Iowa — DNR State Deer Biologist, Jace Elliott, says the numbers from early hunts show the first firearm deer season that begins this Saturday should be comparable to previous years.
Nearly 30 thousand deer have been taken in the early seasons that include archery and youth hunts. The gun season has expanded from the original shotgun-only, to now include muzzleloaders, handguns and, most recently, rifles. The gun seasons are always the most popular, with some 100 thousand hunters expected to take part.
He says hunters shouldn’t have trouble finding deer in most of the state.
Elliott says there has been some concern about the EHD outbreak and the impact on the deer population in Iowa. He says there was a severe EHD outbreak, statewide this year, and particularly in the southeast region.
Elliott says the counties that are hit hard with EHD but have ample deer populations to start with, tend to recover in just a matter of a few years. The first deer gun season starts Saturday (Dec. 2) and runs through Wednesday December 6th. The second deer gun season is December 9th through the 17th.
