Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Outdoors

CRESCO MAN FACES MORE THAN 40 WILDLIFE CHARGES

CRESCO, Iowa – Two Cresco men were taken to the Howard County Jail following a search warrant at their home Monday afternoon that resulted in wildlife or drug charges. The arrests were a culmination of a six week investigation that began from an anonymous tip.

Daniel Wildman, 21, was charged with seven counts of unlawful possession of buck deer and faces up to 42 wildlife charges. Liquidate damages and fines could exceed $22,000. Wildman was already barred from purchasing a hunting license before this incident. If convicted of the current charges, Wildman could lose his hunting privileges for up to an additional five years. He was on probation when he was arrested.

Steven Wildman, 23, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Seven conservation officers from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources served the warrant at the Wildman home and seized 13 deer racks, five firearms, one muskrat and one raccoon from Daniel Wildman. Officers seized a quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia from Steven Wildman.

All subjects are considered innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.

The Iowa DNR was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, Cresco Police Department, the Howard County Sheriff's Office, the Howard County Attorney's Office, and a Winneshiek County Deputy and drug dog.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brian Roffman, conservation officer, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 563-380-0496.

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IOWA FURBEARER SEASON BEGINS NOV. 6

Iowa's furbearer harvest season opens statewide on Nov. 6, and for the more than 14,000 dedicated furharvesters, the outlook for the 2010 season is tremendous.

Iowa DNR surveys confirm larger populations for most furbearing animals, with the exception of a few isolated areas where disease, such as distemper and mange, has suppressed numbers. Raccoons are the bread and butter species for many furharvesters and their numbers are good statewide. Furharvesters should expect a good start to the season because crop harvest and tillage is well ahead of schedule concentrating furbearers in remaining areas of good habitat and the weather forecast looks very favorable for trappers and hunters.

The DNR opened 10 additional counties for hunting and trapping bobcats. Counties added to the open zone include: Guthrie, Cass, Adair, Madison, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, Washington and Louisa. The bobcat quota has increased from 200 to 250.

River otter harvest season quota is unchanged at 500 otters and is open statewide. Harvest updates are available via the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov and the harvest hotline 515-281-5918. The DNR requires furharvesters to release all live bobcats or river otters captured more than 48 hours after the quotas are reached and the season is closed. Dead bobcats and river otters captured unintentionally after this 48 hour grace period must be turned over to a conservation officer. Trappers who turn their bobcats and otters over to a conservation officer after the seasons have closed will not be ticketed.

The DNR has been collecting bobcat and river otter carcasses for their biological information for nearly a decade. This program will continue again this year. The biological information collected through this program is used to evaluate the seasons and monitor population trends. The cooperation and assistance of furharvesters in Iowa is critical to the sound biological management of these populations.

The current world economy makes the fur market unpredictable, however it does appear that pelt prices will be similar to last year.

This year's promising forecast provides a great opportunity to introduce someone new to the tradition of hunting and trapping these valuable renewable wildlife resources.

For questions regarding fur seasons, contact David Hoffman, wildlife technician, Iowa Department of Natural Resources at 641-357-3517.

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[Electronic photo available upon request]

IOWA DNR OFFERS INTRODUCTORY DEER HUNT

GUTHRIE CENTER – The Iowa DNR along with many sponsoring organizations has created a mentored deer hunt that has been introducing people to Iowa deer hunting since 2004.

This mentored hunt is scheduled from Nov. 19 – 21, 2010, at the Springbrook Conservation Education Center. Participants will attend educational sessions on all aspects of deer hunting including the equipment, photography, biology, management, field care, deer processing, gun handling, safety, hunting methods, shot selection/placement and regulations.

Participants will be accompanied with their mentor to hunt deer in the park.

“If participants do not feel comfortable with any aspect of deer hunting, there will be people available to assist them in a positive, supportive environment,” said A Jay Winter, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources who is coordinating the hunt.

The program is designed for adults and youth 12 years old and older. There is a $123 fee for the hunter to cover food, lodging and program costs, plus a $27 license. There are scholarships available to cover the registration fee.

Registration is required. To find out more information or to register, contact A Jay Winter at the Springbrook Conservation Education Center, 641-747-8383 ext 11 or e-mail ajay.winter@dnr.iowa.gov

MEDIA CONTACT: A Jay Winter, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 641-747-8383 ext. 11.

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NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION TO MEET NOV. 10 IN DES MOINES

DES MOINES – The Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will meet at 10 a.m., Nov. 10, in the fourth floor conference room, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th Street, in Des Moines.

The meeting is open to the public.

Members of the commission are Kim Francisco, Elizabeth Garst, Gregory Drees, Janelle Rettig, Tammi Kircher, Dennis Schemmel and Margo Underwood. The Interim Director of the DNR is Pat Boddy.

The following is the agenda for the November meeting.

• Approve Agenda

• Consent Agenda (*within agenda indicates proposed consent agenda item)

• Pottawattamie County, Wilson Island State Park – Shower Building Pad and Utilities

• Dickinson County, East Okoboji Lake – Chapter 18 Lease Renewal – Willadsen

• Warren County, Summerset State Park – Warren Water District

• Approve Minutes of October 14 Meeting

• Interim Director Remarks

• NRC Legislative Report

• Honey Creek Resort State Park Update

• Construction Items

o *Pottawattamie County, Wilson Island State Park – Shower Building Pad and Utilities

o Van Buren County, Fox River Wildlife Management Area – Lenth Tract Dike Repair

o Washington County, Lake Darling State Park – Spillway Renovation

• Professional Services Contract, Delivery Order Approval

o Fremont County, Waubonsie State Park – Nature Center Renovation – Schemmer Associates

o Montgomery County, Viking Lake State Park – Retreat Center Design – Schemmer Associates

o Van Buren County, Lacey Keosauqua State Park – Beach Facility/Day Use Lodge Design – Schemmer Associates

• Small Construction Projects Contracts

• Land Management Projects

• Iowa State University, Contract Amendment – Topeka Shiner Study

• *Dickinson County, East Okoboji Lake – Chapter 18 Lease Renewal Willadsen

• *Warren County, Summerset State Park – Warren Water District

• Land Acquisition Projects

• Clayton County, Maquoketa River – Richmond

• Contract with Northeast Iowa RC&D for Targeted Forest Reserve Outreach and Woodland Stewardship Outreach in the Driftless Area

• Hardwood Timber Sale Yellow River State Forest – PC10_14

• Hardwood Timber Sale Yellow River State Forest – PC3_2

• Contract with Iowa State University for Urban Fishing Formative Assessment and Case Study

• Contract with QCI for Special Events System Application Maintenance and Enhancement

• Donations

• General Discussion – Climate Change Process

• Items for Next Meeting, Dec. 9, in Des Moines

For more information, contact Melissa Speed, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, at 515-281-8650.