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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]