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Deer Management Plan 2010-2011Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: 2010 -2011 Deer Management Plan DATE: April 28, 2010 Dubuque blid All-America City 2007 Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan recommends approval of the 2010 -2011 City of Dubuque Urban Deer Management Plan. No changes are proposed from last year's plan regarding deer. However, another incentive will be added 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. concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. 2 Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: Michael C. Van Millie \city Manager Mary 9 Rose Corri an, FtN, Public Health Specialist 2010 -2011 Deer Management Plan April 26, 2010 Dubuque kifrtil AI- AmeticaCity ' I I ' 2007 INTRODUCTION This memorandum provides a report of the 2009 - 2010 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 annual aerial surveys and consultation. DISCUSSION On February 4, 2010, the Iowa DNR conducted the aerial survey. The results of that survey, along with the previous years' results are attached. Ross Elingson, 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 increased. Although the numbers and densities increased, the survey should be viewed as a multi -year trend (see attached chart). The data also reflects more accurate city boundary alignment for surveying. 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 $1058 for the total program last season, not including staff time. During this year's season, there were 84 permitted bow hunters inside the city limits, and they harvested a total of 111 deer, an increase of six deer from last year. Of the 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. Attached is the City of Dubuque Deer Management Plan for the 2010 -2011 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 regarding deer. However, another incentive will be added 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. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council review the results of this year's urban deer management program and approve the attached plan for the 2010 -2011 hunting season. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Approve the attached urban deer management plan for the 2010 -2011 season. MRC /cj cc: Wayne Klostermann, Chair, Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission Pat Prevenas, Acting Leisure Services Department Manager Mark Da!sing, 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 2010 -2011 Season Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission & City Health and Leisure Services Departments The City of Dubuque's ninth urban deer management season ended January 31, 2010. 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 4, 2010. 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 2010 aerial survey counted 407 deer, an increase of 156 from the 2009 survey. 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 2006 -07 and 2007 -08: 2006 -2007 2007 -2008 2008 -2009 10 Hunters killed 1 deer 7 Hunters killed 1 deer 8 Hunters killed 1 deer 6 Hunters killed 2 deer 5 Hunters killed 2 deer 12 Hunters killed 2 deer 3 Hunters killed 3 deer 5 Hunters killed 3 deer 3 Hunters killed 3 deer 2 Hunters killed 4 deer 6 Hunters killed 4 deer 5 Hunters killed 4 deer 4 Hunters killed 5 deer 1 Hunters killed 5 deer 3 Hunters killed 5 deer 1 Hunter killed 6 deer 6 Hunters killed 6 deer 1 Hunter killed 6 deer 2 Hunter killed 7 deer 1 Hunter killed 7 deer 2 Hunters killed 7 deer 1 Hunter killed 8 deer 1 Hunter killed 8 deer 1 Hunter killed 9 deer 2 Hunters killed 10 deer Total 110 deer harvested Total 105 deer harvested 1 Hunter killed 11 deer Total 118 deer harvested 2009 -2010 6 Hunters killed 1 deer 8 Hunters killed 2 deer 4 Hunters killed 3 deer 7 Hunters killed 4 deer 4 Hunters killed 5 deer 2 Hunters killed 6 deer 1 Hunter killed 8 deer 1 Hunter killed 9 deer Total 111 deer harvested Twenty any -sex tags were allotted through the incentive program. Ten hunters earned any sex tags and an additional ten hunters received any sex tags through a lottery system for the 2009 -10 season from deer harvested from the previous year and ten during the 2009 -10 season. The following goals are recommended for the 2010 -2011 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. 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 2010 -2011 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 11, 2010, and end with the regular Iowa deer seasons, January 30, 2011. • 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 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 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 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 top seven (7) hunters who harvest the most does (with a minimum of three (3) does to qualify) by October 31, 2010 will receive a dedicated either sex license for the remainder of 2010 -2011 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: 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; a non- 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, 2010 through January 31, 2011 the above format is repeated. In addition, if hunters have qualified for an either sex license for the beginning of the 2010 -2011 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. 11 — Oct. 31, 2010, 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 09 -10 hunting season. An additional (maximum) three (3) licenses will be available by weighted lottery drawing. Nov. 1, 2010 — Jan. 30, 2011, seven (7) dedicated any -sex licenses good for 2010- 2011 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 2010- 2011 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. 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 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). DUBUQUE MANAGED DEER HUNTS Inside City Limits (Archery Only) 1998- 1999 1999- 2000 2000- 2001 2001- 2002 2002- 2003 2003- 2004 2004- 2005 2005- 2006 2006- 2007 2007- 2008 2008- 2009 2009 - 2010 Hunters Licenses sold Deer harvested Success rate 59 122 74 61% 66 150 106 71% 96 253 124 49% 117 289 156 54% 97 218 137 63% 89 170 90 53% 86 255 98 38% 62 133 80 60% 63 166 118 71% 71 194 110 56% 76 164 105 64% 84 174 111 64% Total Harvest 74 106 124 156 137 90 98 80 118 110 105 111 DUBUQUE AERIAL SURVEY - SUMMARY Area Deer Count 2010 Deer Count 2009 Deer Count 2008* Deer Count 2007 Deer Count 2006 Deer Count 2005 Deer Count 2004 Deer Count 2003 Deer Count 2002 Density 1998 Density 1999 Density 2000 Density 2001 Density 2002 Density 2003 Density 2004 Density 2005 Density 2006 Density 2007 Density 2008 Density 2009 Density 2010 North of Hwy 20 (9.7 sq. mi.) Blocks B, C, D, E, F 226 167 303 210 160 184 163 154 22 19 22 22 15.9 17 19 16 21.6 31.2 17.2 23.3 North of Hwy 20 (9.7 s q . miles) Blocks C, D, E, F 203 156 121 12.5 20.9 South of Hwy 20(3.4 sq. mi.) Blocks G, H, I 85 62 163 129 107 129 150 112 37 37 46 44 33 44 38 31 38 47.9 25 South of Hwy 20 (8 sq. mi.) Blocks G, H, I, J * *, K 181 84 147 18.3 10.5 22.6 Deer Count Totals 407 251 268 466 37 %r 339 267 313 313 266 357 308 367 361 266 313 313 267 339 466 268 251 407 * Boundaries aligned with city limits ** J/K = City limits only