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2011-2012 Deer Management PlanMasterpiece on the Mississippi TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: 2011 -2012 Deer Management Plan DATE: April 12, 2011 Dubuque kittA AI- AmedcaCity 2007 Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan recommends approval of the 2011 -2012 City of Dubuque Urban Deer Management Plan. No changes are proposed from last year's plan regarding deer. 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. Michael C. Van Millig 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: Michael C. Van Mil anager FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan;L° , Public Health Specialist SUBJECT: 2011 -2012 Deer Management Plan DATE: April 7, 2011 Dubuque AfAmeracatry 2007 INTRODUCTION This memorandum provides a report of the 2010 - 2011 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 10, 2011, 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 decreased. Although the numbers and densities decreased, the survey should be viewed as a multi -year trend (see attached chart). 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 $1843 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 92 deer, an decrease of nineteen 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 2011 -2012 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. The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission reviewed the plan at their April 5, 2011 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. 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 2011 -2012 hunting season. The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission also recommends approving the plan. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Approve the attached urban deer management plan for the 2011 -2012 season. MRC /cj cc: Chad Oberdoerster, Chair, Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission Pat Prevenas, Marie Ware, Leisure Services Department Manager Pat Prevenas, Recreation Division Manager Mark Dalsing, Police Chief Dan Brown, 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 2011 -2012 Season Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission & City Health and Leisure Services Departments The City of Dubuque's tenth urban deer management season ended January 30, 2011. 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 10, 2011. 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 2011 aerial survey counted 264 deer, a decrease of 120 from the 2010 survey. A total of 92 deer and 2 coyotes were harvested in the city. 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. Twenty any -sex tags were allotted through the incentive program. Seven hunters earned any sex tags and an additional three hunters received any sex tags through a lottery system for the 2010 -11 season from deer harvested from the previous year and ten during the 2010 -11 season. The following goals are recommended for the 2011 -2012 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 10, 2011, and end with the regular Iowa deer seasons, January 22, 2012. • 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, 2011 will receive a dedicated either sex license for the remainder of 2011 -2012 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, 2011 through January 22, 2012 the above format is repeated. In addition, if hunters have qualified for an either sex license for the beginning of the 2011 -2012 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. Sept. 10 — Oct. 31, 2011, 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 11 -12 hunting season. An additional (maximum) three (3) licenses will be available by weighted lottery drawing. Nov. 1, 2011 — Jan. 22, 2012, seven (7) dedicated any -sex licenses good for the remainder of the 2011 -2012 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. Harvest count starts anew beginning November 1. Harvest results from November 1 to the end of the season count towards the following season's first incentive licenses. 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 Summary of Incentives 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 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. The City will not conduct the aerial survey this year due to budget constraints. 2010- 2011 71 142 92 64% 92 2009- 2010 84 174 111 64% 111 2008- 2009 76 164 105 64% 105 2007- 2008 71 194 110 56% 110 2006- 2007 63 166 118 71% 118 2005- 2006 62 133 80 60% 80 2004- 2005 86 255 98 38% 98 2003- 2004 89 170 90 53% 90 2002- 2003 97 218 137 63% • 137 2001- 2002 117 289 156 54% 156 2000- 2001 96 253 124 49% 124 1999- 2000 66 150 106 71% 106 1998- 1999 59 122 74 61% 74 Inside City Limits Archery Only) Hunters Licenses sold Deer harvested Success rate Total Harvest Deer Count 2011 141 15.8 58 16.6 123 15.4 264 Deer Count 2010 226 23.3 203 20.9 85 25 181 22.6 407 (384 wlo B) Deer Count 2009 167 17.2 156 62 84 10.5 251 Deer Count 2008* 121 12.5 147 18.3 268 Deer Count 2007 303 31.2 163 47.9 466 37% Deer Count 2006 210 21.6 129 38 339 Deer Count 2005 160 16 107 31 267 Deer Count 2004 184 19 129 38 313 Deer Count 2003 163 17 150 44 313 Deer Count 2002 154 15.9 112 33 266 Deer Count 2001 22 44 361 Deer County 2000 22 46 367 Deer Count 1999 19 37 308 Deer Count 1998 22 37 357 Area North of Hwy 20 (9.7 sq. mi.) Blocks B, C, D, E, F Density by Year North of Hwy 20 (8.9 sq. miles) Blocks C, D, E, F Density by Year South of Hwy 20 (3.5 sq. mi.) Blocks G, H, Density by Year South of Hwy 20 (8 sq. mi.) Blocks G, H, I, J * *, K Density by Year Deer Count Totals * Boundaries aligned with city limits ** J/K = City limits only DUBUQUE MANAGED DEER HUNTS DUBUQUE AERIAL SURVEY - SUMMARY ZONE /Sq. Mi. 2004 COUNT 2005 COUNT 2006 COUNT 2007 COUNT 2008 COUNT 2009 COUNT 2010 COUNT 2011 COUNT A 10 47 55 Skip B 18 0 15 16 11 23* C 4.61 96 98 151 84 51 57 90 72 C1 15 (INCLUDED IN C) D 1.16 37 52 14 79 30 53 39 28 E 2.66 13 9 25 63 12 27 34 21 F 1.21 5 1 5 61 28 19 31 20 F1 (Avenarius Farm) 9 0 G 1.32 66 69 68 89 56 32 38 11 H 1.41 23 14 23 16 28 17 17 16 I .73 40 24 38 58 14 13 30 31 J 2.61 33 62 57 87 18* 27* 21 K 1.98 24 2 22 197 49 4 69* 44 L 27 NA NA Skip M 59 TOTAL 407 (380) 328 473 809 268 251 407 ( *384 without B) 264 DEER AERIAL CENSUS BY ZONE * = City limits only