(Des Moines, IA) -- A change goes into effect this year for deer hunters. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is requiring hunters to report the general length of the main antler beam of bucks harvested, and whether it's below or above 14 inches. The D-N-R says the measurement shows the buck's age and the data gathered will shed light on the state's deer herd.
New deer tags will include a 7-inch ruler to help measure the main beams of the antlers.
"We (Iowa Department of Natural Resources) partnered with Iowa State University on a study that recorded age and antler measurements of over 1,000 Iowa bucks,” said Jace Elliott, state deer biologist with the Iowa DNR. “For roughly 95 percent of the deer measured, deer with antler beams less than 14 inches were one-and-a-half-year’s old or younger, and deer antler beams 14 inches and over were two-and-a-half-year’s old or older.”
“This is similar to reporting spur length on the turkey harvest reporting. It’s a little more information on our deer herd that we haven’t collected in the past,” he said. “The data is not intended to be used for additional regulations, like antler point restrictions.”
The new tag will be showing up in the fall as license sales agents deplete their previous supplies.