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Iowa DNR Townhall Meetings

So 42 pages of complaints. Here is the place to separate the talkers from the do' ers'.

Round up your friends who care and go to at least one of these town halls , if not multiple.

We're almost two months away , so plenty of time to plug into your personal calendar and prioritize.

The fact of the matter is everyone wants to complain and only a very , very , very few do anything about it.

I guarantee you the guys that actually go probably have way more going on than most who don't, but do understand the importance and prioritize it.

I think this is great iowa does these!!!
 
You are wasting your time at those meetings. They are nothing more than a way to make you feel like your voice matters. The DNR can and have recommended doe tag reductions. But bottom line is they have zero control of it. Lobbyist pull all the strings.
 
IowaBowHunter1983 said:
Im glad they do these, however, the problem is the DNR has so little power to make change. It has to all go thru the legislature.
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After the meetings in 2024, six counties in western Iowa did away with doe only tags and changed 1st season shotgun to buck only. Several other county's doe tags were also reduced or removed. DNR was able to change those regulations. This is only the second year these regulations have been in place for deer seasons. Curious to see information as to the effect it had to the deer herd.
 
vrod said:
You are wasting your time at those meetings. They are nothing more than a way to make you feel like your voice matters. The DNR can and have recommended doe tag reductions. But bottom line is they have zero control of it. Lobbyist pull all the strings.
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Maybe. Maybe not.

I guarantee there is something to be gained by going.

I would think the dnr and the state deer biologist would have the main input for the doe quotas. Not legislation or lobbyists.
I could be wrong.

That seems to be the #1 theme here. Raise population.

OR.... do nothing and complain on a hunting forum and hope it gets better....
 
vrod said:
You are wasting your time at those meetings. They are nothing more than a way to make you feel like your voice matters. The DNR can and have recommended doe tag reductions. But bottom line is they have zero control of it. Lobbyist pull all the strings.
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No way. Those meetings were 100000% the reason the shed buck season got removed 6-7 years ago. These meetings will be a part of how we get rid of it again. They are absolutely not a waste of time. The only time the meetings were a problem was about 10 years ago and previous to that …. “No deer hunters show up!!!!!!!! We need to hear from you guys!!!!!” It’s a multiple layer issue since Brandstad changed rules with EO 71 & how it took some powers away from dnr. But- if dnr knows what is needed - there’s far more levers to get things accomplished now than even 5 years ago. We need masses to show up!!!!!! If those meetings don’t have deer hunters- big problem. If we show up big- huge help. Ton of political capital from that. If folks show up and talk: Quotas, ehd, degradation of quality for deer, etc - will help greatly.

Side point but the dnr listening sessions in western iowa are a HUGE part of why the quotas were rightfully adjusted out there.
 
My understanding from attending many of these meetings boils down to:
1) The DNR is interested and takes feedback.
2) The DNR can NOT proactively provide this data to the legislature.
3) The DNR is very willing to provide it if the legislature asks for it.

So, to have an impact:
1) Attend and give input.
2) Contact legislature on topics and tell them to please ask the DNR for input based on meetings with hunters.

The meeting can be frustrating unless you love hearing long discussions on waterfowl limits, zones, dates and other things I know nothing about. Then a short time spent on small game and fur bearers. And finally they get to turkey and deer. This is all my perspective as I really only care to comment on turkey and deer.
 
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