .................................................................................................................................................................. 33 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................................................... 34 Figures ............................................................................................................................................................................ 35 Tables .............................................................................................................................................................................. 39 Furbearers ............................................................................................................................................................................. 48 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 48 Historic Furbearer Harvest ............................................................................................................................................. 49 Licensed Furharvesters and Fur Dealers ........................................................................................................................ 50 Current Fur Market in Iowa ............................................................................................................................................ 50 2019-20 Furharvest Season in Iowa ............................................................................................................................... 50 Figures ............................................................................................................................................................................ 59 Tables .............................................................................................................................................................................. 86 Waterfowl Management, Seasons, and Harvests in Iowa .................................................................................................. 101 Duck Breeding Populations .......................................................................................................................................... 101 Iowa’s Canada Goose Population ................................................................................................................................. 101 Waterfowl Harvests ...................................................................................................................................................... 101 Waterfowl Seasons ....................................................................................................................................................... 102 Waterfowl Banding ....................................................................................................................................................... 102 Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 103 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 105 Upland Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................................... 126 Historical Summary of Populations & Harvest ............................................................................................................. 126 Figures .......................................................................................................................................................................... 130 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................ 136 Wildlife Restoration 2019-2020 Activities .......................................................................................................................... 161 Greater Prairie Chicken Restoration ............................................................................................................................. 161 Trumpeter Swan Restoration ....................................................................................................................................... 171 Bald Eagle (Halieetus leucocephalus) status in Iowa, 2019 .......................................................................................... 181 Status of Selected Other Species in Iowa - LArge Carnivores ............................................................................................. 192 Mountain Lion/Cougar Status in Iowa 1995-2019 ....................................................................................................... 192 Black Bear Status in Iowa (2001-Present) .................................................................................................................... 197 Gray Wolf (Timber Wolf) Status in Iowa (2001-2020) .................................................................................................. 199 Iowa Bow Hunter Observation Survey: 2019 summary ...................................................................................................... 203 Abstract ........................................................................................................................................................................ 203 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 203 Study Area .................................................................................................................................................................... 204 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................................... 204 Results .......................................................................................................................................................................... 205 Discussion ....................................................................................................................................................................