hunting
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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Things to Consider When Purchasing a Crossbow
What to Consider When Purchasing a Crossbow We are fortunate to be able to live and hunt world-class whitetails in the state of Iowa. A few things contribute to the trophy class deer such as agriculture production, wildlife research, and hunting rules and regulations set by the Iowa DNR. The state of Iowa has done […]
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How to Hunt Iowa’s Wildlife
How to Hunt Iowa’s Wildlife I am a chronically late person. Church services, family gatherings, meeting up with hunting buddies, even this article is coming down to the wire on the due date. Besides the self-loathing for my poor time management, I worry that others who may notice my frequent tardiness will assess that it […]
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Getting Ready for the 2021 Duck Season
Getting Ready for the 2021 Duck Hunting Season When it comes to hunting and fishing, we all are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Cold fronts, pressure systems, winds, heavy rains, lack of rain…they all affect our hunting and fishing. However, I think that duck hunters are most at the mercy of Mother Nature. Year […]
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What to Look for When Purchasing a Stationary Deer Blind
What to Look for When Purchasing a Stationary Deer Blind By Jessica Graham Hunting blinds are quickly becoming a staple in Iowa’s landscape. Take a drive through rural Iowa and you will see box blinds on the edges of fields and timbers. Before buying a blind, there are some questions you should consider such as: […]
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A Place For Family and Friends: The Outdoors
A Place for Family and Friends: The Outdoors As a young man growing up in the Loess Hills of western Iowa, I was too busy pursuing teenage interests to realize the beauty the hills had to offer. It wasn’t until I was older and a college student at Mankato State University that I found myself […]
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Deer Scouting 101
Deer Scouting 101 August is here and the impending deer season is rapidly approaching for you! The seconds can’t pass fast enough for us as we await the sunrise of that treasured date. However, there is a lot to do if you are going to enter into the deer season prepared. There is more to […]
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Timing Your Fall Plots: Whitetails 365
Whitetails 365: Timing Your Fall Plots As I sit writing the July installment of the Whitetails 365 column, I’m surrounded by farmers planting their spring crops with sudden urgency. The conditions are just right…warm enough, dry enough, right time of year. Millions of acres of corn and soybeans will be planted in really a very […]
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The Kill Plot: Whitetails 365
The Kill Plot: Whitetails 365 I get a many questions about what to plant for food plots. It’s the biggest question whitetail hunters who plant food plots ask. More specifically, the question of what to plant for food plots inside timber. Small plots surrounded by cover, or logging roads? These small plots inside cover were […]
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Whitetails 365: Protecting Grain Food Plots
Whitetails 365: Protecting Grain Food Plots Why? Why would any hunter want to protect or fence off a food plot so that deer can’t get in? Sounds counter to every reason a hunter would plant a food plot to begin with. And while it’s absolutely true keeping deer from getting into your food plots might […]
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