Iowa’s New Deer Zones and Big Buck Counties
Iowa’s New Deer Zones and Big Buck Counties One of the best things about living in Iowa is the abundance of hunting opportunities. Iowa has made it so youth hunters can go out, get fill their tag and enjoy the outdoors. While I absolutely love that anyone can hunt and get meat for their freezer, […]
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Whitetail 365: Hunting the Iowa Rut Phases for 2026
Whitetail 365: Hunting the Rut Phases for 2026 One of the most widely used words in the entire deer hunter’s vernacular is short but for many holds the weight of the world. The word that hunters live, breathe, take vacation from work because of, plan schedules around and look forward to the most is simple: […]
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Bowhunting Iowa Boone & Crockett Bucks
A Classic Evening with an Iowa Giant – Bowhunting Boone & Crockett Bucks Does a plan ever fall into place the way it should? The months leading up to October and November are filled with daydreams of target bucks making their way in front of our stands. Perfect conditions, with a shooter buck coming in […]
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Tips for Finding Pressured Pheasants
Tips for Finding Pressured Pheasants As the season takes its toll, pheasants get more anxious, educated, and seemingly less flighty. They’ve seen it all: dogs, multiple-person drives; now it seems as if they’ve become dormant. Where did they go? What will it take for you to change your game to get into more birds? Look […]
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Lessons Learned from the Duck Blind: Waterfowl Hunting Tips
Lessons Learned from the Duck Blind The morning air was cold as I settled into the blind, my shotgun resting across my knees. Two buddies and I were able to get together on the Friday after Thanksgiving. We’ve grown up together, and they were the ones that got me into duck hunting. A thin layer […]
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Trapping Bobcats
Trapping Bobcats I remember the first time I saw a bobcat like it was yesterday. It was nearly 20 years ago, back when I was in high school. I was bowhunting in a timber when some movement caught my attention. Coming from the south, a big male bobcat was sneaking along the creek. I watched […]
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Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report: Cooler Weather Signals the Fall Bite – 9/15/2026
Cooler temperatures, plenty of rain and the first signs of fall are starting to change outdoor conditions across Iowa. In the September 15, 2026, edition of the Iowa Hunting and Fishing Report, Aaron McKinney breaks down the latest fishing conditions while also getting ready for the fast-approaching bow hunting season. Before diving into the fishing […]
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Top Deer Hunting Picks for Your Pack
Top Deer Hunting Picks for Your Pack Being prepared for that first cold morning in the whitetail woods is something we’ve been dreaming about since last season closed. Having the right gear makes a world of difference between planning in the summer and tagging your next buck. Don’t fall behind this fall; here’s what you […]
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The .308 Winchester Stands the Test of Time
The .308 Winchester Stands the Test of Time The rise of newer, high-performance cartridges has led some shooters to believe that the 7.62×51mm NATO and its commercial counterpart, the .308 Winchester, are relics of another era. Critics argue that the cartridge’s time has passed. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Because the […]
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A Snowy Pheasant Hunt
Beauty in the Contrast: A Snowy Pheasant Hunt Chasing pheasants in snow is pretty sweet! The scenery’s beauty increases. The iridescent colors of the rooster exploding from the white-dressed cover are breathtaking. The coffee waiting in the truck somehow tastes better, and the post-hunt celebrations and traditions seem to linger and stick a little longer. […]
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