Hunting season has started in Iowa and even though the pheasant numbers are at their lowest in Greene County, there’s other wildlife to hunt.

Conservation Director Dan Towers notes that deer hunting is a popular time in the county.  He says the county allows hunters to purchase bonus doe tags so that they can shoot multiple deer and when does were allowed to be shot, that’s helped keep the deer population low.

As for the duck population, Towers notes hunters may have to travel elsewhere to shoot them.  He points out that unlike the lower pheasant numbers, there are plenty of ducks, they just aren’t in Iowa.

“We can’t hold them here.  Our marshes are dry in Greene County.  So the availability of ducks from last fall and this fall are pretty scarce.”

However, Towers adds, there’s an overwhelming amount of squirrels and rabbits, but there’s a downside for that.

“It’s a dying pastime.  Right now you just don’t find that many people interested in squirrel and rabbit hunting but it’s still a very good way to spend time in the outdoors.  We have more than enough squirrels and there’s rabbits everywhere, so that’s something that’s still fun.”

But, if you’re still waiting for pheasant season to begin, it will start in Greene County this Saturday.