hunting

Set A Rut Ambush: Locations to Fool Bucks

Set A Rut Ambush: Locations to Fool Bucks By Ben Leal With hunting season well underway, deer hunters across the state have gotten their taste of the chase. November rolls in and we begin to see rutting bucks chase after hot does, while at the same time leaving their marks warning off potential competitors. Little […]

Hunting Locked Down Bucks

Hunting Locked Down Bucks As the old saying goes: The only certainties in life are death, taxes, and locked down bucks come November. Well, most of that saying is well-known, but in the whitetail world losing tabs on a bruiser buck during November is almost always a certainty. Deer hunting can be very fickle. There […]

Reflections on Deer Season

Reflections on Deer Season Hunting season, for us, is more than just chasing whitetails or birds; it’s our escape button. It gives us a much-needed chance for escape and an opportunity to connect with God, nature, as well as friends and family. Hunting is how we finally slow down, take a solid break from the […]

Hunting Late Season Roosters

Hunting Late Season Roosters The diesel pickup rumbled down the county road, snow swirling in the headlights. December in Iowa meant the end of the season was coming, and the weather had finally turned nasty Beside me sat Gunner, my two-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer vibrating with energy in the passenger seat. Now, it is about […]

Late Season Hail Mary

Late Season Hail Mary Late season whitetail hunting in Iowa can be incredibly productive, and for me, this is when I see the big bucks. The ones that have eluded myself and the neighbors, the ones that seemed nocturnal now are moving during the day. This is the time when you can get that trophy […]

Muzzleloading in Cold Temperatures

Guide to Shooting Your Muzzleloader in Cold Temperatures Muzzleloaders were one of our earliest guns, and they still have a special place in the hunting community. The muzzleloaders most of us use today, are in-line and much more accurate than the traditional flintlock muzzleloaders. However, you still need to consider how the colder weather will […]

Ringnecks Rise from the Ashes

Ringnecks Rise from the Ashes By Troy Hoepker I can still see that bird spinning straight upward into the blue sky like it was yesterday. I thought it might never come down! It was hit and sent into a spin yet it continued to gain elevation. If it hadn’t been for my good buddy and […]

Common Myths Concerning Deer Movement

Common Myths Concerning Deer Movement In 1953 Iowa held its first modern deer season for hunters and there has been a deer season of some sort ever since. In those passing years, we’ve learned a lot about deer behavior, habits, nutrition, needs, and more. Experts in wildlife biology have used that information to help us […]

3 Killer Tactics for Iowa’s Gun Seasons

3 Killer Tactics for Hunting Iowa’s Gun Seasons There is something incredibly exciting about the opening day of Iowa’s gun seasons. Walking into my stand, my anticipation is high, as I’ve been watching deer from afar during Iowa’s bow seasons. Generations of Iowans have lived for this moment, when months of scouting, stories, and anticipation […]

Raccoon Calling 101

Raccoon Calling 101: Sounds, Setups, and Strategies Several years ago, when I was dating my now husband, Nathan, he asked me if I wanted to go raccoon calling with him. We loved being outdoors, and most of our time spent together revolved around fishing, target shooting, and hunting. When he asked about raccoon calling, I […]

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