This fall, over 100,000 Iowans will take refuge in the fields and forests of our state to participate in an annual ritual: deer season. This ritual however has shallow roots, dating only to the 1950s thanks to the successful restoration of white-tailed deer following their extinction in the state. The annual tradition is important for farms and farmers, car bumpers and their insurance companies, and most importantly, families who annually share time outdoors, creating memories, and harvest a healthy food source. The growth of this tradition in Iowa is a true conservation success story.
Soaring above many of these hunters this fall will be another symbol of the conservation movement’s meritorious achievements of the 20th century. The bald eagle was once entirely absent from Iowa’s rivers and fields due to the impacts of the chemical DDT. But, as the story for the white-tails goes, the eagle was restored through the passionate efforts of concerned citizens and wildlife agencies and today can be seen in every corner of the state.
Today, thanks to 21st century research in Minnesota, Arizona, and elsewhere, we’re learning about an important nexus between these two conservation success stories that’s leading scientists and both hunting and non-hunting wildlife champions to encourage a minor tweak in the traditional equipment used for hunting deer...
Continue reading the story on the Acreage Living Newsletter here.