Urban Deer Managment Program 2008-2009 Dubuque
THE CITY OF
j~~
DU L E
A~ericaCiiy
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2008 - 2009 Deer Management Plan
DATE: May 13, 2008
Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan is recommending approval of the 2008-
2009 City of Dubuque Urban Deer Management Program. No changes are proposed
from last year's plan.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
L''z-~•
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Mill' ity anager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, N, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: 2008 - 2009 Deer Management Plan
DATE: May 12, 2008
Dubuque
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2007
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides a report of the 2008 - 2009 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 (EASC) recommended a citywide
bow and arrow hunt to reduce the deer density within the city limits. The Iowa
Department of Natural Resources provides annual aerial surveys and consultation.
DISCUSSION
On January 23, 2008, the Iowa DNR conducted the aerial survey. The results of that
survey, along with the previous years' results are attached. Greg Harris, Wildlife
Biologist with the Iowa DNR, and Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist,
conducted the aerial survey. Comparisons of actual deer counted show that the
population decreased substantially. Although the numbers and densities decreased,
the survey should be viewed as a multi-year trend (see attached chart). The data also
reflects more accurate city boundary alignment for surveying. Roadkill deer picked up
by the Operations & Maintenance Department has also decreased:
Year Roadkill Deer Picked U
2007 29
2006 48
2005 23
2004 21
2003 25
2002 18
2001 41
2000 42
1999 32
1998 49
This 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 $1808 for the total program last season, not
including staff time.
During this year's season, there were 71 permitted bow hunters inside the city limits,
and they harvested a total of 110 deer, a decrease of eight deer from last year.
Of the five urban deer managed bow hunts in Iowa, Dubuque continues to be one of the most
successful. Greg Harris 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. The only significant
problem noted is vandalism and stealing of the hunters' tree stands.
Attached is the City of Dubuque Deer Management Plan for the 2008-2009 season. It is
based on the results of the previous year's hunt, aerial deer count survey and input from City
staff, the ESAC and hunters. No changes are proposed from last year's plan.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council review the results of this year's urban deer
management program and continue with the revised attached plan for the 2008-2009
hunting season, and forward the letter requesting the continuation of the program to the
National Resource Commission (NRC). This letter is a new requirement by the NRC.
Previously, IDNR staff communicated this request.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Approve the attached urban deer management plan for the 2008-2009 season and
authorize the City Manager to sign the NRC letter.
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
Jon Brown, Water Pollution Control Plant Manager
Greg Harris, IDNR
May 12, 2008
Honorable Mayor Roy Buol and
City Council Members
City Hall
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque IA 52001
Dear Mr. Mayor and Council Members:
The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission is recommending continuation of
the City's Urban Deer Management Plan for 2008-09 as recommended by City staff.
As the City continues managing urban deer, the City Council should consider a budget
increase to implement additional/alternative strategies for the 2009-2010 season. The
ESAC and staff will research possibilities for deer management improvement, and bring
them forth for consideration
The ESAC respectfully requests City Council to approve the attached urban deer
management plan for the 2008-2009 season.
Sincerely,
~'~ ~-zc.J-_
Michael Buelow, Chair
cc: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
Gil Spence, Leisure Services Department Manager
Kim Wadding, Police Chief
Dan Brown, Fire Chief
Don Vogt, Operations & Maintenance Manager
Jon Brown, Water Pollution Control Plant Manager
Greg Harris, IDNR
CITY OF DUBUQUE DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN
2008-2009 Season
Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
City Health and Leisure Services Departments
The City of Dubuque's eight urban deer management season ended January 21, 2008.
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 each year since 1998, and most recently on
February 6, 2008. It is assumed that each year the population of deer increases by
approximately 30% (without any control.) This means that the number of fawns born
during the summer increased the pre-hunt fall population. The 2008 aerial survey
counted 268 deer, a decrease of 198 from the 2007 survey. North and south areas
both decreased in deer density. The City is requesting a total of 650 deer tags from the
IDNR, the same as the previous year. This amount of tags has not sold out in previous
years. The following is a breakdown of the deer harvested for 2005-06, 2006-07 and
2007-08:
2005-06
8 Hunters killed 1 deer
3 Hunters killed 2 deer
5 Hunters killed 3 deer
7 Hunters killed 4 deer
2 Hunters killed 5 deer
1 Hunter killed 6 deer
1 Hunter killed 7 deer
Total 80 deer harvested
2006-2007
10 Hunters killed 1 deer
6 Hunters killed 2 deer
3 Hunters killed 3 deer
2 Hunters killed 4 deer
4 Hunters killed 5 deer
1 Hunter killed 6 deer
2 Hunter killed 7 deer
1 Hunter killed 8 deer
2 Hunters killed 10 deer
1 Hunter killed 11 deer
Total 118 deer harvested
2007-2008
7 Hunters killed 1 deer
5 Hunters killed 2 deer
5 Hunters killed 3 deer
6 Hunters killed 4 deer
1 Hunters killed 5 deer
6 Hunters killed 6 deer
1 Hunter killed 7 deer
1 Hunter killed 8 deer
Total 110 deer harvested
Twenty any-sex tags were allotted through the incentive program. By harvesting a
minimum of three does after November 1, 2006, eight hunters earned any sex tags and
an additional two hunters received any sex tags through a lottery system for the 2007-
08 season. By harvesting a minimum of three does after November 1, 2007, seven
hunters earned any-sex tags, and three hunters received any-sex tags through a lottery
drawing for the 2008-09 season.
The following goals are recommended for the 2008-2009 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.
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 650 deer license tags available (400 city, 250
zone) is recommended for the 2008-09 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
13, 2008, and end with the regular Iowa deer seasons, January 25, 2009.
• 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
Hunters are responsible for obtaining permission from private landowners. A
minimum amount of land is no longer required. However, approval must 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 would have to maintain a distance of 75 feet from
any property line, occupied building, street or trail on public property.
• All hunters would be 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
- 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
Incentives.
The top seven (7) hunters who harvest the most does (with a minimum of three (3)
does to qualify) by October 31, 2008 will receive a dedicated either sex license for the
remainder of 2008-2009 hunting season. In the case of no hunter reaching the three (3)
doe minimum, a maximum of three (3) either sex licenses will be issued by lottery
drawing. In addition, a weighted lottery will be held: killing one doe yields one chance
and killing two (2) does yields three (3) chances. In the case of a tie with the number of
deer killed, exceeding the seven (7) dedicated either sex licenses; anon- weighted
lottery (single entry per hunter) will take place to determine who receives the license.
The remaining hunters would be placed in the weighted lottery with six (6) chances for
three (3) does, ten (10) chances for four (4) does, etc. After October 31 doe harvest
numbers start anew for all hunters participating in the urban deer management zone
hunt to qualify for an either sex license for the following year. From November 1, 2008
through January 25, 2009 the above format is repeated. In addition, if hunters have
qualified for an either sex license for the beginning of the 2009/2010 season, they must
harvest a doe before their either sex license will be issued for that year. This is to
provide an incentive to harvest at least one doe instead of buck hunting all season. This
format is repeated from year to year. Button buck or other male deer classified as
antlerless do not qualify for the incentive licenses, only female deer.
Summary of Incentives
Sept. 13 -Oct. 31, 2008, seven (7) any-sex licenses, minimum of three (3) female deer
for dedicated license (unless there are ties), licenses are good for the remainder of the
08-09 hunting season. An additional (maximum) three (3) licenses will be available by
weighted lottery drawing.
Nov. 1, 2008 -Jan. 25, 2009, seven (7) dedicated any-sex licenses good for 08-09
hunting season. For the top seven hunters who harvest the most does (with a minimum
of 3 does to quality), an additional (maximum) three (3) licenses will be available by
weighted lottery. An additional doe needs to be harvested in the 08-09 hunting season
prior to receiving dedicated either sex license. Harvest count starts anew beginning
November 1. Does harvested during the prior October period do not count toward this
new incentive period.
Format is repeated from year to year.
Weighted Lottery Chances:
1 doe - 1 chance
2 does - 3 chances
3 does - 6 chances
4 does - 10 chances
5 does - 15 chances
Additional Incentive: The first 75 hunters who harvest an adult doe will be eligible for
a $12.00 reimbursement for the cost of their second deer tag.
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 the deer was shot. 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. 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 $1200).
May 12, 2008
National Resource Commission (NRC)
c/o Dale Garner, PhD, Chief Wildlife Bureau
Wallace State Office Building
502E 9th Street
Des Moines IA 50319-0034
To National Resource Commission:
The City of Dubuque intends to hold an urban deer management hunt during the 2008 -
2009 season as we have done since 1998.
Each year the City Council appointed Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
reviews the previous year's Urban Deer Management Program's results and
recommends a plan. City staff also make a recommendation for the Urban Deer
Management Program.
Since the City of Dubuque has had a very successful Urban Deer Management
Program, it is our intent to continue the program to reduce and then stabilize the
population, which will take several more years.
We will continue to utilize the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission for
evaluation of the program and to allow citizen input.
Thank you for the assistance the DNR staff has provided the City of Dubuque for
managing urban deer.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
MCVM/cj
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