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
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