Official State of Iowa Website

DNR News Releases

  About DNR   >   DNR News Releases

Search for a News Release


Press/Media inquiries: PIO@dnr.iowa.gov


DNR News Releases

Archive by tag: Iowa OutdoorsReturn
RSS
A Land of Plenty Wasted - Food Waste in Iowa

A Land of Plenty Wasted - Food Waste in Iowa

  • 9/26/2022 3:13:00 PM
  • View Count 7728
Mention landfills and most people envision diapers or plastic bags, but here’s some food for thought—think about what didn’t go into our mouths, because in Iowa landfills—food waste takes the cake.
2022 Iowa Outdoors Spring Fishing Forecast

2022 Iowa Outdoors Spring Fishing Forecast

  • 4/14/2022 3:16:00 PM
  • View Count 6702
Anglers have become accustomed to some of the greatest fishing in state history, this year let’s explore newer upgrades across our waters. So get busy exploring and wet a line. Fun awaits!
Do carbonated beverages reduce bleeding from fish gill injuries?

Do carbonated beverages reduce bleeding from fish gill injuries?

  • 11/16/2021 9:33:00 AM
  • View Count 3427
Releasing fish due to size limits or for catch-and-release practices has anglers trying new methods to help severely hooked fish. Fish hooked in the gills have lower survival chances. Some anglers say pouring carbonated water or soda pop over hooked gills helps. They claim the carbon dioxide causes blood vessels to constrict or that phosphoric acid in beverages causes blood to clot. Let’s burst this bubble and see if it is fizz or fact.
How do fossils form?

How do fossils form?

  • 5/13/2021 11:47:00 AM
  • View Count 50569
A fossil’s creation can happen in many different ways, but all fossils come from things that lived in a past geological age. They can be as small as a single cell or as giant as a dinosaur skeleton or petrified tree. 
2021 Iowa Outdoors Spring Fishing Forecast

2021 Iowa Outdoors Spring Fishing Forecast

  • 4/1/2021 1:56:00 PM
  • View Count 8164
With hundreds of serene lakes, tranquil ponds and 71,000 miles of mellow waterways—we’ve got you covered with peaceful places to refresh and wet a line!
A Day in the Life of a Working Dog for Conservation

A Day in the Life of a Working Dog for Conservation

  • 7/30/2019 4:03:00 PM
  • View Count 7014
It has all the elements of a good science fiction novel—an invasive species that hides in darkness and tries to take over native species using deception and disguise. It has all the elements of a good superhero movie—superheroes that work under the light of the moon and a veil of fog using superpowers that go beyond human ability.
Discover Adventure Along Iowa’s Scenic Backpacking Trails

Discover Adventure Along Iowa’s Scenic Backpacking Trails

  • 7/16/2019 3:07:00 PM
  • View Count 17777
For those not in the know, it seems easy to dismiss Iowa simply as the tall corn state; however, those taking a closer look may be surprised to discover Iowa’s state forests offer ultra-quiet, serene and scenic backpacking campsites.
Morel hunting: paper. plastic or mesh?

Morel hunting: paper. plastic or mesh?

  • 5/15/2019 1:20:00 PM
  • View Count 13518
Seasoned morel mushroom hunters often advise novices to skip plastic and pack mesh bags when collecting Iowa’s spring delectable gift. They claim mesh bags allow morel spores to float to the timber floor to produce more of the golden treasures.
Is it okay to look in a bird's nest?

Is it okay to look in a bird's nest?

  • 5/8/2019 12:46:00 PM
  • View Count 6781
This time of year is very busy outdoors. Birds are in the process of building and rebuilding nests, sitting on eggs or taking care of their young. Not all birds nest at the same time. Some start as early as mid-February, such as great horned owls. And some as late as August, such as the American goldfinch.
Iowa Beyond BOW workshop set for Mitchell County January 25-26

Iowa Beyond BOW workshop set for Mitchell County January 25-26

  • 12/18/2018 1:18:00 PM
  • View Count 3154
Osage, Iowa - Registration is now open for the Jan. 25-26 Beyond BOW workshop in Mitchell County. The two-day, hands-on workshop headquartered at Mitchell County Conservation in Osage, is an opportunity to learn to ice fish, squirrel hunt, rabbit hunt, fur trap, and process fur and game.
Iowa Beyond BOW workshop set for Guthrie County February 8-10

Iowa Beyond BOW workshop set for Guthrie County February 8-10

  • 12/18/2018 1:16:00 PM
  • View Count 3241
Guthrie Center, Iowa - Registration is now open for the Feb. 8-10 Beyond BOW workshop in Guthrie County. The two-day, hands-on workshop headquartered at Springbrook State Park, near Guthrie Center, is an opportunity to learn to ice fish, winter survival skills, how to snowshoe and cross-country ski and more.
Special $10 offer for Iowa Outdoors magazine

Special $10 offer for Iowa Outdoors magazine

  • 11/26/2018 1:32:00 PM
  • View Count 4078
Do you know someone who loves the outdoors? Give the gift that lasts all year long. Iowa Outdoors is an award-winning magazine filled with beautiful photography, interesting articles and expert tips about hunting, fishing, nature destinations, hiking, camping, outdoor cooking and much more! 
Build your own simple nest box for ducks

Build your own simple nest box for ducks

  • 4/12/2018 3:47:00 PM
  • View Count 26267
Get inspired to attract hooded mergansers and wood ducks to your area with these easy-to-make DIY nest box plans. They work best where these ducks love to nest—wooded wetlands, riverbanks and shorelines.
Hiding Out in Union Grove

Hiding Out in Union Grove

  • 11/7/2017 2:27:00 PM
  • View Count 10782
Grab a backpack and discover this best-kept secret among Iowa’s state parks. Spend the day—or a season.
Fall is hawk watch time

Fall is hawk watch time

  • 10/10/2017 2:36:00 PM
  • View Count 11677
Fall is when birds of prey migrate. Attend a Hawk Watch event to see and learn about fascinating raptors!
Spreading monarch-saving seed balls

Spreading monarch-saving seed balls

  • 9/6/2017 9:30:00 AM
  • View Count 17102
Milkweed Matters began in 2014 when group founder Kelly Guilbeau began throwing loose milkweed seeds along the RAGBRAI route. The following year, seed ball dispersal began with 2,000 thrown during the ride in collaboration with another organization; Monarchs in Eastern Iowa. Last year the number of seed balls jumped to 58,459—made at 79 different events statewide by 3,406 people. 
How do fish breathe?

How do fish breathe?

  • 8/4/2017 11:50:00 AM
  • View Count 191971
Humans and fish both require oxygen to survive. The difference is, we get our oxygen through air while fish get it through water.
Osprey: fishing perfection in feathers

Osprey: fishing perfection in feathers

  • 6/23/2017 2:30:00 PM
  • View Count 15478
From a hundred feet in the air, a hovering angler folds its wings, silently slipping downward like lightning from the sky, careening until a four-foot portion of the lake thunders into plumes of diamondized water droplets.
Flathead catfish: Iowa's Dracula of the Deep

Flathead catfish: Iowa's Dracula of the Deep

  • 6/22/2017 3:24:00 PM
  • View Count 28986
They are the aquatic version of Count Dracula, quietly resting in the same dark, hidden location by day, and prowling for living prey by night. And like a vampire, they are legendary for both their great physical strength and ability to achieve a ripe old age.
Glamping: Decoration and Recreation Gone Wild

Glamping: Decoration and Recreation Gone Wild

  • 6/8/2017 11:19:00 AM
  • View Count 20116
Glamping is a marriage between the words “glamour” and “camping.” Original glampers coveted the escapism of camping with the amenities and comforts of home. It has since become a popular term among women who turn vintage campers into personalized, stylized retreats.
A Spring Quadfecta

A Spring Quadfecta

  • 4/7/2017 11:15:00 AM
  • View Count 25011
Last year was the first year I attempted a spring quadfecta: a turkey, a limit of trout, morels and wild asparagus.
Unplug at Pictured Rocks Park

Unplug at Pictured Rocks Park

  • 3/10/2017 2:58:00 PM
  • View Count 17017
The first oar through the cool clear water sends ripples of excitement down my spine. I’ve never canoed the Maquoketa River from Monticello to Pictured Rocks Park/Indian Bluffs, but trust the stream will get me there safely.
Go south for spring break - in Iowa

Go south for spring break - in Iowa

  • 3/1/2017 2:14:00 PM
  • View Count 14040
In Keokuk—Iowa’s southernmost city—it’s always numerous degrees warmer, so cozy up with eagles, ducks and pelicans and a fancy bed in Lee County.
Action cameras: a user's overview

Action cameras: a user's overview

  • 2/16/2017 3:36:00 PM
  • View Count 9392
Walk through many outdoor stores and videos are playing non-stop—skiers in powdery snow on a mountaintop, divers swimming in crystal clear water or incredible views of wildlife from unusual perspectives. The videos are outstanding and help sell action cameras. But, for the ordinary person, do the cameras justify the expense? Are the cameras worth the trouble? What should you look for in an action camera?
Warden's Diary: Wild Things

Warden's Diary: Wild Things

  • 2/3/2017 3:54:00 PM
  • View Count 21068
“Welcome to Wild Things,” I told the group, “You will find that Wild Things is different than school. Here, it’s okay to get dirty. It’s okay to get muddy. It’s okay to get wet.” A big grin broke out on every kid’s face. And so began the first session of “Wild Things,” my new after-school program. 
Get creative with venison cabbage rolls

Get creative with venison cabbage rolls

  • 2/3/2017 3:20:00 PM
  • View Count 11815
Cabbage rolls are pure comfort food. Savory meat, grain and seasonings wrapped in a slightly sweet, slightly bitter cabbage leaf that absorbs other flavors well—baked, simmered, slow cooked or fried—nestled in a sweet, savory, tangy or creamy sauce. So pull out some ground venison, and try out this traditional cabbage roll recipe.
Bellevue: A winter escape between the bluffs

Bellevue: A winter escape between the bluffs

  • 2/3/2017 2:22:00 PM
  • View Count 16885
Think there’s nothing to do in Iowa in deep winter? Bellevue’s abundant bald eagles, active main street and quirky lodging may change your mind.
Be bold and try winter camping

Be bold and try winter camping

  • 1/11/2017 8:47:00 AM
  • View Count 17447
Let’s face it—winter camping has some initial challenges, but the rewards are silence, serenity and having big places to yourself. Create active daytimes with hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, then be prepared for winter’s long nights with good lighting gear to illuminate camp. Breaking into winter camping isn’t hard, but you’ll rely on good gear and solid skills. Here’s a  few basics.
How do plants come back each year if they die in the winter?

How do plants come back each year if they die in the winter?

  • 1/10/2017 10:23:00 AM
  • View Count 25287
As the wind grows cooler, leaves drop and snow begins to fall, it’s easy to look at a shriveled, brown plant in the yard and think it’s dead. But that’s just what’s above the surface. Below ground, the plant is still alive, just settled in for a long winter’s nap.
Take a winter retreat at Lake of Three Fires

Take a winter retreat at Lake of Three Fires

  • 12/8/2016 4:22:00 PM
  • View Count 18269
For a weekend getaway with friends, where nothing will interrupt relaxation or quiet connecting, this southern Iowa park, 25 miles east of Clarinda, is ideal.
Why do bats hang upside down?

Why do bats hang upside down?

  • 12/8/2016 3:06:00 PM
  • View Count 74472
Unlike birds, bats have trouble with takeoffs from the ground. Their wings are not as strong as those of birds and they cannot run fast enough to build up flight speed. Bats have an easier time flying when they start already in the air. They use their front claws on their wings to climb to a high spot and launch themselves to achieve flight.
Why is fire red and yellow?

Why is fire red and yellow?

  • 12/8/2016 2:35:00 PM
  • View Count 39991
While you might first think of the reds and yellows in a campfire, a flame can encompass many colors of the rainbow.
Special $10 offer for Iowa Outdoors magazine

Special $10 offer for Iowa Outdoors magazine

  • 11/29/2016 11:39:00 AM
  • View Count 4275
Do you know someone who loves the outdoors? Give the gift that lasts all year long. Iowa Outdoors is an award-winning magazine filled with beautiful photography, compelling articles and expert tips about hunting, fishing, nature destinations, hiking, camping, outdoor cooking and much more! 
Take a

Take a "Kid" Fishing

  • 11/16/2016 2:00:00 PM
  • View Count 12535
The first day of November looked to be a promising day. I had the morning off to go trout fishing and the weather was cooperating. Like most people, I don’t go fishing nearly often enough so I wanted to share my outing with someone. My husband and kids would all be at work. The grandkids were in school or at the sitter’s. As I considered my options, my husband’s uncle came to mind. 
Why don’t we have earthquakes in Iowa?

Why don’t we have earthquakes in Iowa?

  • 11/7/2016 1:19:00 PM
  • View Count 38197
For most of us living in Iowa, we’re much more familiar with snowstorms and tornadoes. What we do know about earthquakes we’ve likely learned from movies or textbooks, but earthquakes do occasionally rumble in our state.
Meet Wapsipinicon, one of Iowa's most unique state parks

Meet Wapsipinicon, one of Iowa's most unique state parks

  • 11/4/2016 3:31:00 PM
  • View Count 49412
Thus endures one of the many stories, myths, legends and even proven historical facts about Horse Thief Cave, a well-known feature of what is now Wapsipinicon State Park, and, though its tale-inspiring caves are definitely a main draw, Wapsipinicon is so much more. 
A Halloween night fishing on the Turkey River

A Halloween night fishing on the Turkey River

  • 10/27/2016 4:15:00 PM
  • View Count 9945
As boredom and tedium creep into my weary mind, may I reflect back to the hard strike of that big-eyed creature, and the glorious excitement and the deep pull of something new, yet playfully familiar.
Page 1 of 2 FirstPrevious [1]