Upland

Common Wing Shooting Mistakes

Common Wing Shooting Mistakes By Nick Johnson Wing Shooting is a fantastic outdoor sport that many of us grew up having the privilege to partake in. For some, myself included, pheasant hunting was what led me to love the sport of hunting, apply hunter’s safety and respect wildlife. Pheasants are definitely a popular choice for […]

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November Pheasant Hunting

November Pheasant Hunting By Troy Hoepker Say the words “November in Iowa” to a devoted bird hunter and the mind conjures up a multitude of ambient memories. Memories of birds in flight, dogs bounding through the grasses with nose to ground, and the camaraderie shared by family and friends in the field whom share the […]

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5 Life Lessons Learned from the Field

5 Life Lessons Learned from the Field By Bailey Dodd Imagine this, you take your five year old daughter on a turkey hunt. You forget hearing protection so you tell her that she will need to plug her ears if you take a shot so it won’t be as loud. A big gobbler steps out […]

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A DIY Preseason Game Plan for Gundogs

A DIY Preseason Game Plan for Gundogs By Kent Boucher In my football playing days the preseason was one of the most intense times of the year. Although the coach’s calendar would say the preseason officially started sometime in early August, in reality it began months earlier during the summer weight lifting and conditioning program. […]

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Exploring Iowa’s Pheasant Heritage

Exploring Iowa’s Pheasant Heritage By Troy Hoepker I venture to guess that Iowa residents of Black Hawk, Grundy, Butler and Bremer counties in 1901 and 1902 had to wonder, “What is this mysterious bird that seemingly appeared on the Iowa prairie almost overnight?” It’s large chicken-like size, beautiful plumage and distinct white stripe encircling the […]

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“Daddy, I’m big enough to go too”

“Daddy, I’m big enough to go too” By Troy Hoepker When you’re 6 years old it’s just plain hard to watch Dad load the truck and then disappear with your puppy for a morning of pheasant hunting without you! That’s especially true when your older brother, who is old enough to hunt himself, sometimes gets […]

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Successful Iowa Duck Hunting

Successful Iowa Duck Hunting By Nick Johnson Long at last, waterfowl season is upon us once again. This is a time of year that I have cherished since my early years as a hunter and something that reignites the excitement and passion, no different than October 1st for the bow guys and gals, or that […]

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Hunting Early Season Pheasants

Hunting Early Season Pheasants By Jessica Graham October is finally here and for pheasant hunters, that means Iowa’s pheasant season will soon open. We know from survey results that last year’s pheasant hunting was phenomenal. In fact, hunters harvested more pheasants last year than any year in the last decade. We want this year to […]

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30 Things Every Hunter Worth their Salt Should Know How To Do

30 Things Every Hunter Worth their Salt Should Know How To Do By Aaron Stonehocker Sportsmen come from all walks of life: rich, poor, young, retired, self-inspired, or groomed into the lifestyle by those who came before us. It is safe to say that no two hunters have precisely the same tastes when it comes […]

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Hunting Iowa’s Wild Pheasants

Hunting Iowa’s Wild Pheasants By Troy Hoepker As my son Dylan and I turned onto the gravel road leading to our opening day hunting spot last fall we kept our fingers crossed that maybe we’d be lucky enough to be the first hunters to arrive at the IHAP public hunting farm. It was still a […]

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