Make a stand for public land - Iowa 2025

[Flatbrimmer]

ahh yes, the bow magnum! Now they have streamlined the process and made it much safer. And even legalish? Coulda made millions!

 

[BrentD]

ahh yes, the bow magnum! Now they have streamlined the process and made it much safer. And even legalish? Coulda made millions!

OK. So, how many of you are going to try this this weekend?

 

[Bonasababy]

You guys should use the recent MN experience on crossbows.

Few years back our legislature...at the last minute, with no chance for public testimony or for the DNR to provide comments...made crossbows legal for the entire bow season.

Since then while license sales have not changed much, archery harvest has risen dramatically. This past fall more deer were taken by crossbow than muzzleloaders, and we have a fair number of MZ hunters. There a places where no antlerless permits are allowed but you can take them by crossbow.

It's a real mess that could have been prevented.

 

[Pucky Freak]

The bill to allow ATV's on public land passed subcommittee today. Here is the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee contact information:
[email protected]
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[Gellar]

The bill to allow ATV's on public land passed subcommittee today. Here is the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee contact information:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Can you post the bill number to this?

 

[Gellar]

NM I found it. HF 107 https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF107&ga=91

 

[Gellar]

I’ll post more on this bill tomorrow, but it is my understanding one of the biggest reasons ATVs are not allowed now is because how the land is purchased. Using certain funding programs prohibits Atv use.

 

[Bonasababy]

I’ll post more on this bill tomorrow, but it is my understanding one of the biggest reasons ATVs are not allowed now is because how the land is purchased. Using certain funding programs prohibits Atv use.

Would not be the first time a right leaning governor or legislature has ignored federal aid requirements.

This time though I doubt the feds will push back. Lawsuit might be needed. Or the threat of one.

 

[Gellar]

Besides the funding aspect of it, here is why this is a bad bill. It is very vaguely written and leaves out many crucial details. This bill is for the operation of an ATV/UTV on public hunting areas for the express purpose of retrieving downed game. In my interpretation, that means that I cannot use an atv to carry my ladder stand a half mile to the back of a public area, but I can only use it to retrieve downed game. We already allow handicapped individuals to apply for a permit to operate a ATV on public hunting areas for the purpose of hunting. This bill would allow anyone to use an ATV. The majority of public areas in Iowa are no more than a 1/2 mile walk to the furthest point from the trailhead. The public areas that I am familiar with do not have adequate trails or roads to allow for atv traffic. Would the DNR have to construct additional trails to allow for atv use at public areas? Who is going to enforce this? The DNR has failed to fill vacancies for Conservation Officer positions and many of the officers are responsible for covering 2 or 3 counties.

 

[Gellar]

Here is the letter I just sent to my represtentative who is on the committee.

Dear Mr. Gearhart,

I am opposed to H.F. 107 to allow the operation of atv/utv’s on public land in Iowa for the express retrieval of game during hunting season. Iowa already allows for individuals who need assistance to apply for a permit to operate atv/utv’s on public land as written on page 49 of the current Iowa Hunting Regulations. Furthermore, the operation of these machines on public land will negatively affect the experience of all other hunters who are using the public land as well. Most of Iowa’s public hunting areas are small parcels of land with multiple points of access making a walk into an area minimal. Most of Iowa’s public hunting areas do not have adequate trails or roads for the operation of these vehicles. Allowing these vehicles to operate on public hunting areas will negatively affect the ecosystem and habitat that the area is designed to protect. Lastly, Iowa does not currently have enough DNR Conservation Officers to enforce the rules and operation of these vehicles on public hunting areas along with the slue of other enforcement responsibilities the officers already have. I thank you for your time and consideration of the negative impact that this bill will have on the majority of Iowa’s public land users.

 

[Gellar]

Wow, I received an email back from Mr. Gearhart. I would still be opposed to this but I find it promising that he wrote back an email something other than a generic form email and maybe their is some hope?

 

[Pucky Freak]

I emailed the whole committee, and my one reply was also from Rep. Geahart.

 

[Gellar]

I emailed the whole committee, and my one reply was also from Rep. Geahart.

He was elected for the first time in November. He had a pretty contested primary, but not much in the general. I know he was big on firearm support during his primary.

 

[Pucky Freak]

In my interpretation, that means that I cannot use an atv to carry my ladder stand a half mile to the back of a public area, but I can only use it to retrieve downed game.

I imagine a gang of hunters pushing a public area (deer drive), then driving an ATV up and down every road and trail on the property to try and spot carcasses. By the letter of the proposed law, that would be legal.

Also, is a lone hunter going to walk a mile in, kill a deer, walk a mile out, then return w/ an ATV? I bet the majority of the time they just ride in and hunt. Didn’t get a deer? Well, the ATV is there for game retrieval.

 

[Gellar]

I imagine a gang of hunters pushing a public area (deer drive), then driving an ATV up and down every road and trail on the property to try and spot carcasses. By the letter of the proposed law, that would be legal.

Also, is a lone hunter going to walk a mile in, kill a deer, walk a mile out, then return w/ an ATV? I bet the majority of the time they just ride in and hunt. Didn’t get a deer? Well, the ATV is there for game retrieval.

There is no doubt the rule will be abused, and with minimal law enforcement that abuse will go mostly unpunished. I have a feeling this bill is just a stepping stone to opening the public areas to atv/utv use perpetually.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Re: Mr. Geahart’s question about minimum size of the hunting area, ATV’s in the biggest spots are almost worse than on the small ones. IA and KS are the only States without wilderness areas, apart from a handful of small States in the Northeast. The only thing we have even closely approximating wilderness are 4 state forests, Red Rock, Rathbun, and a handful of large WMA’s. Those are the precious few places in our State where someone can get away from noise and traffic.

 

[Pucky Freak]

There is no doubt the rule will be abused, and with minimal law enforcement that abuse will go mostly unpunished. I have a feeling this bill is just a stepping stone to opening the public areas to atv/utv use perpetually.

No different from crossbows, airbows, outfitter tags, unlimited NR deer tags, and NR landowner tags. It’s almost always a pry bar bill to get their foot through the door, followed by death by a thousand cuts over the next decade of legislation, as they nudge it closer to the original unstated agenda.

 

[Pucky Freak]

Oh and eliminating any new acres of public land…forgot that one.