Outdoors

The teams fishing the North America Ice Fishing Circuit qualifier on West Okoboji’s Emerson Bay could not have asked for a more perfect day: sunny skies, mild temperatures and no wind. According to NAIFC director Jack Baker, “The tournament teams had an absolutely great time on fishing West Okoboji. The legendary lake did not disappoint.”...

It’s been a very interesting ice fishing season so far. Ice came early to quite a bit of the ice region, then the weather got warm. Rain fell in some areas; heavy snow fell in others. We maybe didn’t lose a lot of ice, but we also didn’t make much. There’s cold weather in the forecast, and I’m starting to plan some trips to get after fish through the ice. Following are a couple of lakes that I would like to visit in the next few weeks. They both offer outstanding options for a variety of fish...

Fourteen tissue samples from wild Iowa deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease, bringing the total deer testing positive to chronic wasting disease in Iowa to 44. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is waiting for results on follow up tests for two suspect samples that could raise the total positives for the year to 16.  The deer tissue was collected primarily during the fall from hunter harvested and road killed deer...

If you happened to watch any college football games from the mid-60s through 2006, you probably listened to the great voice of Keith Jackson, who was one of the most famous play-by-play announcers in history. One of his often-remembered exclamations was the phrase, “Whoa Nellie!” When emphatically said, listeners knew that they had just witnessed something truly significant...

In many areas where anglers fish through the ice this time of year, we are at about the midway part of the season. Most lakes have a good cover of ice as well as some snow. We also have cold weather, lots of it. There are a number of things we can do to catch more fish through the ice this time of year, but you’ve got to go fishing to catch’em. ...

Mark this date and location on your calendar: Saturday, Jan. 12 at Haggy’s in Royal for the annual Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club (IGLFC) Wild Game Feed. All proceeds will go to benefit the Jim McDonnell Scholarship for seniors that will be awarded out later this spring...

We’ve had a really nice stretch of weather to begin the month of January. Warm temperatures and sunny conditions make us all yearn to be outside. However, when we do spend extended periods of time in the sun, don’t forget the sunscreen and the sunglasses...

Although you don’t have to get your new 2019 fishing and hunting licenses until January, a lot of anglers and hunters get their licenses beginning in mid-December. When you do get your 2019 fishing/hunting license, you will find there has been a modest increase. The increase bumps licenses on average 17 percent. This includes all resident and non-resident fishing, hunting and trapping licenses and applicable stamps/tags...

The middle part of the ice-fishing season will soon be here. There are things we do in the middle of the season that we don’t do earlier in the year. For more fishing success in the next few weeks, keep these ideas in mind. I was fishing for perch a couple of years ago in South Dakota with some friends. These guys are very good ice-anglers. As mid-day approached, the perch, as they often do, seemed to get a little finicky...

Well, we’re into the New Year, and 2018 is gone! What can you say but what a year with all kinds of ups and downs. Whether on the world, national or local level, the year was filled with tears of joy and sadness, with laughter and happiness, with words of comfort, anger and deception. I think that pretty much runs the gauntlet of emotions for 2018...

A new open access study by leading scientists rebuts unfounded criticisms and reaffirms the need for effective outdoor cat control. According to researchers, coordinated critics have mounted a “misinformation campaign designed to purposefully fabricate doubt regarding the harmful impacts of outdoor cats and stymie policies that would remove outdoor cats from the landscape.”...

Attention ice anglers, the North American Ice Fishing Circuit (NAIFC) tournament trail is coming to the Iowa Great Lakes for its second qualifier of the year Jan. 11-13, 2019. It will be a special weekend for all age groups of ice anglers along with the general public that might want to witness the fishing extravaganza...

I was with some fishing friends recently, and, as usual, the conversation turned to fishing. At some point the topic of “My favorite fishing technique” came up. I was asked what my preferred way to catch fish was. I couldn’t answer. I like to catch fish, any species of fish, and I will employ any technique that will help me catch more fish. ...

The Dickinson County Water Quality Commission awarded $305,528 towards clean water projects to be completed in Dickinson County. These funds will be matched against state and federal grants to provide water monitoring, education, coordination, best management practices, and watershed protection in three watersheds of Dickinson County, Silver Lake, Iowa Great Lakes and Little Swan Lake. ...

The DNR recently presented a $5,000 check to the Food Bank of Iowa as a result of several fundraisers throughout the year within the department. Over the last decade, the DNR has donated more than $75,000 to the Food Bank of Iowa, through its fundraising efforts...

Yahoo! I got my pre-Christmas wish — being able to ice fish before Christmas! Yes, it took a while, but the ice is definitely getting better. I think West Okoboji has some of the best early ice that it’s had in quite a few years. It sure helps that the snow has stayed away...

A lot of the time when we talk about ice fishing, we talk about being mobile, especially from the middle of the season on. We refer to this mobility as "trolling on ice". In short, "trolling on ice" means you drill a good number of holes and move from hole to hole until you find the fish...

One of the most beautiful times during winter is when frost builds up on tree branches, blades of grass and fences. The whole world takes on a bright, shimmering white hue, and it makes the bitter temperatures worth it. You might even call it a winter wonderland...

Ice fishing season is under way and anglers are finding their way out to their favorite spots. One of the problems we see on many of our lakes in the Northern reaches of Iowa, is the amount of trash and debris left on the ice when anglers leave the ice for the day and even at the end of the season...

Iowa anglers can buy the Missouri and Big Sioux River paddlefish license and tags now through Jan. 7, 2019. Buy your special paddlefish license and tags on the Iowa DNR online licenses sales website at www.iowadnr.gov by telephone at 800-367-1188. A resident license sells for $25.50 and a nonresident license is $49. You must also have a valid Iowa fishing license...

It’s mid-December and ice anglers are chomping at the bit to get on good safe ice. Second season shotgun deer season has just finished up, and the late season muzzleloader season is now open. Archery deer season has also opened up again. Although the pheasant season is still open, the number of pheasant hunters has dwindled for many reasons. First, the temperatures on average are below freezing, the wind is often up and the layer of snow from the recent snowstorm makes walking that much tougher...

About this time last year I had an interesting conversation with a friend that wanted to get more involved in ice fishing. He is an accomplished open water angler: He has a nice boat that’s rigged with sonar and an electric motor. He has several rods and reels and a couple of tackleboxes...

A new open access study by leading scientists rebuts unfounded criticisms and reaffirms the need for effective outdoor cat control. According to researchers, coordinated critics have mounted a “misinformation campaign designed to purposefully fabricate doubt regarding the harmful impacts of outdoor cats and stymie policies that would remove outdoor cats from the landscape.”...

This fall’s wet weather has pulled the entire state out of drought conditions for the first time since May 2017, according to the latest Water Summary Update. Streamflow is above normal in most locations and shallow groundwater has recharged across all of the state...

Anglers who bought a 2018 Iowa fishing license may receive a phone call or email soon from Responsive Management encouraging them to participate in a survey to help the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) improve fishing opportunities across the state...

Solid early ice — that’s what ice anglers are looking for. For many, it might be their Thanksgiving wish: “Please give us some solid, safe early ice!” Oh, and one more thing: “with no heavy early snows!” Guess what. Maybe, just maybe it might happen...

Ice-anglers have a good number of different baits and bait styles available to them. One of the most popular and effective bait styles for ice-fishing is spoons. Look in the tacklebox of almost any angler who fishes through the ice and you’ll find at least a couple and probably quite a few spoons...

Have an extra deer at the end of the hunt? Maybe you bought an extra tag, to hunt longer? Consider donating to Iowa’s HUSH program. HUSH (Help Us Stop Hunger) works with 66 participating lockers to provide high quality meat to needy Iowans, through the Food Bank of Iowa...

Turkeys are odd-looking creatures. With their bumpy red heads, hanging flaps of skin around their faces and large tails, wild turkeys are quite a sight. The odd parts of their bodies also have interesting names and purposes. Let’s look at some of the body parts that make a turkey unique...

Get out your binoculars! These raptors can only be found in Iowa during the winter as they breed elsewhere -maybe you'll get lucky and catch a glimpse of these winter residents! 
Most common in the bluff country of Northeastern Iowa, golden eagles can be found from November through March. ...