Another deer hunting opportunity in Iowa could be in the works for the weekend before Christmas. The Natural Resources Commission will meet Thursday morning to discuss a proposed season for December 21st through the 23rd.
Iowa DNR deer biologist Tom Litchfield says severe weather during the two shotgun seasons has had a big impact on target harvest goals. On the first day of the first season, an ice storm hit the state, and 10,000 fewer deer were tagged compared to last year.
"And our opening two days for the second season, we were running roughly 3,000 deer behind," Litchfield says, "and obviously (Monday) was probably a bust for the state." Overall, the DNR reports the deer harvest is 34,000 below last year at this time.
If the special season is approved, resident hunters with a valid, unfilled 2007 license for the youth or regular shotgun seasons would be allowed to take an antlerless deer for each unused tag.