HomeMy WebLinkAbout7 NRC Ltr to IA City re DMZ Request 061520f
WALLACE BUILDING, 502 E 9TH ST, DES MOINES IA 50319
Phone: 515-725-8200 www.IowaDNR.gov Fax: 515-725-8201
June 15, 2020
Geoff Fruin, City Manager
City of Iowa City
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, IA 52240-1826
Geoff-Fruin@iowa-city.org
Dear Mr. Fruin,
Thank you for your letter dated May 4, 2020. We appreciate your update regarding the successes that occurred
during your 2019-2020 deer management efforts and the City’s goal to include future bow hunts to continue
that management.
We, also, appreciate your reaching out to the DNR to determine if the Urban Deer Management Zone (DMZ)
program would benefit your efforts and that the plan you submitted was approved by the DNR and included in
the 2020-2021 DMZ list to allow for bow hunting this fall. The 2020-2021 DMZ list was reviewed and approved
by the Natural Resource Commission at their June 11, 2020, business meeting.
The Commission commends your efforts in working to create a long term and sustainable deer management
plan and supports your continued coordination with the DNR to identify and implement annual strategies to
help with deer management.
Respectfully Submitted,
Margo Underwood, Chair
Natural Resource Commission
Margo.Underwood@dnr.iowa.gov
Attached: Letter from Geoff Fruin, City Manager, City of Iowa City, dated 05/04/20
cc: Susan (Sue) Dulek, Asst City Atty, 410 East Washington Street, Iowa City, IA (Sue-Dulek@iowa-city.org)
Captain Bill Campbell, IA City Police Dept, Iowa City, IA (Bill-Campbell@iowa-city.org)
Lt Zach Diersen, IA City Police Dept, Iowa City, IA (zach-diersen@iowa-city,org)
Natural Resource Commissioners (Marcus.Branstad@dnr.iowa.gov, Laura.Foell@dnr.iowa.gov,
Kim.Francisco@dnr.iowa.gov, Laura.Hommel@dnr.iowa.gov, Tom.Prickett@dnr.iowa.gov,
Dennis.Schemmel@dnr.iowa.gov)
Dr. Dale Garner, IA DNR, CRD Division Administrator (Dale.Garner@dnr.iowa.gov)
IA DNR Wildlife Biologists (Andrew.Kellner@dnr.iowa.gov, Greg.Harris@dnr.iowa.gov)
P/vV^ ^(51^May 4, 2020 ClTY OF IOWA CITY410 East Washington StreetIowa CHy. Iowa 52240-1826Natural Resource Commission (319) 356-soooHenry Wallace Building (31 9) 356-S009 FAX502 E. 9th St. www.icgov.orgDes Moines, IA 50309In re: June 2020 Business MeetingUrban Deer Management Zone—Request to Bow HuntDear Commissioners:I want to begin by thanking you again for authorizing the sharpshoot this past winter. WhiteBuffalo, Inc. culled 500 deer with all the meat being processed by a local locker and distributedfree at food banks. For your information, I am enclosing a copy of the "Final Report 2019-20Deer Management Program" prepared by White Buffalo, Inc. I plan on providing theCommission an annual deer management report later this year.This letter is to request approval of an urban deer management zone in Iowa City under thefollowing parameters:• When: 10/1/20 to 1/10/21 (to coincide with the bow hunt season)• Where: Private property throughout Iowa City• Tags: 75 antlerless tags-archery only• Preferred Vendor: Fin & Feather, Iowa City• Incentive Program: Iowa City requests a hunter who kills 3 antlerless deer will beeligible for 1 buck tag for the following bow hunting season.• Additional Request: Until further notice, this letter will serve as a request from Iowa Cityto renew its urban deer management zone for the following three seasons along thesesame parameters (Iowa City's long-term deer management plan provides for 4 years ofbow hunting).As the White Buffalo, Inc. report states, the deer population likely is under our goal of 25 deerper square mile. As a result, City staff believes 75 tags will be sufficient to manage the deerpopulation. With that said, we plan to partner with the DNR to conduct an aerial deer count nextwinter, which will provide needed data to assist us in our ongoing challenge of managing IowaCity's deer population.RECESVRD MAY 1 1 2020
In closing, I want to express my appreciation to Dr. Garner for his invaluable assistance to mystaff this past year. I also want to thank Andy Kellner for his assistance in the development ofour bow hunt. I know City staff looks forward to continuing to work with Dr. Garner and Mr.Kellner.Thank you very much for your time and consideration.Sincerely,Geoff FruinCity ManagerCopy to:Captain Bill Campbell, Interim Chief of PoliceZach Diersen, Lt. Iowa City Police Dept.Susan Dulek, Ass't. City Attorney