SF 581 (LSB 2542SZ (2) 89)

SENATE FILE 581

BY  COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 464)
(SUCCESSOR TO SF 427)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to deer population management.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 481A.130, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0h.  For each antlerless deer, two hundred dollars.
    Sec. 2.  Section 481A.130, subsection 1, paragraph h, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   h.  For each deer, except as provided in paragraph “g”, and for each swan or crane, one thousand five hundred dollars.
    Sec. 3.  Section 481C.2A, subsection 5, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   5.  The department shall administer and enforce the administrative rules concerning deer depredation, including issuance of deer depredation licenses and deer shooting permits, that are established by the commission and subject to the following conditions:
   a.  Except for a free license issued under subsection 1, paragraph “b”, the department shall require a fee of two dollars for a license or permit issued pursuant to this section.
   b.  In addition to other times the department finds necessary, the department shall allow licenses and permits issued pursuant to this section to be used in the months of September, October, November, and December.
    Sec. 4.  Section 483A.8, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  9.  There shall be a January antlerless deer only hunting season in a county whenever that county has unsold antlerless deer licenses available in its county quota as set by the commission by rule. The commission shall establish the season dates. Licenses shall be available for sale beginning the day after the close of the late muzzleloader season until either the county quota allotment has been sold or until the end of the season, whichever occurs first. A January antlerless deer only license issued under this subsection is valid only in the county identified on the license. A rifle with a barrel length of at least sixteen inches and firing centerfire ammunition propelling an expanding-type bullet with a maximum diameter of no less than two hundred twenty-three thousandths of one inch and no larger than five hundred thousandths of one inch and with a published or calculated muzzle energy of five hundred foot pounds or higher is the approved method of take for this season.
    Sec. 5.  DEER POPULATION STUDY.  The department of natural resources shall conduct a study every three years to determine the estimated deer population in each county in this state, which shall be supported by historical records dating back to 1970. The department shall review and provide scientific data relating to the environmental impact of deer populations, including the impact to crops and trees. The department shall also review the spread of disease in deer and other wildlife populations. Additionally, the report shall include information on property loss, medical costs, and fatalities due to deer-vehicle accidents. In conducting the study, the department shall work with relevant representatives from the Iowa state university of science and technology agricultural extension service, the department of transportation, and the insurance division of the department of commerce. Expenses for conducting the study shall be paid from the fish and wildlife protection fund established in section 456A.17 and such payments are considered a proper use of the funds for purposes of section 456A.27 and Article VII, section 9, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa. The department shall submit a report summarizing the results of the study to the general assembly by October 1, 2023, and every three years thereafter.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to deer population management.
   Current law provides that a person convicted of unlawfully selling, taking, catching, killing, injuring, destroying, or having in possession an antlerless deer shall reimburse the state $1,500. The bill amends the reimbursement amount for an anterless deer to $250.
   In administering and enforcing administrative rules relating to deer depredation, the bill requires the department of natural resources (DNR) to require payment of a $2 fee for the issuance of a deer depredation license or permit. The bill also requires DNR to allow deer depredation tags to be filled in the months of September, October, November, and December, in addition to any other time that DNR finds necessary.
   Under current law, deer hunting licenses are allocated by zones and counties. The bill establishes a January antlerless deer hunting season in a county whenever that county has unsold antlerless deer hunting licenses available in its county quota set by the natural resource commission. The commission shall establish the season dates. The bill sets the time when a person may purchase a license for the January season and states that the license is valid only in the county identified on the license. The bill makes a rifle with a barrel length of at least 16 inches and firing centerfire ammunition propelling an expanding-type bullet with a maximum diameter of no less than 0.233 inches and no larger than 0.500 inches and with a published or calculated muzzle energy of 500 foot pounds or higher the approved method of take for the January antlerless deer hunting season.
   The bill requires DNR to conduct a study every three years to determine the estimated deer population in each county in this state. The bill requires DNR to review and provide scientific data relating to the environmental impact of deer populations, including the impact to crops and trees, review information relating to the spread of disease in deer and other wildlife populations, and include information on property loss, medical costs, and fatalities due to deer-vehicle accidents. The bill requires DNR to work with relevant representatives from the Iowa state university of science and technology agricultural extension service, the department of transportation, and the insurance division of the department of commerce. Expenses for conducting the study shall be paid from the fish and wildlife protection fund. The bill requires DNR to submit a report to the general assembly by October 1, 2023, and every three years thereafter.