Hunting
Lethal Shots and Deer Recovery Tips
Lethal Shots and Deer Recovery Tips: Aiming for Success The use of tracking dogs originated in Europe in the 1800’s. Recovering wounded deer with the aid of a leashed dog became a legal method in Iowa in 2020. A total of 6,216 deer were recovered by United Blood Trackers/Iowa Blood Trackers members across the nation […]
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How To Call Bobcats
How To Call Bobcats A doe peacefully munched soybeans in the field out in front of me as I sat hidden in the shadows overlooking the field behind my calling partners Larry McKnight and Mark Johnston. Sounds of the agonizing wails of a dying rabbit pierced the air every few minutes as Larry called from […]
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10 Tips for Iowa Rut
10 Tips for Iowa Rut Time-is-a-ticking, and before you know it, you’ll be pinned down, eye to eye with that old mature doe. The stomps seem like days, and days feel like weeks. But this time you took the week off and dropped her with the “if she blows, she goes’’ motto. You sit down […]
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Choosing Ammo for Iowa Deer Season
Choosing Ammo for Iowa Deer Season We are approaching one of our favorite times of the year – deer season! The anticipation and preparation for deer seasons can be as much fun as the hunt itself. Be aware of your state’s regulations pertaining to legal firearms and ammunition. As you know, several of our Midwestern […]
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Selecting Loads for Pheasant Season
Selecting Loads for Pheasant Season It’s that time of the year again, when many of us dream about opening day for hunting the wily rooster pheasant. For nearly 60 years, which starts to date me, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed chasing the old rooster, almost always behind my favorite dog. We have always enjoyed the experience hunting […]
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Hunting Nocturnal Bucks in Iowa: Whitetails 365
Hunting Nocturnal Bucks in Iowa: Whitetails 365 So, you’ve set your sights on bagging that elusive buck. You’ve put in your time scouting with trail cameras and glassing him in green soybean fields. Once October 1 hits, he disappears. When you do get pictures of him, it’s only at night. Now we begin the quest […]
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Top Public Upland Hunting Areas in Iowa
Top Public Hunting Upland Areas in Iowa Iowa’s rolling fields and picturesque landscapes set the stage for an exhilarating outdoor pursuit that is just around the corner, pheasant season. As the leaves begin to turn and a crisp autumn breeze fills the air, hunters from across the state and beyond eagerly anticipate the opening of […]
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5 Tips to Bag More Pheasants this Season
5 Tips to Bag More Pheasants this Season It was an unseasonably warm South Dakota day, the kind of day we all love, unless we’re in the midst of a pheasant hunt. This weather made the birds jumpy, which was troublesome, considering we were hunting public land birds that receive a great deal of hunting […]
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Preparing for Trapping Season
Preparing for Trapping Season When October rolls around and that cool fall air begins to hit it always instills the insatiable desire to hunt and trap. With only a few hunting seasons open in Iowa, one of the best ways to try and scratch the itch is beginning the preparations for the upcoming trapping season. […]
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Analyzing Blood Trails: Know What Your Blood Trail Means
Analyzing Blood Trails: Know What Your Blood Trail Means Just after dark, there was a knock at our door. When I answered, it was one of my hunting mentors standing there in full camo ready to give a report of his evening hunt. “I hit it, but it’s still going,” is what was reported. We […]
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