Loading...
Deer Mgmt Plan 2002-2003MEMORANDUM April 10, 2002 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager 2002-2003 Deer Management Plan Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan provides a report of the 2001-2002 City of Dubuque Deer Management Program and recommends that the program be continued for the 2002-2003 hunting season, and that staff be directed to request special zone deer hunting tags from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Commission. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Michael C. Van Milligen MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM April 10, 2002 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist SUBJECT: 2002 - 2003 Deer Management Plan INTRODUCTION This memorandum provides a report of the 2001 - 2002 City of Dubuque 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 recommended a citywide bow and arrow hunt each year to reduce the deer density within the city limits. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has provided aedal surveys and consultation for the last several years. DISCUSSION On February 1, 2002, the Iowa DNR repeated the aedal survey. The results of that survey, along with the previous years hunting results are attached. Comparisons of actual deer counted show that the population decreased significantly this year. Jim Jansen, Wildlife Biologist with the Iowa DNR, conducted the aerial survey and stated the numbers had definitely decreased. Also, forty road kill deer were picked up by the Operations & Maintenance Department (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 last three years. Potential areas which have not been hunted in the city are being analyzed with hunters and property owners, along with strategies to improve the harvest utilizing these areas. In comparison, Iowa City used sharpshooters for their urban deer management the past several years. Two hundred and forty-eight deer were harvested last season at a cost of $322 per deer. This includes costs for processing. The City of Dubuque spent approximately $1,500 for the total program last season, not including staff time. During this year's season, there were 117 permitted bow hunters inside the city limits, and they harvested a total 156 deer for a 54% success rate (49% last year.) Two hundred fifty- seven licenses were sold for hunting within the city limits. In the zone outside the city limits, where any legal weapon can be used, another 159 licenses were sold with an estimate of 84 deer taken with these licenses. The total estimated harvest from the Dubuque managed hunt was 284 deer (see attached chart.) Although most of the deer were taken south of Highway 20, excellent habitat combined with private refuges make this area more difficult to impact. Of the five urban deer managed bow hunts in Iowa, Dubuque continues to harvest the most deer and have the highest success rate. Jim Jansen 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. Two complaints were received and investigated. The complaints were primarily inquiries from citizens or miscommunications between property owners and, therefore, the complaints were not substantiated. Leisure Services Department Manager Gil Spence and I will once again be recommending continuation of the urban deer management program as was conducted this year. The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission's similar recommendation is attached. 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 2002-2003 hunting season. The City also must request special zone deer hunting tags from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Commission. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Approve the attached urban deer management plan and direct staff to forward it to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Commission for their approval and issuance of special deer tags. MRC/cj CC: Michael Buelow, Chair, Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission Gil Spence, Leisure Services Department Manager Klm Wadding, Police Chief Dan Brown, Fire Chief Don Vogt, Operations & Maintenance Manager Paul Horsfall, Water Pollution Control Plant Manager Jim Jansen, IDNR 4/10/02 CITY OF DUBUQUE DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2002-2003 Season Prepared by: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission & City Health and Leisure Services Departments Approved by: Dubuque City Council The City of Dubuque's forth urban deer management project ended January 10, 2002. 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 were conducted in each year since 1998, and most recently on February 1, 2002. It can be assumed that each year the population of deer surveyed increased by approximately 30%. This means that the number of fawns born during the summer increased the pre-hunt fall population. The 2002 aerial survey counted 266 deer, indicating a decrease of almost 100 deer from the 2001 survey. The area south of Highway 20 appears to have the highest densities, although all the densities have decreased substantially. The City is requesting a total of 650 tags, the same as the previous year. During the 2001-2002 hunt, forty-nine hunters harvested at least one deer, one hunter harvested nineteen deer, one hunter took eleven deer, two hunters harvested seven deer each, and four hunters took six deer each. Ten buck (any sex) tags were given out from the lottery held November 1st. Hunters who had harvested a doe by that time were eligible for one of the buck tags. An additional ten any sex tags were drawn in March 2002 for this fall's hunt. The following goals are recommended for the 2002-2003 season. 1) 2) Limit deer population within defined areas of the city of Dubuque below 20 deer per square mile; Provide public education regarding deer, their habitats, impact on natural habitats, deterrents, and population management, cost of property damage if nothing is done, and potential health risks to the citizens of Dubuque and the deer herd resulting from large deer population. Recommended Mana(tement Plan Recommended is 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, The objective of the hunt is to reduce the deer herd, not to provide recreational hunting opportunities. · The proposed bow hunt would coincide with the Iowa deer hunting seasons, October 1, 2002 through January 10, 2003 (these dates are set by Iowa Department of Natural Resources.) All licenses would be issued for anfledess deer only, or for bucks 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 would be 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 register all deer harvested Incentives. Draw for ten any sex tags on November 1, 2002. For every adult doe shot, two chances will be given, for every fawn, one chance will be entered into the drawing. All hunters who shot deer would be eligible for the November drawing except for those who drew an any sex tag for the 2002-03 season at the meeting on March 11, 2002. At the end of the season, ten any sex tags would be drawn for the following season. Consequently, twenW any sex tags will be made available. 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 they shot their deer. 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 the later part of October to accommodate both hunters and those using them for recreational use. 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 $600 - ~700.) RESOLUTION NO. 205-02 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN· Whereas, the City of Dubuque and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducts an aerial survey indicating an overpopulation of deer in the city of Dubuque; and Whereas, the City of Dubuque wishes to limit the deer population to below 20 deer per square mile and provide public education regarding deer, their habitats, impact on natural habitats, deterrents, and population management; and Whereas, the City of Dubuque Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission has researched the urban deer situation in the city of Dubuque and developed a recommended deer management plan; and Whereas, the City Council of the City of Dubuque desires to implement the deer management plan, attached hereto, for the 2002-2003 Iowa Department of Natural Resources hunting season NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA: Section 1. That the City of Dubuque, Iowa, hereby requests the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to approve and grant authority to implement the deer management plan attached hereto for bow hunting deer in the city of Dubuque, Iowa during the 2002-2003 deer hunting season. Section 2. The City of Dubuque will require an Iowa Department of Natural Resources deer license and a City permit for hunters to harvest deer within the city of Dubuque, Iowa. Passed, approved and adopted this 15th day of April ,2002. Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor Attest: Jeanne F. Schneider CMC, City Clerk City Clerk HL Z Ell Z