DWilk
Active Member
Bill Winke's recent hunt and conversation with Governor Branstad further confirmed what many of us already knew and that is that that the Governor and the legislature receive extreme pressure from insurance companies (Farm Bureau) to reduce deer populations as it relates to 'public safety', primarily car-deer collisions, and crop damage.
What I'd like to facilitate on this thread is a discussion on how we (as hunters) can better bring to light the realities associated with car-deer collisions, TRUE crop damage numbers, and maybe put together a fact-sheet .... or some talking points to include in discussions with representatives, etc..
If someone has access to studies and various related data, paste them here, etc. etc. If this thread dies, then so be it, but we can't all sit on our butts on internet forums complaining.
In my opinion, the largest threat the Iowa's deer population as a whole is Farm Bureau. For years now, FB and similarly tasked organizations looking out for farmers and the 'public safety' have continuously spewed the argument of deer being pests. It annoys the living daylights out of me. People can argue all day about killing young bucks, or about non-resident influences, about leases.... etc. etc., but what many of us fail to realize is these are arguments AMONG hunters, and the VAST majority of people in Iowa are not hunters, and these are the people getting fed a constant string of BS by companies such as Farm Bureau.
I get it... farmers are the backbone to Iowa's economy. My family farms. Many of my friends farm....... and obviously, people's health and safety will always take a higher priority to deer hunting, but until we can get the public to recognize deer as an asset, a part of the landscape, and not as a pest, we are going to have a hard time arguing any other talking points as it pertains to QDM, non-res influence, etc. etc. etc.
What are some real numbers of crop damage by deer? How many of these numbers are skewed by collectors? How much crop damage is done by deer vs. raccoons? How much are yields decreased by the natural edge affect of growing crops on the edge of the timber, and how significant is the loss by deer REALLY?
Informal Poll .... how many of you have ever hit a deer with your vehicle?
I am in a vehicle for roughly 40,000 - 50,000 miles each year... 90% in the state of Iowa, and I have NEVER hit a deer with my truck. Most of my miles are on gravel and 2 lane highways in southern Iowa.... have I came close to hitting deer many many times? yes, but I recognize the possibility of deer being on the road and am ready for it. Simply braking has saved me dozens of collisions with deer over the years because I recognize deer as part of the landscape.
Will I eventually hit a deer on the road? Probably (maybe not if we continue the massive population declines), but for somebody to drive a vehicle in Iowa for 11 years (much of which occurring during times of 'high' population) and to never have a collision.... IMO, the odds are insignificant. The government can't legislate-out the fact that some people are brainless drivers with tunnel vision on the highways.
Farmers can live with deer. Profits can be turned with deer as part of the landscape. The roads are plenty safe with deer around. The words 'deer' and 'pest' should never be in the same conversation and we need to work towards removing that from the conversation in the public and in the legislature!
What I'd like to facilitate on this thread is a discussion on how we (as hunters) can better bring to light the realities associated with car-deer collisions, TRUE crop damage numbers, and maybe put together a fact-sheet .... or some talking points to include in discussions with representatives, etc..
If someone has access to studies and various related data, paste them here, etc. etc. If this thread dies, then so be it, but we can't all sit on our butts on internet forums complaining.
In my opinion, the largest threat the Iowa's deer population as a whole is Farm Bureau. For years now, FB and similarly tasked organizations looking out for farmers and the 'public safety' have continuously spewed the argument of deer being pests. It annoys the living daylights out of me. People can argue all day about killing young bucks, or about non-resident influences, about leases.... etc. etc., but what many of us fail to realize is these are arguments AMONG hunters, and the VAST majority of people in Iowa are not hunters, and these are the people getting fed a constant string of BS by companies such as Farm Bureau.
I get it... farmers are the backbone to Iowa's economy. My family farms. Many of my friends farm....... and obviously, people's health and safety will always take a higher priority to deer hunting, but until we can get the public to recognize deer as an asset, a part of the landscape, and not as a pest, we are going to have a hard time arguing any other talking points as it pertains to QDM, non-res influence, etc. etc. etc.
What are some real numbers of crop damage by deer? How many of these numbers are skewed by collectors? How much crop damage is done by deer vs. raccoons? How much are yields decreased by the natural edge affect of growing crops on the edge of the timber, and how significant is the loss by deer REALLY?
Informal Poll .... how many of you have ever hit a deer with your vehicle?
I am in a vehicle for roughly 40,000 - 50,000 miles each year... 90% in the state of Iowa, and I have NEVER hit a deer with my truck. Most of my miles are on gravel and 2 lane highways in southern Iowa.... have I came close to hitting deer many many times? yes, but I recognize the possibility of deer being on the road and am ready for it. Simply braking has saved me dozens of collisions with deer over the years because I recognize deer as part of the landscape.
Will I eventually hit a deer on the road? Probably (maybe not if we continue the massive population declines), but for somebody to drive a vehicle in Iowa for 11 years (much of which occurring during times of 'high' population) and to never have a collision.... IMO, the odds are insignificant. The government can't legislate-out the fact that some people are brainless drivers with tunnel vision on the highways.
Farmers can live with deer. Profits can be turned with deer as part of the landscape. The roads are plenty safe with deer around. The words 'deer' and 'pest' should never be in the same conversation and we need to work towards removing that from the conversation in the public and in the legislature!