TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2014-2015 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Chuck Gipp, Director December 2015 TRENDS IN IOWA WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HARVEST 2014-2015 Compiled by: Peter Fritzell Chapters Prepared by: Willie Suchy White-tailed Deer Andrew Norton White-tailed Deer Jim Coffey Wild Turkeys Vince Evelsizer Furbearers Orrin Jones Waterfowl Todd Bogenschutz Upland Wildlife Pat Schlarbaum Peregrine Falcon Pat Schlarbaum Osprey Pat Schlarbaum Sandhill Crane Bruce Ehresman Bald Eagle Vince Evelsizer Mountain Lion Vince Evelsizer Black Bear Vince Evelsizer Gray Wolf David Hoffman Trumpeter Swan Stephanie Shepherd Greater Prairie Chicken Chris Jennelle Bowhunter Observation Survey CONSERVATION & RECREATION DIVISION December 2015 Iowa Department of Natural Resources Chuck Gipp, Director TABLE OF CONTENTS (Sections were submitted as separate PDF documents by authors. Page numbers are for the beginning of each chapter in this PDF file.) WHITE-TAILED DEER Historical perspective ....................................................................................................... Chapter 1- page 9 2014-2015 Hunting Season Results Population Trend Surveys Outlook for 2015 Figures Tables WILD TURKEYS Historical perspective ..................................................................................................... Chapter 2- page 39 Spring harvest survey Youth Turkey Season Fall harvest survey Brood survey Figures FURBEARERS Introduction .................................................................................................................... Chapter 3- page 63 Historical Furbearer Harvests Number of Licensed Furharvesters Current Fur Market in Iowa 2014-2015 Furharvest Season in Iowa Figures Tables WATERFOWL Waterfowl Management, Seasons, and Harvests in Iowa ………………………………Chapter 4 - page 113 Duck breeding populations Giant Canada Goose Populations Waterfowl harvests Waterfowl seasons Waterfowl banding Figures Tables UPLAND WILDLIFE Historical summary of populations and harvest …………………………………………Chapter 5- page 141 2014-2015 Small Game Harvest Survey Tables Figures WILDLIFE RESTORATION – 2014-2015 activities Peregrine Falcon Restoration ……………………………………………………………….Chapter 6 - page 159 Greater Prairie Chicken Restoration ............................................................................. Chapter 7 - page181 Trumpeter Swan Restoration ........................................................................................ Chapter 8 - page 193 Osprey Restoration ...................................................................................................... Chapter 9 - page 201 Sandhill Crane Status in Iowa ……………………………………………………………..Chapter10 - page 207 Bald Eagle Restoration ............................................................................................... Chapter 11- page 213 STATUS OF SELECTED OTHER SPECIES IN IOWA Mountain Lion Status in Iowa .................................................................................... Chapter 12 - page 223 Black Bear Status in Iowa ........................................................................................... Chapter 13 - page229 Gray Wolf Status in Iowa…..……………………………………………………………….Chapter 14 - page 233 PRIOR RESTORATIONS – without 2014 - 2015 activities Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkeys Canada Geese (Archived in 2002, http://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/logbook_2002.pdf ) APPENDICES Bowhunter Observation Survey ……………………………………………………………………Chapter 15- page 241 Wildlife Depredation Program Customer Satisfaction Survey ..………………………………Chapter 15- page 261 WHITE-TAILED DEER Historical Perspective portions of the growth cycle. Urban environments can also prove to be good White-tailed deer (Odocoileus habitat for deer, especially if there are green virginianus) were reported to be abundant belts, parks or other natural spaces nearby. when European settlers arrived in Iowa in Deer utilize almost all plants for the early 1800's. Although the clearing and food at one time or another during the year. cultivating of land for agriculture may have Deer feeding habits can best be described as initially improved the suitability of the being widely selective as deer will sample landscape for deer, uncontrolled many plants while feeding, but often utilize exploitation for food and hides rapidly a single, palatable source of food for the reduced deer numbers. By 1880 deer were majority of their diet seasonally. Preferred rarely sighted in much of the state and in foods change throughout the year in 1898 the deer season was legally closed. By response to changing metabolic demands this time, deer had been virtually eliminated and forage availability. from all parts of the state. The whitetail's ability to thrive in Re-establishment of deer into the Iowa is likely the result of abundant, state can be traced to escapes and releases reliable food sources and a winter climate from captive herds and translocation and where snow depths rarely exceed 12" for a natural immigration from deer herds in prolonged length of time. Droughts are also surrounding states. A conservative estimate rare, and do not impact the availability of of the population in 1936 placed statewide food like they do in some areas of the numbers at between 500 and 700 animals. United States. These factors combine to This small herd grew steadily. By 1950 deer allow deer to come through the "winter were reported in most counties and the bottleneck" in excellent condition. The statewide estimate topped 10,000. excellent nutrition also enables deer to have Concentrations in some areas were high reproductive rates. Many does in Iowa beginning to cause problems by damaging give birth to a single fawn at one year of age agricultural crops in addition to some and 2 fawns each subsequent year. Deer in complaints concerning deer/vehicle the wild can maintain these high collisions. In response to these problems the reproductive rates past 10 years of age. first modern deer season was held in Research in Iowa has found that 8 to 12% of December of 1953 and 4,000 deer were adult does have 3 fawns. killed. The harvest in 1996 exceeded Another reason that deer do so well 100,000 for the first time ever. in Iowa is that they are very mobile. Although deer are frequently Although many deer never move far from associated with forested areas, they are very the area where they were born, a significant adaptable and will utilize many different number (10-20% on average) leave and types of habitat as long as the area provides travel to new areas before establishing a adequate cover. Examples of these types of core area. These core areas may change areas include brushy draws and fence lines, seasonally with deer shifting between marshes, and grassy areas like those wintering areas and fawning areas. These provided by the federal Conservation movements allow deer to fill voids left open Reserve Program (CRP). Standing corn also due to deaths and changing habitat. Thus provides ideal habitat for part of the year deer easily pioneer into new areas when since it provides cover and food during habitat is suitable. The highest rates of 1 movement occur during 2 periods of the Antlerless licenses made up about 32% of year. The first is in the spring when does the deer licenses issued during the 2014/15 move to their fawning areas. Many of the deer season (Table 1.1). previous year’s fawns find areas of their The reduction in license sales and own at this time. The second period is in the harvest is likely related to lower deer fall during the breeding season. The numbers, reduced antlerless quotas in some breeding season or rut begins in mid- counties, and the discontinuation of the October and runs through mid-January, January antlerless season. The number of although the peak of activity occurs in mid- hunters purchasing deer licenses in 2014/15 November. was essentially unchanged from 2013. Careful management of deer The highest harvest estimate populations by man has also played an occurred in 2005, but was based upon a important role in allowing deer numbers to statistically designed post-season survey. return to the levels enjoyed today. The new harvest reporting system is not Management consists primarily of directly comparable. Its comparability with regulating the doe harvest since hunting the former system was discussed in detail in provides the major source of mortality for the 2006/07 annual deer report. deer in modern day Iowa. Unchecked, Antlerless deer represented 56% of Iowa's deer herd could grow at a rate of the 2014/15 harvest and about 46% of the 20% to 40% each year. At this rate, deer total harvest was comprised of does (Table numbers would double in as few as 3 years. 1.1). This was a 6% decrease in antlerless With Iowa's long growing season and deer harvest compared to the 2013 season, agricultural crops providing abundant food, during which seven percent of the reported densities could exceed 100 or more deer per doe kill occurred during the January square mile in year-round deer habitat antlerless season. The reported number of before natural regulatory mechanisms antlered deer in the harvest was 14% higher would begin to affect deer health and slow than in 2013 and represented 44% of the the rate of growth. Deer numbers this high 2014/15 harvest (shed-antlered bucks are would cause severe economic hardship to included in this statistic). There were 475 Iowa's landowners as well as alter the shed-antlered bucks reported which natural vegetative community.