IA DNR: Hunter Education

LEMARS - James Urban, 46, from LeMars, was found guilty of unlawful possession of furbearing animals by a jury and sentenced to 365 days in jail, with all but 120 days suspended. Urban was fined $1,039 which includes surcharges and court costs, assessed $8,050 in liquidated damages, forfeited about $18,000 worth of traps and trapping equipment and had his license suspended until 2024. The case came to a close on May 8.

Urban has had 12 prior trapping convictions dating back to 1989, and had his trapping privileges suspended since 2002. This was Urban's fourth trapping related offense while he was under suspension. The charges were aggravated misdemeanors. "We normally don't get aggravated misdemeanors with fish and game violations," said Chad Morrow, conservation officer with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in Plymouth and Cherokee counties. "Hopefully, this last sentence will have an impact on him."

This most recent case found Urban trapping illegally in Woodbury, Plymouth and Cherokee counties, but he has trapped in many other counties in northwest Iowa.

The case began in September 2006, when officers, suspecting Urban had been trapping while his license was suspended, served a search warrant on his house in January 2007 and discovered trapping equipment and 40 raccoons and one badger. Before the trial began, Urban was convicted of probation violation from his previous cases and served 135 days in jail.

Urban will be on probation for two years upon his release from jail, and while on probation he cannot trap, be in possession of any traps or accompany anyone who is trapping.

The case was a cooperative effort among conservation officers in the northwest district.

For more information, contact Iowa DNR Conservation Officer Chad Morrow at 712-260-1023.

SPRING TURKEY HUNTING SAFETY TIPS

Hunters, hikers, bikers and morel mushroom fans, should plan to wear blaze orange while walking into and through the woods during spring turkey hunting season. The brightly colored orange will help announce to others that you are not a turkey. The different shades of brown, and the red, white and blue of a turkey head are all colors to avoid.

"You definitely want to be seen from all directions while walking into and out of the woods," said Mick Klemesrud, with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "And turkeys do not wear blaze orange."

Klemesrud said hunters on private property should know ahead of time if anyone else has permission to hunt the same ground, during the same season. If there are other hunters out there, each hunter should know where the others will be hunting.

"Knowing the layout of the land where the hunt will take place is all part of the hunting plan," he said. "Even if you are not hunting together, if another hunter is out there, find out where they will be hunting, when they are going out and by which route. You must be able to see the identifying features of the male turkey. Also, bag that bird in a blaze orange game bag once it is harvested and tagged to carry it out of the timber."

Shooting at movement and stalking a turkey are two 'no-no's in the safety world. Make sure to identify the target and what is beyond the target. And stick to the hunting plan.

"The goal of each hunt is for each hunter to return safely at the end of the day," he said. "After all, we go hunting with our friends and our family; people who are close to us. Take time to be safe. Once you pull the trigger, there is no calling the shot back."

For more information, contact Klemesrud at 515-281-8653.