The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting a public meeting tonight to discuss a number of new proposed regulations for the fall hunting and trapping seasons. D.N.R. spokesman Willie Suchy says there aren’t any major changes being proposed.
Suchy says they’re adjustments to the calendar, and they are proposing changes to the anterless deer season quotas, and changes in the bobcat season. The proposal is to lower the antlerless deer license quota in 27 counties and increase it in three counties. Suchy says the deer quotas usually get a lot of comments, while this last season, the waterfowl season had a lot of comments. Another change would expand the bobcat season zone in western Iowa and increasing the harvest quota.
He says this will be the fourth year of the bobcat season, and they expanded the season two years ago. Suchy says the population continues to expand in the northern part of the state and they have a sustainable population, so they can expand the season to harvest more animals. Suchy says the input from the public helps them make the decisions.
Suchy says they hope to hear from people interested in hunting or wildlife and their preferences. The meeting will be conducted over the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) on today from six p.m. until nine p.m.
ICN Locations:
Ames, Ames High School, 20th and Ridgewood
Calmar, South Winneshiek High School, 203 W South Street
Cedar Rapids, National Guard Armory, 10400 18th Street SW
Centerville, National Guard Armory, R.R. 1 Dewey Road
Clinton, Clinton Community College, 1000 Lincoln Boulevard
Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College, 2700 College Road
Creston, Southwestern Community College, 1501 West Townline Road
Dubuque, Keystone Area Education Agency, 2310 Chaney Road
Fort Dodge, St. Edmond High School, 501 N 22nd Street
Iowa City, Public Library, 123 South Linn Street
Johnston, Heartland Area Education Agency, 6500 Corporate Drive
Marshalltown, Iowa Valley Community College, 3702 South Center Street
Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive
Ottumwa, National Guard Armory, 2858 N Court Road
Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sergeant Bluff-Luton Senior High School, Port Neal Road
Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College, 603 W Park Street
Spencer, Public Library, 21 East Third Street
Waterloo, National Guard Armory, 3306 Airport Boulevard
West Burlington, Southeastern Community College, 1500 West Agency