2012-2013 Urban Deer Management PlanMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2012 -2013 Deer Management Plan
DATE: April 6, 2012
Dubuque
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All-America City
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Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan recommends approval of the 2012 -2013
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 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 Michael C Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist
DATE April 6, 2012
SUBJECT
2012 -2013 Deer Management Plan
Dubuque
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NI- America City
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2007
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides a report of the 2011 - 2012 Cay 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 consultation Due to budget constraints, the annual aerial deer survey was not conducted this year Therefore, the
current deer population is not known However, this year, hunters harvested 110 deer which is comparable to previous years
No coyotes were harvested this year
DISCUSSION
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 $738 for the total
program last season, not including staff time During this year's season, there were 69 permitted bow hunters inside the city
limits, and they harvested a total of 110 deer, an increase of eighteen 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 2012 -2013 season It is based on the results of the previous year's hunt,
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 3, 2012 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 forthe 2012 -2013 hunting season The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission also recommends
approving the plan
PROJECT COST - BUDGET IMPACT
$1900
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
Approve continuation of the urban deer management plan for the 2012 -2013 season
Prepared by
cc
Chris Johnson, Confidential Secretary
Chad Oberdoerster, Chair, Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission 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
2012 -2013 Season
Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission
&
City Health and Leisure Services Departments
The City of Dubuque's fifteenth urban deer management season ended January 29,
2012. 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. Due to budget
constraints, a survey was not conducted this year and will now occur every other year.
It is assumed that each year the population of deer increases by approximately 30%
(without any control.) A total of 110 deer 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. Also seven hunters earned any sex tags and an additional three hunters
received any sex tags through a lottery system from the second half of the 2011 -2012
season.
The following goals are recommended for the 2012 -2013 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.
6) Conduct an aerial survey.
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 2012 -2013 season. The main goal of the hunt is to
reduce the deer herd by harvesting female deer, or does.
• The bow hunt would coincide with the IDNR specified dates for the 2012 -2013
season.
• 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:
•3 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, 2012 will receive a dedicated either sex license for the
remainder of 2012 -2013 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, 2012 through end of season, the above format is
repeated. In addition, if hunters have qualified for an either sex license for the beginning
of the 2012 -2013 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
Start of season (IDNR)— Oct. 31, 2012, 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 12 -13 hunting season. An additional (maximum) three (3) licenses will
be available by weighted lottery drawing.
Nov. 1, 2012 — End of season (IDNR), seven (7) dedicated any -sex licenses good for
the remainder of the 2012 -2013 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
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.
DUBUQUE MANAGED DEER HUNTS
Inside City Limits
(Archery Only)
2011-
2012
2010-
2011
2009-
2010
2008-
2009
2007-
2008
2006-
2007
2005-
2006
2004-
2005
2003-
2004
2002-
2003
2001-
2002
2000-
2001
1999-
2000
1998 -
1999
Hunters
69
71
84
76
71
63
62
86
89
97
117
96
66
59
Licenses sold
164
142
174
164
194
166
133
255
170
218
289
253
150
122
Deer harvested
110
92
111
105
110
118
80
98
90
137
156
124
106
74
Success rate
67%
64%
64%
64%
56%
71 %
60%
38%
53%
63%
54%
49%
71 %
61 %
Total Harvest
110
92
111
105
110
118
80
98
90
137
156
124
106
74
DUBUQUE AERIAL SURVEY - SUMMARY
Area
Deer Count
2012
Deer Count
2011
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
Deer Count
2001
Deer County
2000
Deer Count
1999
Deer Count
1998
North of Hwy 20
(9 7 sq mi)
Blocks B, C, D,
E, F
No aerial
survey
226
167
303
210
160
184
163
154
Density by
Year
No aerial
survey
23 3
17 2
31 2
21 6
16
19
17
15 9
22
22
19
22
North of Hwy 20
(8 9 sq miles)
Blocks C, D, E,
F
No aerial
survey
141
203
156
121
Density by
Year
No aerial
survey
15 8
20 9
12 5
South of Hwy 20
(3 5 sq mi)
Blocks G, H, I
No aerial
survey
58
85
62
163
129
107
129
150
112
Density by
Year
No aerial
survey
16 6
25
47 9
38
31
38
44
33
44
46
37
37
South of Hwy 20
(8 sq mi)
Blocks G, H, 1,
J * *, K
No aerial
survey
123
181
84
147
Density by
Year
No aerial
survey
15 4
22 6
10 5
18 3
Deer Count
Totals
No aerial
survey
264
407 (384
w/o B)
251
268
466
311%
339
267
313
313
266
361
367
308
357
* Boundaries aligned with city limits
** J/K = City limits only