Iowa
West Nile Virus Confirmed in Iowa Pheasants
A joint study by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine last fall
found that nearly 20 percent of the rooster pheasants examined
had been exposed to West Nile Virus at some point in their life.
The study examined 80 hunter shot rooster pheasants from across
Iowa.
Other studies on pheasants and closely related birds, like wild
turkeys and quail, so far indicate the birds are highly resistant
to the disease and that WNV is not thought to be a threat to
survival.
Dr. Eric Zhou and colleagues at ISU developed a test for WNV
antibodies in pheasants. They then determined that 15 of 80 pheasants
had been exposed to the virus, meaning that nearly 20 percent
of the tested birds had contracted WNV at some time in their
lives and had recovered. The antibodies to WNV develop after
a pheasant has recovered and at this point they are no longer
considered to be actively infected. The birds that tested positive
for WNV antibodies were found in all regions of the state, indicating
that most of Iowa's pheasant population has been exposed to WNV
or soon will be.
It is not possible from this study to determine how many pheasants
contracted the disease and died. WNV has been confirmed in 138
species of birds and some popular game animals like squirrels
and deer.
What are the implications to pheasant hunters? Humans can contract
WNV if bitten by an infected mosquito or through direct blood-to-blood
contact with live virus from an infected animal. Does this mean
that hunters or their dogs could get WNV from pheasants? The
Centers for Disease Control found that pheasants are actively
infected with WNV an average of only 2.7 days. Theoretically
a hunter or dog could become infected if blood from an actively
infected bird entered through a cut or break in the skin, but
the chances are extremely low. This might happen while dressing
an infected pheasant.
By the time Iowa's pheasant season opens in late October, however,
the risk of encountering mosquitoes or an infected bird is normally
low. In an unusually warm year at least some potential exists
for infected birds to be present as late as Thanksgiving.
Concerned hunters can minimize the already low risk of getting
WNV by wearing gloves while dressing pheasants or any other small
game, big game, or waterfowl. Hunters who are concerned about
their dog's health should contact their local veterinarian for
guidance.
Properly cooking fish and game is always advised. Cooking the
meat thoroughly will ensure the meat is safe to eat. |
For more information on WNV visit the National
Wildlife Health Center website at www.nwhc.usgs.gov/research/west_nile/west_nile.html
IOWA PHEASANT HARVEST TOPS 1 MILLION AGAIN
More than 140,000 hunters harvested 1.08 million pheasants in
Iowa last year, which was an increase of 48 percent over the
2002 harvest estimate of 729,000. The numbers are estimates compiled
from a survey of licensed small game hunters.
Todd Bogenschutz, wildlife biologist at the DNR's Boone research
station, said the forecast of more pheasants last fall was not
lost on the hunters.
"We saw a nice increase in the number of pheasant hunters
and we also had an increase in the number of non-resident hunters,"
Bogenschutz said. An estimated 33,000 non-residents hunting pheasant
in Iowa last year, mostly from surrounding states. About one
third of the pheasant harvest was in northwest and north central
Iowa.
The number of Iowa pheasant hunters increased 11 percent and
the number of non-resident hunters increased 12 percent. Iowa
hunters spent an average of nine days hunting last fall and harvested
an average of eight birds. Nonresidents hunted an average of
five days and harvested an average of seven birds. Three-quarters
of the pheasant harvest happened in the first 31 days of the
season.
Most other small game species also showed an increase in the
number of hunters and harvest.
Bogenschutz said that nearly 25,000 hunters harvested more than
114,000 quail, which is a 79 percent increase over the 2002 harvest.
Most of the quail was harvested in southwest and south central
Iowa.
An estimated 4,000 partridge hunters harvested 8,200 partridge,
an increase of 60 percent over 2002, but still the sixth lowest
partridge harvest in 40 years of keeping records. Hunter numbers
were down eight percent from 2002.
For more information, contact Bogenschutz at 515-432-2823.
EARLY WATERFOWL SEASONS SET, MORE TO COME IN AUGUST
The Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources approved the special Canada goose hunting zones and
the early duck and goose seasons during a special session last
week.
The special Canada goose season for the Des Moines zone and the
Cedar Rapids Iowa City zone is Sept. 1 to 15. The daily
bag limit is three geese with a possession limit of six.
The early Canada goose season is Sept. 11 to 12, in the portion
of Iowa north of U.S. Hwy. 20. The daily bag limit is two geese
with a possession limit of four. |
The early duck season is Sept. 18 to 22
in the north duck zone and Sept. 25 to 26 in the south duck zone.
The bag limits in the early duck season will be the same as the
regular duck season, which will be established at the August
12 meeting of the Natural Resource Commission.
Seasons are set for three other species. Rails [sora and Virginia]
season is Sept. 4 to Nov. 12 with a daily bag limit of 25 and
possession limit of 25. Woodcock season is Oct. 2 to Nov. 15
with a daily bag limit of three and possession limit of six,
and Snipe season is Sept. 4 to Nov. 28 with a daily bag limit
of eight and possession limit of 16.
The remaining waterfowl seasons and all other waterfowl regulations
will be final after the Aug. 12 meeting.
Minnesota
Dove season to start this fall
Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed legislation Wednesday that will clear
the way for Minnesota's first mourning dove season this fall
in nearly 60 years.
The season will provide additional opportunities for an estimated
30,000 to 50,000 Minnesota hunters with no adverse effect on
the bird's population, according Ed Boggess, assistant chief
of the DNR Wildlife Division.
The mourning dove is the most abundant migratory game bird in
the United States, with an estimated fall population of 400 million
birds. Minnesota has a fall population of approximately 10 million
to 12 million birds. Mourning doves are most commonly hunted
in or near open fields, along tree lines and near watering areas.
"Mourning doves are found in diverse habitats ranging from
deserts to pine forests throughout the 48 contiguous states,"
Boggess said. "Years of population monitoring and study
have shown that regulated hunting does not harm dove populations.
We support a season so Minnesota hunters can utilize the resource."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has regulatory authority
for migratory game birds, authorizes states to set seasons between
Sept. 1 and Jan. 15. Seasons may be open for 60 days with a daily
bag limit of 15 birds, or up to 70 days with a daily bag limit
of 12.
Although no final decision has been made, Boggess said Minnesota
will probably open the season on or near Sept. 1 with a daily
bag limit of 15.
"Mourning doves are early migrants, beginning in late August,"
Boggess said. "Most of the birds will have moved out of
the state by late September."
Hunters legally licensed to take small game will be able to hunt
mourning doves with no additional stamp or license requirement.
Because mourning doves are migratory birds, hunters also need
to be certified in the Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program
(HIP). To be HIP certified, hunters must identify themselves
as migratory bird hunters when they purchase a small game license
or sports license. HIP certification is free. |
