A state conservation officials says hunters stalking deer in and around the state’s largest metro areas have had success in keeping the animals in control. Bill Bunger, a wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says urban hunts have thinned the herd. “Generally speaking sure, there’s spots where access is still a little bit limited to the deer. And that’s kind of by choice of the people who live in that area. But everywhere where they have been able to put hunters has made a big difference,” Bunger says. Hunters have taken 53-hundred deer from the Des Moines and surrounding metro areas since 1997. Hunters do all their work in urban areas with bows.

“We extend the season a little bit for ’em, it starts a little bit earlier than our regular archery season,” Bunger explains. “And we run it through the gun season — because there are no conflicts with the shotgun hunters of course in town. And we run it a little longer into January as well.” There are also urban deer hunts in eastern Iowa. “Waterloo does hunt, and they’ve done it probably a year longer or so than in the Des Moines area, and they are very much successful over there,” Bunger says. He says Cedar Rapids has had hunts for a number of years and he says they’ve seen an impact with the number of roadkill deer going down.

Residents of urban areas get concerned when the deer population climbs and the animals start eating gardens, hosta and other plants. Bunger says even though the population levels for deer have come down, the cities keep a watch on them and continue the hunts each year. “Deer numbers just aren’t stagnant, so if you walk away from it, they are going to go back up over time. So, it’s just kind of an ongoing process,” Bunger explains. He says most cities have task forces that keep track of the deer population to determine where they should hunt.

“The Des Moines area in particular, they actually with the help of the Army Corps pay for an aerial survey by helicopter every year. Most of the cities as a rule just hunt every year,” Bunger says. He says the cities do look at the populations and maybe determine they’ve harvested enough deer and need to the hunting to other areas. Many of the deer taken are donated to the D-N-R’s “HUSH” or Help Us Stop Hunger program to be distributed through local food banks. Bunger says other cities allow the hunters to take home the animals for their own use.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man is accused of committing four bank robberies in Cedar Rapids. Federal prosecutors announced yesterday that 29-year-old Javon Dockery of Cedar Rapids was indicted on four counts of bank robbery and one count of possession of firearm in furtherance of a crime or violence.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge says two Iowa prison inmates must be provided nightly meals and chapel time during Ramadan and allowed the same religious accommodations as other Muslims. The inmates, Michael Williams-El and James Blair-Bey, sued prison officials in 2012 when they were at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of video-recording girls in an eastern Iowa school restroom has pleaded guilty to a sexual exploitation charge. The Quad-City Times reports that 29-year-old Ian Dishon Isabel entered the plea Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Davenport. Isabel admitted that he planted video cameras in a girls’ restroom at Hayes Elementary School, where he worked as a coordinator for the after-school Stepping Stones program.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Most coaches only get one chance to turn around a program. Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is poised to revive the Hawkeyes for the third time in 12 years. Many dismissed Ferentz and the Hawkeyes after a 4-8 finish in 2012. But Iowa answered its critics with eight wins last season, including victories over Nebraska and Minnesota.

HULL, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating the theft of U.S. flags in the northwest Iowa city of Hull. The Sioux City Journal reports the flags were missing from homes and school property on the north side of Hull. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says the flags were removed from poles between 10 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. Sunday.

The sheriff’s office didn’t say how many flags were stolen. Hull is a city of about 2,100 people. It’s about 50 miles north of Sioux City.

A Pottawattamie County man who risked his life to save two men from an icy, watery grave will be honored Friday during a special ceremony at the Iowa State Fair. Governor Terry E. Branstad will recognize Seth Thompson, of Treynor, as one of six individuals who have performed a courageous act in an attempt to save someone’s life, or those that have unselfishly assisted in an emergency situation. Thompson is slated to receive the Outstanding Service Award during the “Governor’s Lifesaving Awards & Outstanding Service Awards” ceremony which takes place at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater, beginning at 10-a.m., Friday.

The Outstanding Service Award is presented to persons who have performed a courageous act in an attempt to save an individual who was in danger of losing his or her life or to individuals who unselfishly rendered service in a time of emergency.

On December 14th, 2009 Seth Thompson was headed to work in Okoboji. It was a very cold day with a wind chill of 5 below zero, the roads were icy and the winds were making navigating the roads a challenge. During his drive Seth noticed a truck with two occupants in front of him begin to lose control on a patch of ice and then watched it roll into a creek and break through the ice coming to a stop. When it finally came to rest, it was on its top. Seth quickly stopped his vehicle and he and his passenger ran down to the truck. Seth observed that the windows in the truck had broken on impact and the cab was quickly filling with water.

When he arrived at the truck, which was near the creek bank, Seth was able to reach in the passenger window by laying down on the edge of the bank, his stomach and chest were submerged in the icy water as he felt for the passenger’s arm. Seth grabbed the arm and pulled the disoriented passenger from the truck and onto the bank. Knowing that the driver was still inside he again reached through the passenger window and just barely reached his outstretched hand. Seth grabbed the hand and pulled the second person onto the creek bank.

Both the driver and passenger of the truck, Jesus Alvarado and Joshua Allsup, were taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries and symptoms of hypothermia.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – Federal investigators have released more information about a north Iowa helicopter crash that killed three medical workers. KIMT-TV says that a National Transportation Safety Board report details circumstances of the January 2013 crash near Ventura. The Mercy Air Med helicopter carrying a pilot, nurse and paramedic was on its way to pick up a patient in Emmetsburg when it crashed into a farm field.

Investigators focused on weather conditions at the time of the crash. The report says witnesses and first responders reported mist, drizzle, freezing precipitation and icy roads. Investigators said the helicopter wasn’t certified for such conditions.

Investigators will use the report to determine a probable cause of the crash.

If the tackle box out in your garage is rusted through, busted up or has otherwise seen better days, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources wants to see it. The DNR says it will accept photos of Iowa’s ugliest tackle boxes for a contest to run this August on Facebook, with the winner receiving a new tackle bag and lures courtesy of the Des Moines Chapter of the Izaak Walton League and Mid-Iowa Bassmasters.

Ugly tackle box photos can be submitted to photos@dnr.iowa.gov by Aug. 18th. The DNR will post photos from selected finalists to the DNR’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/iowadnr, at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20, where Iowans can then vote for the ugliest tackle box in the state.

The photo with the most Facebook likes, comments and shares will win the new tackle box and gear, valued at $100. Official contest rules are available on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/files/Uglytackleboxofficialrules.pdf

Photo entries will also be posted to the DNR’s Pinterest boards at www.pinterest.com/iowadnr.

The Des Moines chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America provided the tackle box for this contest. Learn more about the group and its work to improve outdoor recreation and protect natural resources at http://desmoinesikes.com.

The lures were provided by the Mid-Iowa Bassmasters. Learn more about the group’s stewardship efforts and work to promote fishing in central Iowa at http://www.midiowabassmasters.org.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has scheduled four public meetings to discuss proposed changes to the state fishing regulations for 2015. One of the hearings will take place 6:30-p.m. Sept. 2nd, at the Lewis and Clark State Park Visitor Center, (21914 Park Loop) in Onawa.

The DNR is proposing a series of rule changes to make the regulations easier to understand, to protect lake improvements, remove duplicate language in the Iowa code and to enhance fishing opportunities.

The proposals also include: allowing the DNR to manage walleye populations in the same manner as it does bass by posting length limit signs at lakes; removing hand fishing as a legal means of take for all rough fish; establishing a paddlefish season on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers; and removing duplicate trotline or throw line language in the Iowa Administrative code.

At the hearing, persons will be asked to give their names and address for the record and to confine their remarks to the content of the proposed amendments. Any persons who intend to attend the hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the DNR and request specific accommodations.

Any person may submit written suggestions or comments on the proposed amendment through Sept. 4, 2014. Written materials should be addressed to Martin Konrad, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 502 East Ninth Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034, by fax at 515-281-8895 or by email to martin.konrad@dnr.iowa.gov.

A Center Point man was named winner of the 2014, 51st Annual Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest, Tuesday. The event was held at the Iowa State Fair, in Des Moines. Phil Cummings, of Center Point received his crown for his award-winning Mediterranean Lamb Pops entry, which beat out 50 other grillers representing counties from around the state.

The Iowa Farm Bureau-sponsored contest featured outdoor chefs, with varying levels of experience, using their best grilling, roasting and smoking techniques to impress the judges. Cookout Contest champion, Cummings, won first place in the lamb category before being selected by the judges as the overall winner. He received $200, a crown, and a permanent trophy as the 2014 Iowa Farm Bureau Cookout Contest Champion.

Second place winners and their categories, included: Randy Stamper of Greenfield, beef; Elsie Schafer of Mt. Ayr, poultry; and Mark Kunkle of Guthrie Center, combo/specialty. All second–place finishers received $100.

Second place in the Youth category award during the cook-off, went to Elsie Schafer of Mt. Ayr. Schafer won $100 for her efforts. Youth prizes were donated by the Iowa Propane Association.

w/ Ric Hanson

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