Iowa's Deer Hunting WoesThis is probably a "too late call to action" type of post, but I'll point this out anyway. The Des Moines Register reports today on the Iowa Natural Resources Commision considering a few proposals to thin the ever-growing deer herd in Iowa.
One of them immediatey jumps out:
Biologists with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources want to add two doe seasons. Officials are calling for a one-week high-power rifle (.24-caliber and up) season in January and a three-day shotgun season on Friday through Sunday after Thanksgiving.
I hate to say this - but the thought of allowing high power rifle hunting in Iowa is insane. Our population is too dense - and our hunting seasons collide too frequently - to allow folks to use high-power rifles in our rural areas. (The problem, of course, is that high-power bullets travel farther than other methods like smaller muzzleloaders and shotguns.)
The article did continue to discuss the safety issues with allowing a rifle season.
Randy Taylor, president of the Iowa Bowhunters Association, said he has safety concerns about the proposed weekend season after Thanksgiving, when many pheasant hunters and bow deer hunters are also in the field.
But Suchy said some neighboring states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri, already have some rifle deer hunting, and the hunting accident rates in those states are not higher than Iowa's.
Jeremy Flannery, sales manager of JLM Gun Shoppe, 10079 Hickman Road in Urbandale, said he would welcome a rifle season.
"Rifles would extend the range and the accuracy potential for hunters," he said. "I'm for anything they can do to thin the population."
The only thing we need to add to that is "... and the need for high-power rifles would boost my sales."
I know the chances are slim - but remember, it only takes one stray bullet.
...And Now for Something Completely Different: Should We Be Even MORE Radical in Our Approach?
