DNR TO HOST PUBLIC MEETING MARCH 20 ON PROPOSED WILDLIFE RULES

The Iowa DNR is hosting a public meeting to discuss a number of new proposed
regulations covering deer hunting, fall wild turkey hunting, wildlife
management areas and waterfowl seasons.  The meeting will be conducted over
the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) on Wednesday, March 20 at 7 p.m. and
last about two hours.

"This is an opportunity for our hunters and people who support wildlife to
give us some feedback on these regulations," said Richard Bishop, chief of
the DNR's wildlife bureau.  "We will go over the proposed regulations and
take comments from anyone willing to speak, then, if there is any time
remaining, we will open the discussion to other topics."

The changes to the deer rules include adding Appanoose, Clarke and Wayne
counties to the special late season for deer and clarified the definition
for landowners and tenants that are eligible for free licenses.  New rules
also requiring youth hunters to be aged 12 to 15 when they buy their license
rather than being 12 to 15 during the youth season and makes it easier for
landowners with excessive deer damage to control deer through shooting
permits and depradation licenses.  There are also a few changes to deer
license purchase procedures.

Changes to the fall turkey hunting regulations include clarifying the
definition of a farm unit, similar to the deer regulations and a few changes
to the way hunters buy licenses.

The DNR is proposing to add the Iowa River Corridor wildlife management area
(WMA) (Benton, Iowa and Tama counties), Coulter Marsh WMA (Franklin County)
and Schuldt and Goddell WMAs (Hancock County) to the list of wildlife
management areas that require nontoxic shot for all hunting except deer and
wild turkey.

The final rule changes include adjusting the waterfowl season to reflect the
calendar changes and adding Lake Icaria WMA (Adams County), Green Island WMA
(Jackson County), Lake Sugema WMA (Van Buren County) and Sweet Marsh WMA
(Bremer County) to the list of areas closed to Canada goose hunting.

The DNR will have staff members from the wildlife bureau at each site to
help with the process.

ICN Locations:
Mason City: North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Dr., Room 106
Estherville: Iowa Lake Community College, 19 S. 7th St., Room 22
Marshalltown: Iowa Valley Community College, 3702 S. Center St., Room 806
Iowa City: University of Iowa, At the end of North Madison St., Room 107
Council Bluffs: Iowa Western Community College, 2700 College Road, Looft
Hall
Cedar Falls: University of Northern Iowa, Hudson Road and 23rd St., Shindler
130A
Fort Dodge: Arrowhead Area Education Agency, 330 Avenue M, Library Bldg. 204
Creston: Green Valley Area Education Agency, 1405 N. Lincoln, Turner Room
Sioux City: Western Hills Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave.,
Room 209A
Ottumwa: Southern Prairie Area Education Agency, 2814 N. Court St.
Burlington: Great River Area Education Agency, 3601 West Avenue Road
Davenport: Eastern Iowa Community College, 326 W. 3rd St., Room 302
Altoona: Altoona Public Library, 700 First Ave. SW, Room 1
Calmar: NE Iowa Community College - Dairy Ed. Center, 1527 Hwy 150,
Room 114

For more information, contact Bishop at 515-281-6156.

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