Iowabowhunters.org
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: elkhunter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">One of the sportsman friendly legislators has been asked to introduce legislation to allow partying hunting in muzzleload season.He is looking for some guidance/advise/opinions.</div></div>
With the 2009 Iowa Legislator in session the possibilities of deer hunting regulation changes are controversial and complex. I believe any changes made to the current Muzzleloader seasons will have a negative impact on the quality of muzzleloader hunting in Iowa.
Not only will it negatively affect the quality of hunting it will most certainly increased acquisition and leasing of prime hunting property by non residents and some residents. This purchasing and leasing will in turn decrease the number of acreages that middle and lower social & economical resident’s hunters can utilize. Just as important in many instances the land managed through these leases or acquisitions will create a safe haven for deer and promote undesirable deer populations. Therefore the argument can be made that increasing non-resident tags will eventually help to increase the deer herd.
The Iowa Muzzleloader seasons were created when the deer populations began to increase across the state. It was another way of adding funds to the state coffers. The idea at the time was to provide a high quality hunting experience for those individuals wanting to hunt deer with a muzzleloader.
The Early and Late seasons were put in place so muzzleloader hunters would not have to hunt highly disturbed deer due to the masses of shotgun hunters in the field. The muzzleloader hunter, hunting with a single shot firearm, would not have to compete with other hunters.
Opening up party hunting during the muzzleloader seasons will create the same loop holes that are overtly being abused right now during the two current Iowa Shotgun Seasons.
Resident and non resident hunters that have antlerless only tags are shooting bucks and having those in the party with either sex licenses tag the bucks they shoot.
Example #1: A Resident hunter purchases an Early Muzzleloader tag and shots his buck. He then purchases antlerless tags for the shotgun seasons and continues to harvest bucks using other party members either sex tags. If they allow party hunting during the Late Muzzleloader season this same guy will purchase more antlerless tags and continue to shoot bucks using the either sex tag that other party members have.
Example #2: Non-resident hunter purchases antlerless tags for the shotgun season and shots a buck or bucks using other party members either sex tags. Then the non resident purchases antlerless tags for the Late Muzzleloader season and continues too shoot bucks and using other party members either sex tags.
Example #3: The Landowner equation. Landowners get reduced either sex tags, the non resident purchases a doe tag for a given season then the landowner sells the either sex tag to the nonresident and he shots his buck to take home.
Then there is the problem of totally unregulated outfitters in Iowa. These individuals are interested only in their own selfish financial gain.
Iowa has 40,000+ bow hunters who also deserve a quality hunting experience. Do you think these bow hunters who hunt late into the season want to compete with party hunting muzzleloader hunters? I don’t think so, and they shouldn’t have to.
The whitetail deer is a valuable resource to the state of Iowa, a
renewable resource that must be managed carefully.
Unfortunately I no longer believe that the administrators in the Iowa DNR have the best interest of Iowa resident deer and turkey hunters in mind. They are lap dogs for organizations such as Friends of Iowa, the insurance industry, realtors, hotel and motel chains, restaurants and Chet Culver. They are interested only in the almighty dollar and they will if allowed to do so sell the resident hunters of this great state down the river to the highest bidder.
Mr. Black and Mr. Leopold along with Gov. Chet Culver are certainly not “Friends of the Iowa hunter”! The above mentioned individuals are interested in money; and money only. These gentlemen are sitting in smoke filled rooms cutting selfish deals with organizations that want to totally ruin the future of hunting in Iowa for resident hunters. This current group believes they are above listening to you. If you doubt some of what I have said then talk to some of the boots on the ground Conservation Officers that you know. See what they think, some of them can’t even look you in the eye. They know what’s going on, and many of them are not in favor of any more changes.
I never thought I would say this, but I would much rather take my chances with the state legislatures managing our hunting. State legislatures listen to voters; it’s time for all hunters to get involved. Join an established organization that listens to you and has your interest in mind. It is going to take more than just joining an organization to defeat the selfish organizations that are trying to change the current hunting laws. We must all become proactive and email, make phone calls, and attend meetings.
Make your voice heard!
After all, do you want your children and grandchildren to have the privilege of a quality hunt in Iowa?
United we can make a difference! Please join the IBA >>>>>Details<<<<<
PM
Ron Wyllie
Southwest Iowa IBA Area Representative
[email protected]
