(Radio Iowa) – The legislature has sent the governor a bill that would set up a new January hunting season for deer in counties where some of the state licenses for harvesting antlerless deer were not sold. Senator Ken Rozenboom says the bill would let deer hunters use semi-automatic rifles during that period. “The purpose of this season is not to hunt for sport, but rather to manage the size of the herd,” Rozenboom says, “which is why more efficient and effective firearms are being authorized.”

The bill cleared the Senate unanimously in April and the House approved it today (Tuesday) on a 56 to 34 vote. Representative Todd Prichard, a Democrat from Charles City, says it’s a dangerous idea to use A-R 15’s to hunt for deer. “The range that I’m familiar with this type of weapon and round is 3400-3600 meters,” Prichard says. “It’s about two and a half miles…five miles in diameter.” Prichard, who is a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, says an experienced person using an A-R-15 can hit a target that’s about six football fields away, but the bullets can fly a lot farther.

“I think I had something like 200 hours of basic rifle marksmanship to learn how to handle a similar weapon to qualify and to be combat certified,” Prichard says. “Are we going to require that for deer hunters now? I doubt it.” Senator Rozenboom’s bill also calls on the Iowa Insurance Division, the Iowa D-O-T, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University to complete a study of the state’s deer herd by the fall of 2023.

“To get a thorough look at the overall deer population and it’s impact on crops, on trees (and) property loss, medical costs and fatalities due vehicle accidents with deer,” Rosenboom says. Rozenboom, who is from Oskaloosa, says this won’t be the last bill he sponsors on the subject. “I have become convinced that the deer population in parts of the state, including in my senate district, that those populations are sometimes out of control,” Rozenboom said, “or out of balance anyway.”

The bill also reduces the civil fine for hunters caught illegally shooting an antlerless deer. The Iowa Farm Bureau supports the legislation, arguing deer are damaging and eating crops. Pheasants Forever, the Iowa Bow Hunters Association, the Iowa Conservation Alliance and the State Police Officers Council are opposed to the bill.