State Senator Tom Shipley recently presented legislation addressing the management of Iowa’s deer population during a briefing in Shenandoah. One notable bill modifies the distribution process for special nonresident deer hunting licenses, allocating 40 licenses to conservation organizations and 10 to the governor, who has the discretion to accept or reallocate them. Shipley emphasizes the importance of these licenses, stating that hunting fees significantly fund the Department of Natural Resources.
During the briefing, Shipley highlighted a concerning trend in southwest Iowa, where the deer population is reportedly declining by 25-30% due to a disease called Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). This stands in contrast to other regions of the state where deer numbers remain high, raising questions about the perceived abundance of deer and the future of local hunting regulations. The proposed bill is currently awaiting debate in the full Senate, reflecting ongoing concerns about wildlife management and hunter access in Iowa.
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