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IOWA OUTDOORS
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Early Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Season is Open

While December means firearm deer seasons for most Iowa hunters, up to 7,500 individuals will begin their firearms season as early as October 13. Last Saturday, the nine day early muzzleloader deer season got underway.

Warmer weather this fall means hunters will most likely have biting insects to contend with as well as plenty of foliage. At this time of the year, with their winter coats growing in, the animals become increasingly sensitive to temperatures that are above normal. The cold front during the week of October 8 made temperatures more seasonable and should result in increased deer movement. Hopefully, this pattern will continue into the muzzleloader season.

By mid-October, bachelor groups of bucks are breaking up with mature buck associations dissolving first. Now is the time when older bucks can seemingly disappear for the few weeks preceding the rut. Plentiful food supplies, moderate temperatures, and experience with the upcoming rut instinctively cause these animals to become more inactive and to build bodily reserves.

Stands that take advantage of the presence of local food resources such as corn or acorns, or that cover trails to nearby bedding areas will serve the hunter best during this time of the year. Hunters using tree stands should inspect all of their gear to make sure it is in good condition and is working properly. Hunters should never get into a tree stand without using a safety harness.

Muzzleloader hunters using a ground blind are not required to display a blaze orange marking that is visible from all directions; this new regulation is a new requirement for ground blinds during the two shotgun seasons.

Surveys indicate that, in general, portions of northwest, north central, and central Iowa have deer populations similar to 2006 levels while populations in northeast, southeast, south central, and southwest Iowa have deer populations that are stable to increasing when compared to 2006 surveys. In areas of Iowa that have abundant deer populations, hunters can help farmers and landowners by harvesting antlerless deer during the season. This will help reduce the deer herds towards the desired population objectives. Hunters can also use the HUSH program to donate deer to the Iowa Food Bank and provide needed meat for Iowans.

License holders for the youth deer season who did not harvest a deer are eligible to use the license and unused tag during the early muzzleloader season. However, the youth hunter must follow the firearm restrictions during the season, a muzzleloading rifle or muzzleloading handgun only, and be under the direct supervision of an adult mentor.

Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. All deer harvested need to be reported using the harvest reporting system by midnight following the day the deer is recovered. This is the second year where hunters have reported their kill. They can call the toll free number (1-800-771-4692) or use the DNR website (www.iowadnr.gov) to report their kill. This year they can also report at the license vendor. For hunters with Internet access, online reporting of the harvest is probably the easiest way to register your deer. Last year early muzzleloader hunters reported harvesting 5,555 deer. A little over half of the deer harvested were antlerless. The harvest reports are a vital piece of information Iowa DNR biologists need for properly managing Iowa's deer population and hunting opportunities.

For more information, contact Tom Litchfield, wildlife biologist, at (641) 774-2958.

 

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