HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-2021 Deer Management Annual Report
2020 - 2021
CITY OF IOWA CITY
DEER MANAGEMENT
ANNUAL REPORT
The Iowa City City Council adopted a Deer Management Plan in 2019. This plan was developed
in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and local public input and was
approved through the Iowa Natural Resource Commission. The Plan includes one year of
professional sharpshooting, four years of urban bow hunts, and ongoing public education. To
learn more please visit www.icgov.org/deerprogram.
CONTENTS
• Executive Summary
• Deer Collisions + Complaints
• Non-Lethal Deer Management
• Depredation & Urban Bow Hunt Results
• DNR Aerial Survey Results (Attached)
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Iowa City’s Deer Management Plan was formed in response to resident concerns about deer in
urban and suburban areas. A deer count survey conducted in 2018 revealed the urban deer
population had tripled since the City ceased its deer management program in 2010. After
coordinating with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and soliciting public input,
the City Council adopted a Deer Management Plan in 2019. This plan was submitted to the Iowa
Natural Resource Commission (NRC) and included one year of professional sharpshooting, four
years of urban bow hunts, and ongoing public education. A full timeline and history of the City’s
deer management response is available at www.icgov.org/deerprogram.
Public Input
In 2018, a deer committee was formed which consisted of both City staff and community
members. On August 14, 2018, approximately 60 members of the public attended a public input
meeting held to discuss deer population management. Staff offered additional opportunities for
providing input for those unable to attend the public forum.
In August 2020, City staff met with members of the Iowa City Deer Friends to receive feedback
and incorporate their input into the rules for the 2020-2021 urban bow hunt. Members of the
public also addressed the City Council during four City Council meetings at which the urban bow
hunt rules and deer feeding ordinance were on the agendas. The City Council received 17 e-
mails and one letter on the deer management plan and urban bow hunt in 2020. Additionally,
staff received two e-mails requesting information.
Members of the public are invited to provide ongoing input on the City’s deer management
activities by contacting City staff or City Council members. The City will report annually to City
Council on deer management and population estimates for the remainder of the long-term deer
management plan. Residents are invited to provide comments during this time or may address
councilors during the public comment period at any regular City Council meeting.
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DEER COLLISIONS & COMPLAINTS
Vehicle & Deer Collisions
Between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, the Iowa City Police Department received
14 calls for service involving vehicular collisions with deer:
2020 Vehicle-Deer Collisions (Iowa City Police Department)
Date Location of Deer Collision Total Estimated Damage
1/2/2020 Melrose Avenue $2,000
1/4/2020 State 1/Iowa 1 & US 218 $3,000
1/13/2020 N Scott Blvd $1,000
9/28/2020 Muscatine Ave $2,000
10/4/2020 US 218/93.2 MM $8,000
10/24/2020 Interstate 80/I 80 $4,000
11/2/2020 Interstate 80/I 80 $5,000
11/2/2020 Interstate 80/I 80 $5,000
11/3/2020 Interstate 80/I 80 $3,000
11/7/2020 McCollister Boulevard $1,000
11/8/2020 US 218 $7,500
11/20/2020 State 1/Iowa 1 $1,500
12/1/2020 Mormon Trek Boulevard $1,500
12/3/2020 HWY 6 E / S Scott Boulevard $1,500
51 54 58 57
14
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Number of Deer-Vehicle Collisions in Iowa City
4
Deer-Related Calls and Complaints
Animal Services reported receiving three calls from residents regarding deer in 2020. All three
complaints were related to intentional deer feeding. The City Manager’s Office and City Council
received three complaints regarding deer in 2020; two related to deer browsing and one
reporting several deer in the roadway
NON-LETHAL DEER MANAGEMENT
Iowa City’s Long-Term Deer Management Plan includes a series of activities for the City to
provide, consider, or develop. Below is a summary of non-lethal management activities
implemented during 2020:
In August 2020, the City published comprehensive deer management related webpages at
www.icgov.org/deerprogram, which includes:
• Background information and a historical timeline of deer-related issues in the community
and the development and progress of the City’s long-term deer management plan.
• Frequently asked questions
• Information on the 2020-2021 urban bow hunt
• Contact information for residents interested in submitting comments, complaints, or
suggestions related to deer management.
• Links to harvest reports, aerial population surveys, related ordinances and other
documents.
• A link to an Iowa DNR resource on tips for drivers to practice safe driving in areas
populated by deer and avoid deer collisions.
• Guidance from the Iowa State University Extension recommending never feeding deer
and tips on avoiding unintentionally feeding deer.
• Information on deer resistant plants and links to online resources providing lists, photos,
and care information of deer resistant shrubs, plants, and flowers and a link to
information and photos of landscaping design ideas to minimize deer damage.
• Information and links to photos of deer-resistant fencing and vegetative barriers.
• Information on using deer repellents and links to DIY homebrew deer deterrent recipes.
• Tips for living with deer and how to behave around deer.
• Information on deer scare tactics.
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In September 2020, the City Council passed an ordinance which prohibits the feeding of deer,
including both intentional feeding and placement of edible materials (including bird seed) which
could be reasonably expected to result in deer feeding. The City issued a news release to notify
residents after adoption of the ordinance.
In October 2020, a utility bill insert
dedicated to minimizing deer damage
was included with City water
customers’ utility bills. The insert
included information on not feeding
deer, the use of deer resistant plants,
fencing, or repellants, and driving tips.
Currently, there are four Deer Crossing signs installed within Iowa City limits. These are located
at Dubuque Street, north of Kimball Avenue; Dubuque Street, south of the I-80 bridge;
Rochester Avenue, east of First Avenue; and Rochester Avenue, west of Scott Boulevard.
DEER DEPREDATION RESULTS
The Long-Term Deer Management Plan adopted by City Council and submitted to the Iowa
NRC, included one year of professional sharpshooting a bow hunt in years 2020 – 2024.
2019 – 2020 Professional Sharpshooting
The City contracted with White Buffalo Inc., a wildlife management organization to conduct
the 2019-2020 professional sharpshooting deer cull. White Buffalo Inc. provided a full report of
the cull results in March 2020. Approximately 500 deer were harvested through the sharpshoot.
The meat from the deer (estimated to be approximately 30,000 pounds) was tested for safety by
the Iowa DNR and then processed and donated to local food banks.
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2020 – 2021 Urban Bow Hunt
Iowa City’s 2020 – 2021 bow hunt season began on October 1, 2020 and ended on January 10,
2021. The City of Iowa City accepted applications for bow hunters until October 20, 2020. Five
hunters applied and were accepted for the hunt. All hunters held a valid DNR Hunting License,
completed the required qualifications at Fin & Feather, and submitted the appropriate paperwork
with the City regarding their hunt locations.
A total of 14 tags were purchased between the five approved hunters. Of those tags, three deer
were harvested during the 2020-2021 urban bow hunt. All the deer were harvested on private
property per the hunt rules.
DNR # Doe Button Buck Total Harvest
48089628 1 1 2
670120278 1 1
3083128 0
1738095 0
4465621 0
Total deer harvested in 2020-2021 Iowa City urban bow hunt: 3
One reporting violation occurred in which two deer were reported to the state but did not get
reported to the City. Contact was made with the hunter and it was determined to be a
misunderstanding of the appropriate procedure. The forms were filled out when the mistake was
identified for record-keeping purposes. No incentive buck tags were earned in Iowa City during
this hunt. There were no complaints received regarding the deer hunt and no injuries reported.
The Iowa City Deer Friends filed a lawsuit against the City, alleging the urban bow hunt is illegal
and requesting an immediate stay of the bow hunt program. The district court’s initial ruling
denied the stay and the final ruling rejected all claims of alleged illegality and dismissed the
lawsuit.
AERIAL DEER SURVEY & DENSITY ESTIMATES
On January 27, 2021, the Iowa DNR conducted an aerial deer survey in Iowa City. The
estimated average deer density is 14.04 deer per square mile in 2021, with 44.27 deer per
7
square mile the highest estimated density for any zone surveyed. The estimated deer density
was 80 deer per square mile in 2018 with, based on a study conducted by White Buffalo Inc.
The 2021 DNR Aerial Survey is attached.
Iowa City Aerial Deer Survey and Hunt Results 2021
Prepared by Andy Kellner, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The table below shows results of deer observed by helicopter survey on January 27th, 2021 using a Hughes OH-6 helicopter operated
by Bachman Aero. Observers were Steve Woodruff and Dave Nicholson with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife
Bureau. Conditions for the survey were very good in all habitat types flown. Snow depth was approximately 7” from fresh snowfall
within 48 hours and few deer beds were observed. The sky was fair and there were light winds out of the north. Temperatures were
between 18 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Some shadows were present but light conditions became more favorable as the survey
progressed. The areas surveyed were flown along the contour or with transects and areas were circled if necessary when deer were
spotted.
Results from this year’s aerial survey were compiled with results from historical survey data. This will help provide a baseline
amount of information for the deer numbers in Iowa City and allow for observing trends in population in subsequent years. Additional
survey methods or data sources are encouraged to help provide more information for deer trends going forward including tracking
deer complaints, analyzing deer-vehicle collisions, and camera trap studies.
In the Iowa City Deer Management Zone (Zone 101), 14 of 75 or less than 19% of licenses were sold. Of those 14 licenses 3 antlerless
deer were registered which is about a 21% success rate for hunters.
In the neighboring Coralville Deer Management Zone (Zone 10) 133 out of 200 urban archery licenses were sold. From those tags, 41
does were harvested as well as 3 button bucks. In the adjacent Coralville Perimeter Zone (Zone 25), 462 of 600 licenses were sold.
From those, 140 does, 21 button bucks, 2 spike bucks, and 3 shed antlered bucks were reported to the DNR. This perimeter zone is a
separate pool of antlerless tags that are good for a zone that encompasses land outside of Coralville and Iowa City limits. Those tags
may be purchased for any of the regular statewide hunting seasons. A few more deer may have been harvested on regular season deer
licenses, which cannot be separated at this level.
The continued annual harvest of does, in both the urban and perimeter zones, reduces potential deer numbers directly and indirectly
through abated recruitment of fawns. It is likely that not all of these deer in the outside perimeter would have been permanently
associated with Iowa City, but this reduction can keep deer numbers down and reduce the growth of the herd. There is a strong
likelihood that deer are moving between Iowa City, Coralville, and areas outside of city limits. Increased use of the urban archery
program in Iowa City will be required if it is desired to maintain deer numbers at the present level or lower. Recruiting, educating,
and encouraging additional hunters for the urban program would help increase the harvest which would help the population remain
near the present level.
Iowa City Aerial Surveys Deer Observed
Zone Acres Sq Miles 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2007 2008 2021
A 1,398 2.18 37 60 74 64 29 76 71 170 80 15
B 669 1.05 69 154 81 33 30 30 19 5 2 3
C 808 1.26 78 90 99 39 36 60 43 46 33 30
D 1,489 2.33 65 127 140 38 25 100 88 65 36 103
E 958 1.50 0 0 7 12 0 12 9 41 19 21
F 1,594 2.49 11 15 48 42 15 74 65 80 32 19
G 993 1.55 3 0 4 0 0 0 5 43 35 13
H 1,187 1.85 6 31 48 24 23 42 6 53 26 20
I 1,239 1.94 49 79 197 99 43 169 109 101 39 15
Total 318 556 698 351 201 563 415 604 302 239
Iowa City Aerial Surveys Estimated Deer Density for Survey Zones
Zone Acres Sq
Miles 1997 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2007 2008 2021
A 1,398 2.18 16.94 27.47 33.88 29.30 13.28 34.79 32.50 77.83 36.62 6.87
B 669 1.05 66.01 147.32 77.49 31.57 28.70 28.70 18.18 4.78 1.91 2.87
C 808 1.26 61.78 71.29 78.42 30.89 28.51 47.52 34.06 36.44 26.14 23.76
D 1,489 2.33 27.94 54.59 60.17 16.33 10.75 42.98 37.82 27.94 15.47 44.27
E 958 1.50 0.00 0.00 4.68 8.02 0.00 8.02 6.01 27.39 12.69 14.03
F 1,594 2.49 4.42 6.02 19.27 16.86 6.02 29.71 26.10 32.12 12.85 7.63
G 993 1.55 1.93 0.00 2.58 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.22 27.71 22.56 8.38
H 1,187 1.85 3.24 16.71 25.88 12.94 12.40 22.65 3.24 28.58 14.02 10.78
I 1,239 1.94 25.31 40.81 101.76 51.14 22.21 87.30 56.30 52.17 20.15 7.75
Average 23.06 40.47 44.90 21.89 13.54 33.52 24.16 34.99 18.05 14.04
Iowa City Aerial Survey Zone Map