Below is a press release issued yesterday by the Iowa DNR. This release is announcing a deer hunter participation survey that is currently underway. If you have received an orange postcard, please respond.
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DEER HUNTERS SURVEYED ON FACTORS INFLUENCING HUNTING PARTICIPATION
BOONE * The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun a survey to
learn more about what factors are affecting deer hunter participation. The
DNR is surveying 14,000 randomly selected individuals who obtained a deer
hunting license at some point during the last 4 years.
"Having people who hunt deer every year is important when you are trying to
reduce deer numbers to acceptable levels," said Steve Roberts, wildlife
research biologist with the DNR. "If the hunters are not there or do not
obtain antlerless licenses then it will be more difficult to reduce deer
numbers where and when we need to."
Last year, about 175,000 Iowa residents obtained a deer license. Of that
group, nearly 20 percent had not obtained a deer license the previous year.
"More surprising to us is only about half of the hunters had obtained a deer
license each of the last 4 years. This data may also seem surprising to
avid deer hunters who sometimes measure the year by the time until the next
deer season opens. It is also an important piece of information for us when
we are managing deer populations," said Peter Fritzell, wildlife research
biologist with the DNR.
The DNR issues antlerless deer licenses to direct deer harvest toward
specific counties where a decrease in deer numbers is desired. Generally,
hunters buy the extra licenses and shoot more deer. However, there are
areas within Iowa where the number of deer is greater than people are
willing to tolerate and where it is difficult to sell the additional
licenses and increase harvest.
"We need to learn more about how issues such as antlerless deer hunting,
private land access, deer herd size and competing activities or obligations
affect the amount of time people spend deer hunting," Roberts said.
The DNR hopes the survey will shed some light on what motivates some hunters
to hunt deer every year and others to hunt only sporadically. Results from
this survey will be helpful in determining future deer management direction.
Selected hunters will first be asked to respond using the Internet. If a
hunter does not have access to the Internet, or if they choose not to
respond online, they will automatically receive a printed version of the
survey in 3 to 4 weeks.
*************************
DEER HUNTERS SURVEYED ON FACTORS INFLUENCING HUNTING PARTICIPATION
BOONE * The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun a survey to
learn more about what factors are affecting deer hunter participation. The
DNR is surveying 14,000 randomly selected individuals who obtained a deer
hunting license at some point during the last 4 years.
"Having people who hunt deer every year is important when you are trying to
reduce deer numbers to acceptable levels," said Steve Roberts, wildlife
research biologist with the DNR. "If the hunters are not there or do not
obtain antlerless licenses then it will be more difficult to reduce deer
numbers where and when we need to."
Last year, about 175,000 Iowa residents obtained a deer license. Of that
group, nearly 20 percent had not obtained a deer license the previous year.
"More surprising to us is only about half of the hunters had obtained a deer
license each of the last 4 years. This data may also seem surprising to
avid deer hunters who sometimes measure the year by the time until the next
deer season opens. It is also an important piece of information for us when
we are managing deer populations," said Peter Fritzell, wildlife research
biologist with the DNR.
The DNR issues antlerless deer licenses to direct deer harvest toward
specific counties where a decrease in deer numbers is desired. Generally,
hunters buy the extra licenses and shoot more deer. However, there are
areas within Iowa where the number of deer is greater than people are
willing to tolerate and where it is difficult to sell the additional
licenses and increase harvest.
"We need to learn more about how issues such as antlerless deer hunting,
private land access, deer herd size and competing activities or obligations
affect the amount of time people spend deer hunting," Roberts said.
The DNR hopes the survey will shed some light on what motivates some hunters
to hunt deer every year and others to hunt only sporadically. Results from
this survey will be helpful in determining future deer management direction.
Selected hunters will first be asked to respond using the Internet. If a
hunter does not have access to the Internet, or if they choose not to
respond online, they will automatically receive a printed version of the
survey in 3 to 4 weeks.