Special to the Times Vedette

Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff Todd Thorn reported a car vs. deer accident occurring on Aug. 20 at 4:02 p.m. on Highway 44. Mathison Minnie Ayers, 25, of Guthrie Center was driving a 2016 Dodge Charger SXT eastbound on Highway 44 and collided with a deer in the roadway.  Damage to the Charger is estimated at $7,000. No citations were issued. 

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the regular meeting of the Guthrie County Hospital Board of Trustees, CEO Chris Stipe asked the trustees to consider approving employee bonuses for all staff. Stipe explained how, following feedback from employees, the hospital is now considering employee performance reviews (and any possible related pay increases) separately from consideration of possible employee bonuses.

“Last year, we included whether or not the organization achieved its goals as a part of the individual review for each employee. Twenty percent of your review was dictated by the organization’s performance,” Stipe said. “No longer is that the case.”

Stipe said any potential bonuses are now based on the overall performance of the organization.

“We rise or fall as a team,” Stipe said.

Stipe suggested a bonus of $512 for each full-time and part-time employee, and $256 for each “as needed” employee. He said any bonuses would be taxed, so employees would get a somewhat smaller take-home amount. The total budgetary impact to the organization would be roughly $52,000. The board voted to approve the bonuses as proposed. The timing of the bonuses was not yet determined.

Danielle Lauzon provided a summary of recent quality measurement data. She said there were 41 medication errors in fiscal year 2024, up slightly from the 39 medication errors in fiscal year 2023. She also shared data on employee injuries.

Stipe shared that regarding Workers Compensation, the hospital was tied for the lowest claims of any hospitals in Iowa, which he said is excellent.

“Even though we have some injuries, they’re not serious, and we’re not missing a lot of work days, so we’re doing better than almost all the hospitals in the state,” Stipe said.

Upon completion of the other agenda items, the board went into a special closed session as allowed by law.

The next regular meeting of the board is set for Thursday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. The public is welcome. For more information, including how to view remotely, visit www.guthriecountyhospital.org.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

The good news for Iowa’s cottontail rabbit hunters is that Iowa has an abundant rabbit population, with the southern half of the state seeing the best overall numbers. The better news for hunters is Iowa’s cottontail rabbit season begins Aug. 31 statewide.

“It should be another good year for rabbit hunting not only for experienced hunters, but for young or novice hunters who can learn necessary skills with little competition,” Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said. “Rabbits have been one of the most stable populations of our upland species we’ve had in the state.”

Last year, an estimated 19,600 hunters harvested nearly 68,500 cottontail rabbits. The most popular way to hunt is with a shotgun walking brushy areas with grass next to crop fields in the morning or evening. It can be done individually or with a group of friends.

Rabbit hunting does not require a significant investment or high-tech equipment, just a shotgun or .22 rifle and some shells. Rabbit is a lean, low fat meat and popular table fare considered a delicacy in many culinary circles.

Cottontail rabbit season is Aug. 31 to Feb. 28, 2025. The daily limit is 10 rabbits with a possession limit of 20. Jackrabbit season is closed. While wearing blaze orange clothing is not required to hunt rabbits, it is recommended. Shooting hours for rabbits is sunrise to sunset.

Iowa’s cottontail rabbit population estimates are included in the recently completed August roadside survey of upland wildlife species that will be posted at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey by early September.

Local squirrel populations vary depending upon nut production and it appears to be a good nut year in many areas. Squirrels will be found around hickory trees, oaks and walnuts for their food resources.

Squirrel hunting is an inexpensive and exciting way to get introduced into hunting. Those new to hunting can gain valuable woodsmanship skills as squirrels will twist and turn hunters through the woodlands. It’s also an opportunity to meet new landowners.

“Squirrel hunting is an opportunity to hone your skills to avoid being seen while in the woods, skills needed to hunt other species, like deer and wild turkey. If you mess up and spook a squirrel, there is usually another one just down the ridge,” Jim Coffey, forest wildlife biologist for the Iowa DNR, said. “Get yourself outside chasing squirrels and bring someone new to hunting along. Squirrels are definitely an underutilized resource.”

Be prepared during early squirrel season for mosquitoes and other flying pests, Coffey said, and try and hunt in the early cool mornings as squirrels will be very active before the heat of the day.

Hunters will generally find plenty of squirrels and little competition. This would also be a good opportunity to do some scouting for a spring turkey hunt or to look for whitetail deer rubs before bow season.

“These honed skills will make you an overall better hunter. Many of the skills needed for squirrel hunting are also used for spring turkey hunting,” Coffey said. Common hunting methods include stalking or sitting and calling. Sitting and calling will require good camouflage and minimal movement. Stalking relies on hearing them eating or barking.

Last year, nearly 22,000 squirrel hunters harvested approximately 94,000 squirrels.

Squirrel season is Aug. 31 to Jan. 31, 2025, with a daily bag limit of six total or combination of red fox squirrels or eastern grey squirrels and a possession limit of 12.  Fox squirrels are generally found in more open pasture timber and woodlots whereas grey squirrels tend to be in more mature timber. There is no restriction on shooting hours.

Hunters looking for places to go rabbit or squirrel hunting should use Iowa’s online hunting atlas at www.iowadnr.gov/hunting, with more than 600,000 acres of public land that allows hunting.

Hunters have the opportunity to hunt these species on additional acres of private land enrolled into the popular Iowa Habitat and Access Program (IHAP). The IHAP allows hunters access to the portion of the property covered by the agreement, from Sept. 1 to May 31. Conservation officers will provide assistance and enforcement, if needed.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources 

Iowa’s pheasant hunters bagged more than 590,000 roosters last fall, the most since 2007. The 62% increase in harvest was due to a strong population of pheasants and to a 32% increase in the number of pheasant hunters.

“We’ve had a pheasant population that could support a harvest of around 600,000 birds for a few years now, but we couldn’t reach that total until our hunter numbers returned to the mid-2000s level. Last year they did, and our harvest reflected that,” Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, said.

Bogenschutz estimated more than 83,600 hunters pursued pheasants in Iowa last fall, up from 63,500 in 2022. Only South Dakota had more pheasants harvested last year.

Drought years benefit ground nesting birds, like turkeys and pheasants, and with three straight years of drought and mild winters, pheasant survival and nesting success was good. And the population was confirmed each year by the annual August pheasant survey.

The 2024 pheasant survey concluded on Aug. 15, and while the results are expected to show a population slightly lower due to spring flooding, Iowa hunters should still expect to find good bird numbers across much of the northern half of the state. The results will be online by early September.

Iowa’s quail harvest increased by an estimated 42% to more than 30,000 birds, thanks, in part, to an 18% increase in hunter numbers.

Iowa’s rabbit harvest declined by 23% to an estimated 68,500. Squirrel harvest increased 11% to more than 94,000, and 35% more mourning doves were taken in 2023 than in 2022, likely do to 39% more hunters sitting in the sunflowers.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa’s sunflower and wheat fields will be popular places on Sept. 1, when thousands of hunters slip into the standing flowers and field edges in the early morning darkness for the opening day of dove hunting season.

The 2023 season saw the highest number of doves harvested since Iowa began holding mourning dove seasons — nearly 195,000 birds — and hunters are optimistic for what 2024 has in store.

Fast paced and fun, dove hunting can be done by nearly everyone regardless of skill level or mobility. It doesn’t require expensive equipment to participate, only clothes that blend in to the background, a bucket and plenty of shells. There’s a lot of action with a steady stream of doves coming in.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) includes a list of wildlife areas at www.iowadnr.gov/doves where dove plots were planted and identifies the access point nearest the plot. Hunters are encouraged to do some preseason scouting to see if the sunflower planting was successful or if it was stunted, damaged or flooded out from the spring and summer storms.

“Scouting will be important this year especially with the consistent rains we’ve had,” Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR, said. “Check the condition of the dove field, and then scout it a day or two ahead of the season to see if and how the doves are using it. We should have good hunting if the weather cooperates — if we get a 40-50-degree night, we could see them head south in a hurry.”

Fields in the west central Iowa are in fairly good shape, overall. In the southeast region, fields are generally in good condition with a few fields or parts of fields that didn’t produce.

Hunters looking for Plan B may want to focus on private land silage or hay fields, or where farmers harvested small grain fields, grazed pastures or feedlots.

Dove plots are getting increasingly busy on opening day and hunters are encouraged to be courteous to one another, to pick up their spent shell casings and other trash and leave the field in good condition. Dove hunting is a good opportunity to introduce someone new to the sport because there is often a lot of action.

Dove season is Sept. 1 to Nov. 29. Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily bag limit is 15 (mourning or Eurasian collared) with a possession limit of 30.

Hunters are reminded that their gun must be plugged to hold no more than three shells. If hunting public areas north of I-80, hunters should check to see if nontoxic shot is required. The Iowa online Hunting Atlas at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Places-to-Hunt-Shoot identifies all county, state and federal land open to hunting, zone information and nontoxic shot requirements.

All dove hunters are required to register with the migratory Harvest Information Program (HIP). It’s free, fast and the information is used to help determine participation and harvest. Go to www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds to register.