Waterfowl

Hunting Dog Hunt Tests

What’s in a Hunt Test?

What’s in a Hunt Test? As bird hunters there is so much we enjoy about our experiences in the field. Shooting your limit of birds, enjoying time with family and friends, or simply taking in the outdoors are all part of those great experiences. I am going to be honest; I have reached a point […]

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3 Attractions for the Sportsman To Enjoy at the Iowa State Fair

3 Attractions for the Sportsman To Enjoy at the Iowa State Fair It’s July, and chances are if you are in Iowa, you are thinking about a trip to the Iowa State Fair. It is an Iowa staple in August; most Iowans venture out to the fair to view the animals, live entertainment, and of […]

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Dutch oven Campfire cooking

Dutch Oven Campfire Cooking

Dutch Oven Campfire Cooking Camping season is upon us and it’s time to think of what you’re going to eat. Sure, you could do the easy stuff like cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and roast a hotdog over the fire for dinner. But why not try something a little better? Who wouldn’t like a […]

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Whitetails 365: Please and Thank You

Whitetails 365: Please and Thank You I recently had a conversation with a good friend where he said he’d sure like to hunt a particular block of timber. I asked if he had sought permission to hunt said timber to which he replied, “No.” When I questioned as to why there was not a good […]

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Did I Miss Him?

Did I Miss Him? Most people might think that middle schoolers can’t or don’t learn from their mistakes. From my experience, there are many lessons to be learned from hunting. My name is Bailey Dodd. I’m a 13-year-old girl, in 8th grade. I have been hunting, trapping, and fishing with my Dad since I was […]

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Digital Hunting Maps And How To Use Them

Digital Hunting Maps And How To Use Them It’s crazy to think back ten to fifteen years ago and relive the days when a very important tool for me in terms of hunting was a hard copy of the Iowa Sportsman’s Atlas. I still have that Atlas somewhere tucked away in storage, full of highlighter […]

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Winter Accommondations for Dogs

Winter Accommodations for Our Dogs

Winter Accommodations for Our Dogs The winter months here in the Midwest can pose threats to the comfort and health of our dogs, especially when they live out in the kennel. I personally have my dogs in the house, but definitely like to give them adequate time outdoors in the kennel as well. This time […]

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affordable hunting bucket list

The Poor Man’s Bucket List

The Poor Man’s Bucket List It is easy to get all juiced up about hunting out west after watching a half hour hunting show where a celebrity hunter whacks a monster bull, buck or ram. Just as in ancient mythology where the Sirens called out to Oedipus to come to their beautiful shores, the mountains […]

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Iowa Small Game

Thinking Small

Thinking Small Hunting in Iowa has changed significantly during my lifetime. Four decades ago wild turkey and deer were scarce or non-existent in much of the state. Most hunters started out shooting squirrels and rabbits before moving on to pheasants and/or waterfowl. Only then did they graduate to larger game, if they had access to […]

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Bismuth Shot Fundamentals

Bismuth Shot Fundamentals Around the time I was born, lead shot used in waterfowl hunting began to be phased out. I vaguely recall my dad and grandpas grumbling about the lesser performance of steel shot for a few years preceding when I was old enough to know what duck hunting was. Nonetheless, this was the […]

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