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Deer Management Plan Incentive 5J~~ ~<k~ MEMORANDUM (--. April 11, 2005 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager ('. SUBJECT: 2005 - 2006 Deer Management Plan Attached is a report of the 2004 - 2005 City of Dubuque Deer Management Program and a staff and Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission recommendation regarding the continuation of the program. Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan recommends that the City Council review the results of this year's Urban Deer Management Program and continue with the attached plan for the 2005-2006 hunting season. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist i5U'i3~E ~~~ MEMORANDUM April 7, 2005 FROM: . Health Specialist SUBJECT: 2005 - 2006 Deer Management Plan INTRODUCTION This memorandum provides a report of the 2004 - 2005 City of Dubuque deer management program and a staff and Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission (ESAC) 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 provides aerial surveys and consultation. DISCUSSION On January 11 and 13, 2005, the Iowa DNR repeated the aerial survey. The results of that survey, along with the previous years results are attached. Comparisons of actual deer counted show that the population declined. Greg Harris, Wildlife Biologist with the Iowa DNR, and Mary Rose Corrigan conducted the aerial survey. Although the numbers are steady, the survey should be viewed as a multi-year trend. Roadkill deer picked up by the Operations & Maintenance Department decreased to 21 (25 in 2003, 18 in 2002, 42 in 2000, 32 in 1999 and 49 in 1998.) This year's hunt must be evaluated while looking 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 past years. The City of Dubuque spent approximately $1616 for the total program last season, not including staff time. During this year's season, there were 86 permitted bow hunters inside the city limits, and they harvested a total 98 deer. Two hundred and fifty-five licenses were sold for hunting within the city limits. The densities in the southern and northern portions of Dubuque both decreased. Of the five urban deer managed bow hunts in Iowa, Dubuque continues to be 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. This year's recommended incentive plan is the same as last year's. The 10 top hunters who harvest the most does (with a minimum of 3 does) by November 1, 2005 receive an any-sex tag. This format repeats beginning November 1, 2005 through January 23, 2006, for tags for the next season. If a tie occurs on the number of does killed, a drawing will be held among those that tied. If all 10 tags are not claimed by November 1,2005 or the end of the season, they will not be distributed. In addition, if hunters have an any-sex tag at the beginning of the season, they must harvest a doe before their any-sex tag will be issued. This is to provide an incentive to harvest does before November 1, 2005. Continuing this incentive plan for a second year will provide data for a more thorough evaluation. The incentive also includes paying for the hunters' second deer tag, after they harvest an adult doe. This is a continuation of a budget improvement level for FY 05. The ESAC, Leisure Services Department Manager Gil Spence and I are all recommending continuation of the urban deer management program as was conducted this year. The ESAC approved the plan on April 5, 2005. 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 2005-2006 hunting season. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Approve the attached urban deer management plan for the 2005-2006 season. 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 4/8/05 CITY OF DUBUQUE DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2005-2006 Season Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission & City Health and Leisure Services Departments The City of Dubuque's sixth urban deer management season ended January 19, 2005. 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 January 11 and 13, 2005. 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 2005 aerial survey counted 267 deer, a decrease of 46 from the 2004 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 2004-05: 11 Hunters killed 1 deer 6 Hunters killed 2 deer 4 Hunters killed 3 deer 2 Hunters killed 4 deer 3 Hunters killed 5 deer 4 Hunters killed 6 deer 1 Hunter killed 7 deer 1 Hunter killed 9 deer Total 98 deer harvested Ten any sex tags were allotted through the incentive program. By harvesting a minimum of three does by November 1, 2004, five hunters earned five of these any sex tags. By harvesting a minimum of three does after November 1, 2004, seven hunters earned any sex tags for the 2005-06 season. In addition, ten any sex tags were distributed at the beginning of the season based on the 2003-04 season. The following goals are recommended for the 2005-2006 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 eligible property owners to allow qualified deer hunters on their property. 4) Discourage citizens from feeding deer. Recommended Manaaement 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 2005-06 season. The main goal of the hunt is to reduce the deer herd by harvesting adult does. · The proposed bow hunt would coincide with the Iowa deer hunting seasons, October 1, 2005 through January 23, 2006 (these dates are set by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.) · All licenses would 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 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 south of Fremont Avenue bridge following creek and railroad bed (23 acres) Land behind Medical Associates West campus. · Hunters are 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 registering all deer harvested Incentives. The 10 top hunters who harvest the most adult does or doe fawns (with a minimum of 3 adult or fawn does) by November 1,2005 receive an any-sex tag. This format repeats beginning November 1, 2005 through January 23, 2006, for tags for the next season. If a tie occurs on the number of adult does or doe fawns killed, a drawing will be held among those that tied. If all 10 tags are not claimed by November 1,2005 or the end of the season, they will not be distributed. In addition, if hunters have an any-sex tag at the beginning of the season, they must harvest an adult doe or doe fawn before their any-sex tag will be issued. This is to provide an incentive to harvest adult does or doe fawns before November 1, 2005. Additional Incentive: The first 75 hunters who harvest an adult doe will be eligible for an $11.00 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. 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 $1300.) CITY OF DUBUQUE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM HUNTER EVALUA TION SUMMARY 2004 - 2005 . 86 evaluations sent to hunters, 55 were returned . Comments received from hunters: ./' Help is needed to obtain private property for hunters to use. ./' Concern was expressed that a few hunters are locking up several parcels of property and then not hunting the property as much as they could. ./' Many are seeing fewer deer and what they do see has a higher percentage of bucks than a few years ago. ./' The public awareness program should be increased to remind the public of the program, the reasons for the program, and goals. This may also help open up some private property. ./' People liked the incentives program used this year. ./' Several hunters expressed support for, and appreciation of the program. ./' The program is working. ./' Very few citizen problems are occurring. ./' More any sex tags. March 1, 2005 It) It) 0 0 ~ 0 0 CO L() CO ~ N L() 0 CO 0> CO . N ('I') ~ ~ 0 0 0 0 N N ~ ~ 0 0 ~ 0 0 0> 0 0 ~ I'- N I'- 0 CO 0> ('I') CO . ...... L() C") ('I) 0 0 0 0 N N ('I) C") 0 ~ 0 0 I'- CO I'- ~ 0 ('I') 0 0> ...... C") N N ...... 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