Here we go again, now MO, IL, to probably follow.
Iowa Senate Approves New Deer Bill
DES MOINES, IA--The Iowa Senate approved a bill last week that aims to reduce the state's white-tailed deer population by as many as 135,000 animals next year.
Sen. Dennis Black's (D-IA) Senate Bill 206 seeks to reduce Iowa's burgeoning deer population primarily by increasing the number of free deer hunting licenses for resident landowners and tenants. However, other provisions of the bill include:
Increasing the state's general nonresident hunting license fee from $80 to $100. In addition, a nonresident hunter who buys an any-sex deer license would also be required to purchase an additional antlerless deer license for $100.
Creating a $1 deer hunting license surcharge. The additional money, expected to total $355,000 a year, would be used to expand a program in which meat processors are paid to process donated venison for prisons and food pantries.
The bill would not increase the number of nonresident deer permits Iowa makes available. It would, however, remove the state's cap on antlerless tags.

Sounds ok to me I suppose. Only thing i see wrong is it doesn't make sense to me though that non residents have to pay more for lisense and tags so the gov can spend less on prison food...

You know I wouldn't mind if these funds were being put back into the sport in the way of public land habitat purchases.......but food for prisoners! That's just great. Everyone already had to pay taxes to build prisons for crooks, now they are taking money from sportsmen for this? Why should hunters specifically be burdened with this expense? All society benefits so everyone should pay, not just sportsmen.

Thank god I have 2 preference points now so I'll go this year, because this increase would take effect in 2006.

So Iowa's required NR deer license fees total would go from about $308 up to $428 for a NR just to deer hunt in Iowa!

Its amazing what the gov. will find to spend our money on. A guy would not mind spending a little more for a license if it went for the benefit of hunting and game animals. Its out of control, sportsman need to stand up for hunting, resident or non-resident.[:@]

The same thing's going on in Illinois. A new $500 tag fee but those funds get funneled into the general fund. What a ripoff. I do not mind contributing if the money was used to purchase habitat, especially since all my hunting takes place on public land. Heck even at that I hunt federal land now. I just hope I draw Iowa and can forget about IL for one year. I have some slammer public land spots picked out for Iowa! Put in a lot of footwork scouting! Stumbled upon some county land using terraserver and the Iowa Sportsmen's Atlas. After scouting, found the place bordered leased land. It is awesome looking! Takes the pain out of IL's $500 fees for one year at least.

Hey guys, I'm from Iowa. Basically the money goes to a program called HUSH, help us stop hunger. The program will actually benefit Iowa's deer herd here in a short while I believe. They are going to expand this program statewide so that if a hunter shoots a deer, they can drop it off at a locker for free to get processed. Which means more deer shot per year, mainly does, which will lower doe numbers and increase buck to doe ratios. That is the goal anyways. I do think that nonresident prices are a bit extreme, I will agree with anyone on that. Just trying to shed a little light on the situation. Also residents will be spening more next year for expansion of the HUSH program. Goodluck in the draw everyone

Iowa is working on $428 in 2006.

Illinois passing $504.25 in 2005.

Wisconsin NR's pay $160 in 2004?

Absolute bull$hit with Iowa. I have lived there and hunted deer for 15 years. Mason City area. Yeah we have taken some nice deer and luckily we have our own land to hunt on. Good luck if you are out of state getting on some decent land. I now live in Seattle and for the first time I am going to miss the 2005 season. Kinda depressing but to spend that kind of money for a chance to take a poke at an Iowa whitetail with a pumpkin lobber. Iowa has good deer but not that good. They need to reduce that price for out of staters. Look at how the pheasant opener drives the economy. Deer season could do that as well. Just frustrated with Iowa gov. One good thing, unlike Seattle, there are no tree huggers in Iowa.

Last Gripe,

Over the counter out of state license. None of the draw crap.