Deer plate
Two new specialty license plates that help benefit natural resources in the state are now available for Iowans to purchase and place on their vehicles.
The two plates, one featuring a buck deer and the other a brook trout, are expected to generate an additional one-million dollars a year for two Department of Natural Resources’ programs.
Since 1996, D.N.R. plate sales and renewals have totaled about $12 million. Ross Harrison, with the Iowa D.N.R., says the plates benefit the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program.
“The plates also help the DNR’s Wildlife Diversity program which is aimed at about 1,000 species of wildlife that aren’t considered sport or game species, like chickadees and eagles,” Harrison said.
Three current plates dedicated to the effort feature a goldfinch perched on a wild rose, a pheasant and a bald eagle. Motorists who already have a natural resources specialty plate can trade it in for one of the new designs for just $5. First time buyers will pay a bit more.
Trout plate
“It’ll cost $45 for the plates and then every year after that there’s a renewal price of $25,” Harrison said. The two new plates were designed by Cedar Rapids artist Greg Bordignon, who also created the pheasant and eagle plates.