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Urban Deer Management Plan 2015-2016 Copyright 2014 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 18. ITEM TITLE: Urban Deer Management Plan 2015-2016 SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of the 2015-2016 City of Dubuque Urban Deer Management Plan as approved by the Environmental Stewardship Commission at their April 7, 2015 meeting. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve ATTACHMENTS: Description Type ❑ Urban Deer Management Plan 2015-2016-MVM Memo City Manager Memo ❑ Staff Memo Staff Memo ❑ Deer Management Plan 15-16 Supporting Documentation ❑ Deer Hunt Survey Supporting Documentation ❑ Deer Harvest Chart Supporting Documentation THE CITY OF Dubuque UBE I erica .i Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: 2015-2016 Deer Management Plan DATE: April 10, 2015 Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan recommends approval of the 2015-2016 City of Dubuque Urban Deer Management Plan. The Environmental Stewardship Commission approved the plan at their April 7, 2015 meeting. The coyote incentive will be continued to encourage bow hunters to harvest coyotes. In addition to reimbursing hunters the deer tag costs for every coyote harvested, permitted hunters will be allowed to hunt coyotes year round. However, City parks will not be open for coyote hunting outside the deer hunting season. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager THE CITY OF Dubuque DUB E All•AmericaCity Masterpiece on the Mississippi + I I I I®, 2007 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist SUBJECT: 2015-2016 Deer Management Plan DATE: April 9, 2015 INTRODUCTION This memorandum provides a report of the 2014-2015 City of Dubuque urban deer management program and a staff recommendation regarding the continuation of the program. BACKGROUND The City of Dubuque first began its urban deer management plan with the pilot program at the Sisters of Mount Saint Francis property in 1997. Following that pilot program, the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission (ESAC) recommended a citywide bow and arrow hunt to reduce the deer density within the city limits. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides consultation and technical assistance. DISCUSSION No aerial survey was conducted this year because the DNR could not secure a helicopter and pilot for their surveys. The last survey was February 4, 2013. The DNR is now considering other methods of deer counting/surveying. The results of this and previous years' results are attached. Comparisons of actual deer counted and hunt results indicate a stabilizing population (see attached). Each year's hunt must be evaluated while looking at previous years and future projections. Without a hunt, the deer population would increase by approximately 33% annually. The City of Dubuque spent approximately $560 for the total program last season, not including staff time. During this year's season, there were 70 permitted bow hunters inside the city limits, and they harvested a total of 92 deer, a decrease of 8 deer from last year. Of the urban deer managed bow hunts in Iowa, Dubuque continues to be one of the most successful. Greg Harris, Wildlife Biologist with the IDNR, stated this is partially due to the any sex/buck incentive and few limitations put on the hunt. It is also due to our good group of bow hunters who are dedicated to the program and who generate few citizen complaints. With the assistance of Leisure Services Department staff, the program continues very smoothly. Attached is the City of Dubuque Deer Management Plan for the 2016-2016 season. It is based on the results of the previous year's hunt, input from City staff, the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission and hunters. The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission reviewed and approved the plan at their April 7, 2015 meeting. The coyote incentive will be continued to encourage bow hunters to harvest coyotes. In addition to reimbursing hunters the deer tag costs for every coyote harvested, permitted hunters will be allowed to hunt coyotes year round. City parks will not be open for coyote hunting outside the deer hunting season, however. All of the City's Urban Deer Management Program rules and regulations are published in an annual brochure, which is posted on the City website and mailed to current and previous years hunters. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council review the results of this 2014-2015 urban deer management program and approve the attached plan for the 2015-2016 hunting season. The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission also recommends approving the plan. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Approve the attached urban deer management plan for the 2014-2015 season. MRC/Ih cc: David Koch, Chair, Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission Marie Ware, Leisure Services Department Manager Mark Dalsing, Police Chief Rick Steines, Fire Chief Don Vogt, Operations & Maintenance Manager Jon Brown, Water Pollution Control Plant Manager Greg Harris, IDNR Ross Ellington, IDNR CITY OF DUBUQUE DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2016-2016 Season Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission City Health and Leisure Services Departments The City of Dubuque's sixteenth urban deer management season ended January 10, 2015. The hunt was part of the City's overall urban deer management plan, recommended by the City's Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission, and approved by the City Council and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Attached is a chart detailing the results of previous hunts and deer surveys. Aerial deer surveys have been conducted since 1998. An aerial survey was not conducted in 2015 since the DNR could not secure a helicopter and pilot. The DNR may institute another measurement method for assessing the local deer population. It is assumed that each year the population of deer increases by approximately 30% (without any control.) A total of 92 deer were harvested in the city. The City is requesting a total of 400 deer tags from the IDNR for the 2015-2016 season. This amount of tags has not sold out in previous years. Nine incentive, any sex tags were allotted for the 2014-2015 season, based on hunters success from the previous season. No coyotes were harvested in 2014-2015. The following goals are recommended for the 2015-2016 season: 1) Limit deer population within defined areas of the city of Dubuque below 20 deer per square mile; 2) Provide public education regarding deer and their impact on the environment 3) Encourage property owners to allow qualified deer hunters on their property. 4) Discourage citizens from feeding deer. 5) Provide deer tag incentives for harvesting coyotes and does. Recommended Management Plan Continuation of a controlled bow hunt inside the city limits and gun and bow hunting in a special zone around the city with a total of 660 deer license tags available (400 city, 250 zone) is recommended for the 2015-2016 season. The main goal of the hunt is to reduce the deer herd by harvesting female deer, or does. The bow hunt would begin earlier than the Iowa deer hunting season, September 9, 2015, and end with the regular Iowa deer seasons, January 10, 2016. All licenses will be issued for antlerless deer only, or for any sex under the incentive program, within the city of Dubuque. City Areas. The City will designate publicly owned lands for hunting and allow hunting on private property with the owner's permission. The public areas for hunting include: Eagle Point Park (47 acres) Bunker Hill (138 acres) Veterans Memorial Park (69 acres) FDR Park (200 acres) Land south of Fremont Avenue bridge following creek and railroad bed (23 acres) Land behind Medical Associates West campus Marshall Park Behind Dubuque Technology Park Hunters are responsible for obtaining permission from private landowners. A minimum 3 acres of land is required. However, approval may be granted by the City for hunting on property less than 3 acres based on the following criteria: ❖ No homes/businesses within 150 ft. of property ❖ Adjacent to a 3-acre or greater parcel of habitat, i.e., timber • Field/prairie • CRP • Crop field • Tree planting ❖ Property otherwise suitable for hunting Distances from buildings, streets or trails on private property is at the discretion of the property owner(s) OR 75 feet from any property line, occupied building or private street/trail. Hunters must maintain a distance of 75 feet from any property line, occupied building, street or trail on public property. All hunters are required to pass an annual proficiency test and present a valid Bow Hunter Safety Course Certificate. Hunters will be instructed on the special rules and regulations for hunting inside the city limits, including the following: - Maintaining a minimum distance from residential areas and property lines, at the owner's and neighbor's discretion or 75 feet from any property line or occupied building on public property, and 75 feet from any street or trail - Reporting numbers of shots and/or deer harvested - Reporting specific areas and times/day of hunt - Registering all deer harvested with the City and the IDNR - Reporting any citizen complaints - Hunters on private property must abide by the rules of the property owner, in addition to the Iowa DNR rules - Field dressing on City property is not allowed - Deer must be covered or enclosed when transporting - No baiting, driving, or stalking of deer is allowed Any Sex Tag Incentives The hunters who harvest a minimum of three (3) does by the end of the season will be eligible to purchase a dedicated either sex license for the following hunting season. All deer harvested must be reported to IDNR via phone or electronically to be eligible for the incentive. Button buck, spike buck or other unantlered male deer classified as antlerless do not qualify for the incentive licenses, only female deer. Additional incentives: Hunters who harvest an adult doe will be eligible for a $13.00 reimbursement for the cost of their second deer tag. Reimbursement will be automatic and taken from the check-in sheet at Fire Headquarters. Coyote Incentive: For each coyote harvested, the hunter will receive reimbursement for a deer license tag (Tag # must be provided on sign in sheet at Fire Headquarters), including the first $28 tag. Hunters must harvest coyote with a bow and it must be checked in at Fire Headquarters, similarly to deer. Coyotes must be recorded on check-in sheet, including Zone harvested in, at Fire Headquarters in order to receive reimbursement. Summary of Incentives Names of all hunters qualifying for an incentive license will be provided to the wildlife depredation biologist, by the hunt administrator, for harvest registration compliance and so that name can be entered into ELSI for purchase by those individuals. Incentive licenses will cost $28.50. ELSI issued any deer incentive licenses will be considered legal licenses from the opening date to the closing date of each respective deer management zone hunt. Additional Incentive: The hunters who harvest an adult doe will be eligible for a $13.00 reimbursement for the cost of their second deer tag. Coyote Incentive: A qualified deer hunter will be reimbursed for a doe tag for each coyote harvested and checked in at Fire Headquarters. Hunters are allowed to harvest coyotes year-round as long as all hunting rules in this plan and from the IDNR are adhered to. Hunting coyotes will not be allowed in City parks designated for deer hunting outside of the deer hunting season. Administration of the program. The program would be administered the City's Health and Leisure Services Department staff with the assistance from the Fire Department and the IDNR. Evaluation. Deer hunters will be required to check in the deer harvested at the City Fire Headquarters, 9th Street and Central Avenue and report where the deer was shot. In addition, hunters must register their deer harvest with IDNR by any of the following three options: 1) The online harvest reporting system at www.iowadnr.gov available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 2) The telephone harvest is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the toll free number is printed on the antlerless license. 3) Hunters may report through an ELSI license vendor during business hours. Female deer which aren't checked both through the check station and reported to IDNR will not be considered eligible to count towards qualifying for any deer incentive licenses. All deer harvested in a deer management zone hunt must be sight checked and reported to IDNR. It is the intent to keep all public areas open during the controlled hunt if winter recreational use is permitted. The City of Dubuque parks are closed during the winter, however, recreational use is allowed. The parks will have special hunting times prior to their official closure. Any complaints regarding the hunt will be compiled and handled by the City and IDNR staff. DUBUQUE MANAGED DEER HUNTS Inside City Limits 2014- 2013- 2012- 2011- 2010- 2009- 2008- 2007- 2006- 2005- 2004- 2003- 2002- 2001- 2000- 1999- 1998- (Archery Only) 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 Hunters 70 75 77 69 71 84 76 71 63 62 86 89 97 117 96 66 59 Licenses sold 159 163 169 164 142 174 164 194 166 133 255 170 218 289 253 150 122 Deer harvested 92 100 106 110 92 111 105 110 118 80 98 90 137 156 124 106 74 Success rate 58% 62% 62% 670 64% 64% 64% 56% 71% 60% 38% 53% 63% 54% 49% 71% 61% Total Harvest 92 100 106 110 92 111 105 110 1 118 80 98 90 137 156 124 106 74 DUBUQUE AERIAL SURVEY - SUMMARY Area Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Count Deer Deer Count Deer Count 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008* 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 County 1999 1998 2000 North of Hwy 20 (9.7 sq. mi.) Blocks B, C, D, 226 167 303 210 160 184 163 154 E, F Density by 23.3 17.2 31.2 21.6 16 19 17 15.9 22 22 19 22 Year North of Hwy 20 (8.9 sq. miles) Blocks 106 141 203 156 121 C, D, E, F Density by 11.9 15.8 20.9 12.5 Year South of Hwy 20 (3.5 sq. mi.) 84 Blocks G, H, 1 58 85 62 163 129 107 129 150 112 Density by Year 24 16.6 25 47.9 38 31 38 44 33 44 46 37 37 South of Hwy 20 (8 sq. mi.) 107 123 181 84 147 Blocks G, H, 1, J', K Density by Year 13.1 15.4 22.6 10.5 18.3 Deer Count 213 264 407(384 240 268 466 339 267 313 313 266 361 367 308 357 Totals w/o B) 31P/6 * Boundaries aligned with city limits ** J/K= City limits only Urban Deer Management 2014- 15 500 2.00 450 , 1.80 400 1.60 350 � �� 1.40 300 ` 1.20 •� i � —deer harvest . � 250 � 1.00 —deer count — — —hunters 200 0.80 -----avg harvest 150 0.60 100 0.40 50 0.20 0 0.00 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998