Hunters in Iowa killed just under 101-thousand-400 (101,397) deer this past season. Iowa DNR wildlife researcher Tyler Harms says that’s about 3,000 fewer than in the 2015-16 season, but nearly identical to the harvest from two years ago.

 

Harms says a big factor in the lower numbers this past year was unseasonably warm weather early in the season. He admits some hunters are frustrated they aren’t seeing as many deer as they’d like.

 

The Iowa DNR has a goal to manage for a deer population that can provide a harvest of between 100,000 and 120,000 deer each year, based on the recommendations agreed upon by a state deer task force. Around 170,000 hunters took part in the latest deer season. Harms says deer hunting license sales have been “stable” over the last 5 to 6 years.