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Deer Management PlanCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM March 15, 2001 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager 2001 - 2002 Deer Management Plan Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan and the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission are recommending continuation of the City's Deer Management Program. On January 26, 2001, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducted an aerial survey which showed that the actual deer population did decrease slightly this year. During this year's season, there were 96 permitted bow hunters inside the City limits, and they harvested a total of 124 deer, and an additional 82 deer were taken in the zone which borders the City limits. This is a total harvest through this program of 206 deer. The City of Dubuque spent approximately $1,300 for the program this season, as compared to the Iowa City program where they spent approximately $170,000 to harvest 702 deer. I concur w4th the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Mi an illigen MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM March 15, 2001 TO: Michael C; Van ~Milligen, ~i~.M~ager FROM: Mary Rose Corriga ,~'R~, Public Health Specialist SUBJECT: Amendment to Urban Deer Management Incentive Program As stated under the proposed Urban Deer Management Program that was submitted for Council, the incentive portion was pending Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) approval. Gil Spence and I discussed the incentive with Jim Jansen, IDNR Wildlife Biologist, who has been consulting with us on our program. IDNR will allow an increased number of "any sex" tags, however, they recommend not "earning" an any sex tag for every five does harvested, but continuing with the drawing program. Gil and I agreed with that proposal because it provides a reason for hunters to keep harvesting does because they are not "guaranteed" a buck tag. Therefore, the recommended incentive program for next year is the following: Draw for ten any sex tags on November 1, 2001. For every adult doe shot, two chances will be given, for every fawn, one chance will be entered into the drawing. All hunters who shot deer would be eligible for the November drawing except for those who drew an any sex tag for the 2001-02 season at the meeting on March 12, 2001. At the end of the season, ten any sex tags would be drawn for the following season. Consequently, we would be making twenty any sex tags available each season beginning in 2002. MRC/cj CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM March 15, 2001 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen,City Manager FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist SUBJECT: Amendment to Urban Deer Management Incentive Program As stated under the proposed Urban Deer Management Program that was submitted for Council, the incentive portion was pending Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) approval. Gil Spence and I discussed the incentive with Jim Jansen, IDNR Wildlife Biologist, who has been consulting with us on our program. IDNR will allow an increased number of "any sex" tags, however, they recommend not "earning" an any sex tag for every five does harvested, but continuing with the drawing program. Gil and I agreed with that proposal because it provides a reason for hunters to keep harvesting does because they are not "guaranteed" a buck tag. Therefore, the recommended incentive program for next year is the following: Draw for ten any sex tags on November 1, 2001. For every adult doe shot, two chances will be given, for every fawn, one chance will be entered into the drawing. All hunters who shot deer would be eligible for the November drawing except for those who drew an any sex tag for the 2001-02 season at the meeting on March 12, 2001. At the end of the season, ten any sex tags would be drawn for the following season. Consequently, we would be making twenty any sex tags available each season beginning in 2002. MRC/cj March 14, 2001 Honorable Mayor Terrance M. Duggan & City Council Members City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque IA 52001 Dear Mr. Mayor and City Council Members: The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission is recommending continuation of the City of Dubuque's Urban Deer Management Plan for the 2002 season. The results of the 2001 aerial survey and the number of deer taken indicate that the area bow hunters harvested a significant number of deer, and have significantly curtailed population growth. However, the overall population continues to exceed levels commonly accepted as excessive for urban areas. RECOMMENDATION The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission recommends that the City Council continue with its Urban Deer Management Plan, utilizing bow and arrow hunters within the city limits, and authorize City staff to work with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to continue Dubuque's Urban Deer Management Plan this Fall. We also recommend that the City Council request 650 deer licenses, as recommended by staff, for the city and county zones (above the current 500 for a total of 650.) Sincerely, Michael Buelow, Chair Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM March 13, 2001 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, Cit~l Manager FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan,~J, Public Health Specialist SUBJECT: 2001 - 2002 Deer Management Plan INTRODUCTION This memorandum provides a report of the 2000 - 2001 City of Dubuque 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 recommended a citywide bow and arrow hunt to reduce the deer density within the city limits. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provided aerial surveys and consultation for the 1998-1999, 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 deer hunting seasons. DISCUSSION, On January 26, 2001, the Iowa DNR repeated the aerial survey. The results of that survey, along with the 1998 and 1999 results are attached. Comparisons of actual deer counted show that the population decreased slightly this year. Jim Jansen, Wildlife Biologist with the Iowa DNR, conducted the aerial survey and stated although the survey was steady, road kills were up by 31%. Weather conditions, hunting pressure, and other circumstances can cause some variability in the aerial survey. Forty-two road kill deer were picked up by the Operations & Maintenance Department in 2000 (32 in 1999 and 54 in 1998.) This year's hunt must be evaluated while tooking at previous years and future projections. If no hunt had been conducted, the population would have increased by approximately 33% annually, as demonstrated by the attached graph. This graph also projects what the population would be next year if the City had not done any deer management the last three years. Potential areas which have not been hunted in the city are being analyzed with hunters and property owners. Strategies to improve the harvest utilizing these areas will be studied before the start of the next season. In comparison, Iowa City used sharpshooters for their urban deer management the past two years. Seven hundred and two deer were harvested in the two seasons at a cost of $168,000, plus approximately $26,000 for processing. The City of Dubuque spent approximately ~)1,300 for the total program each season, not including staff time. During this year's season, there were 96 permitted bow hunters inside the city limits, and they harvested a total 124 deer for a z~9% success rate (71% last year.) All allotted 250 licenses were sold for hunting within the city limits. In the zone outside the city limits, where any legal weapon can be used, another 247 licenses were sold with an estimate of 82 deer taken with these licenses. The total estimated harvest from the Dubuque managed hunt was 206 deer. Although most of the deer were taken south of Highway 20, excellent habitat combined with private refuges make this area more difficult to impact. Of the five urban deer managed bow hunts in Iowa, Dubuque harvested the most deer and has the highest success rate. Jim Jansen stated this is partially due to the aggressive 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 facilitating the hunting scheduling, record keeping, and communication with participants, this year's hunt went very smoothly; Four complaints were received and all were investigated. Most of the complaints were inquiries from citizens or miscommunications between property owners and, therefore, the complaints were not substantiated. Leisure Services Department Manager Gil Spence and I will once again be recommending continuation of the urban deer management program as was conducted this year. The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission's recommendation is attached. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council review the results of this year's urban deer management program and continue with the attached plan for the 2001-2002 hunting season. The City also must request special zone deer hunting tags from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Commission. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Approve the attached urban deer management plan and direct staff to forward it to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Commission for their approval and issuance of special deer tags. MRC/cj CC: Michael Buelow, Chair, Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission Gil Spence, Leisure Services Department Manager Kim Wadding, Police Chief Dan Brown, Fire Chief Don Vogt, Operations & Maintenance Manager Paul Horsfall, Water Pollution Control Plant Manager Jim Jansen, IDNR Deer Population Without IVlanagement Plan 1600 1400 1200 1000 8OO 60O 400 200 0 _~_~ Deer counted Deer without hunt 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 DUBUQUE MANAGED DEER HUNTS Inside City Limits 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 (Archery Only) Hunters Participating Licenses Sold Deer Harvested Success Rate 59 122 74 61% 66 150 106 71% 96 253 124 49% Outside City Limits 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 (All Weapons) Hunters Participating Licenses Sold Deer (est.) Harvested Success Rate 79 150 94 63% Unknown 153 98 64% 127 247 82 34% Total Estimated Harvest 172 200 206 DUBUQUE AERIAL SURVEY - SUMMARY Area Deer Count Density Density Density Density 2001 1998 1999 2000 2001 North of Hwy 20 (9.7 sq. mi.) 212 22 19 22 22 Blocks B,C,D,E,F South of Hwy 20 (3.4 sq.mi.) 149 37 37 46 44 Blocks G,H,I DEER COUNT TOTALS 381 357 308 367 361 Deer Deer Deer Deer Density Density Density Density Counted Counted Counted Counted 1998 1999 2000 2001 1998 1999 2000 2001 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 120 97 100 97 41 33 34 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 43 63 57 21 22 32 29 29 39 41 46 17 23 24 27 21 4 4 12 17 3 3 10 33 42 61 60 26 32 47 46 58 49 63 47 41 35 45 34 34 33 34 42 49 47 48 60 337 308 367 361 35 57 CITY OF DUBUQUE DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2001-2002 Season Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission & City Health and Leisure Services Departments Approved by: Dubuque City Council The City of Dubuque's first urban deer harvesting project ended January 10, 1999. 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 were conducted in each year since 1998, and most recently on January 26, 2001. It can be assumed that each year the population of deer surveyed increased by approximately 30%. This means that the number of fawns born during the summer increased the pre-hunt fall population. The 2001 aerial survey counted 361 deer, indicating a slight decrease from the 2000 survey. The area south of Highway 20 appears to have the highest densities. The City is requesting a total of 500 tags, 200 more than the previous year. During the 2000-2001 hunt, forty-two hunters harvested at least one deer, one hunter harvested fifteen deer, one hunter took ten deer, two hunters harvested ten deer each, one hunter took nine, one took five and four hunters took four deer each. Five buck (any sex) tags were given out from the lottery held November 1st. Hunters who had harvested a doe by that time were eligible for one of the buck tags. An additional five any sex tags were drawn in March, 2001 for the following Fall hunt. This any sex tag will continue during the 2001-2002 season. The following goals are recommended for the 2001-2002 season. 1) 2) Limit deer population within defined areas of the city of Dubuque below 20 deer per square mile; Provide public education regarding deer, their habitats, impact on natural habitats, deterrents, and population management, cost of property damage if nothing is done, and potential health risks to the citizens of Dubuque and the deer herd resulting from large deer population. Recommended Manaqement Plan Recommended is a controlled bow hunt inside the city limits and gun and bow hunting in a special zone around the city with a total of 650 deer license tags available. The objective of the hunt is to reduce the deer herd, not to provide recreational hunting opportunities. The proposed bow hunt would coincide with the Iowa deer hunting seasons, October 1, 2001 through January 10, 2002 (these dates are set by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.) All licenses would be issued for antlerless deer only, or for bucks 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 of a minimum of three acres 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 adjacent to the Water Pollution Control Plant and the Mines of Spain Land south of Fremont Avenue bridge following creek and railroad bed (23 acres) Hunters would be responsible for obtaining permission from private landowners. Adjoining landowners could combine their property to create a 3 acre plot. Hunters would have to maintain a distance of 150 feet from any property line or occupied building, and 75 feet from any unoccupied building, street or trail. All hunters would be required to pass a proficiency test and present a valid International or Bow Hunter Safety Course Certificate. Hunters will also have to 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 reporting numbers of shots and/or deer harvested reporting specific areas and times/day of hunt register all deer harvested Incentives, As an incentive for hunters, a hunter will be given the opportunity to "earn" an any sex tag if they harvest five antlerless adult deer. At the end of the season, any hunters who harvested a minimum of one antlerless deer, and up to four antlerless deer, would be eligible for a drawing at the end of the season for an any sex tag to be used during the following season. This drawing would be similar to previous years which allows two chances in the drawing for adult does and one chance for fawns harvested. This incentive program will be subject to the number of "any sex" tags the IDNR will allow. Administration of the program. The program would be administered by the City's Health and Leisure Services Department staff with the assistance from 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 they shot their deer. 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 speciat hunting times prior to the later part of October to accommodate both hunters and those using them for recreational use. Any complaints regarding the hunt will be compiled and handled by the City and IDNR staff. It is also recommended that the City continue to pay half of the cost of the aerial survey in order to evaluate the effectiveness of Urban Deer Management Plan (approximately 9600 - $700.)