Des Moines, Iowa — DNR state deer biologist, Jace Elliott, says hunters reported taking more deer this year.
That included 2,500 deer taken in the new January season that allowed hunters to use any leftover antlerless tags.
Elliott says the traditional hunting hotspots held true this year.
Elliott says numbers were lower in western Iowa as they continue to build back from the EHD outbreak and floods in the Missouri River valley.
There were around 7,000 deer licenses sold and hunters tagged deer at a rate of 30-35 percent — which is similar to previous years.
Elliott says the weather was favorable across the state for most of the deer season, which helped with hunter success.
