Dear Iowa Sportsman Readers,
Hello, Iowa readers of Iowa’s only outdoor magazine written by Iowans for Iowans, welcome to Dead Shot! Just a short note to let you readers know that the “Iowa Sportsman’s Magazine” is growing faster than the icicles from my cabin roof. I am happy to tell you that we signed up more than 1000 new subscriptions in the last 2 months. The main goal of this magazine is to educate and help the public appreciate Iowa and the great outdoors. We at the “Iowa Sportsman’s Magazine” spend a lot of time in the field, a lot of time listening to readers and a lot of time working projects among ourselves to make the magazine better for all Iowa readers. If you have any advice, compliments or ideas that would help the magazine, do not hesitate to contact the publisher.
Dear Dead Shot: How does the harsh temperatures and deep snow affect the pheasant population? Is there something I can do to help the birds find food? ~ John, Pella
Answer: John, this is a question I have asked myself so I did some research with the DNR. According to the DNR Pheasant Biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, this has been an average winter for pheasants. The snow cover for the winter has been normal and we have been blessed with the fact that there haven’t been any real snow blizzards or freezing ice storms. Freezing ice storms are one of the worst enemies of pheasants; it freezes in their nostrils and they suffocate. During a normal winter, approximately 20-25% of breeding hens do not make it through spring. The main idea with pheasants is that they have to have adequate food supply, which can be dispersed in certain fields; however, this does attract pheasants to one area, which would attract predators to that area. Pheasants were native to cold climates in China and Korea and have adapted to Iowa winters very well. South Dakota winters, which are cooler and have more snow, are still able to maintain their pheasant populations. Don’t worry Jon, about the pheasants in Iowa. They are going to make it and there will be plenty of birds for us next fall.
Dear Dead Shot: Will hunters have to register their turkeys with the DNR for the 2007 season? Jerry, Guthrie Center
Answer: The registration of turkeys for the 2007 spring season is the same as it was for 2006 season. Iowa wild turkey arrangement and regulations state that you must report harvest to the DNR by midnight of the day that it is killed, before taking it a locker for processing or consumption, or before leaving the state, whichever occurs first. The hunter whose name is on the transportation tag is responsible for making the report. Failure to report or reporting falsely may result in a misdemeanor citation; however, if no turkey is taken or harvested, no report is necessary. Hunters may report a turkey harvest by calling the DNR harvesting report system, a toll free number, or hunters may report through the internet at: www.iowadnr.com. To complete the report, a confirmation number will be given to the hunter. This confirmation number must be written on the animal tag before the report is considered complete. Failure to write the confirmation number may result in a misdemeanor citation.
Dear Dead Shot: What causes a deer to shed antlers in the winter? Derek, Burlington
Answer: Dear Derek, male deer, also called bucks, shed their antlers annually in order to have a re-growth of new ones. The shedding of the antlers takes about several months. It begins in January and lasts through April. The new antler growth takes place during the summer. Antlers are normally grown by white tail deer to attract and impress the does and to fight off any other bucks for the doe’s attention
During the growing season of the antlers, they are covered with a sensitive skin called “ velvet”, which is filled with blood vessels and promotes the normal antler growth. Normally, it takes 2-4 months for the antlers to reach maturity and the velvet is no longer needed. It dries up and falls off. Deer rubs are caused by the deer rubbing his antlers against a tree to help remove the velvet.
I hope you all have a successful April turkey hunt here in Iowa.
HAVE A GOOD HUNT AND KEEP ON FISHING ~ Ron Kuntz, a/k/a Dead Shot
dmlaw@quest.net.
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