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DNR News Releases

Why We Camp

• 5/22/2015 9:11:00 AM
• View Count 9828

Struggling to set up his fold-down camper, my brother-in-law asks, “Tell me again why we do this?”

Great Escapes: 7 of Iowa’s Best Hikes

• 5/22/2015 7:55:00 AM
• View Count 106685

Whether you’re looking to get away from civilization for a weekend or just take in some beautiful scenery for an hour or two with the family, Iowa – yes, Iowa – offers some incredible hikes in our state parks and forests.

Prepping Your Boat for Summer: Four Tips

• 5/15/2015 10:03:00 AM
• View Count 6381

As many Iowa boaters get ready to take to the water for the first time this year this coming weekend, be sure to brush up on these basic boating safety and maintenance tips.

7 Things To Do in Iowa's Outdoors This Week

• 5/15/2015 10:01:00 AM
• View Count 7377

While the cool weather forecasted for this week doesn’t seem to herald in the unofficial start of summer, it’s still a great time to get outside. If you’re looking for some new or different ideas to explore Iowa’s outdoors, we have a suggestion for each day of the holiday week:

Tutorial: Learn How to Compost at Home

• 5/13/2015 5:54:00 AM
• View Count 20340

Yard waste is the second major waste generated in cities and towns – and since it’s illegal to place yard waste in the trash in Iowa, it needs to be composted. While you can send off yard waste for municipal composting, it’s also easy to do in your own backyard, saving you money and helping your yard and garden. Use this tutorial from DNR staffer Karen Grimes to start your own compost heap at home.

6 Great Iowa State Parks for Spring Fishing

• 5/12/2015 11:41:00 AM
• View Count 19483

Spring is a great time to head out fishing, so grab a buddy, call up Dad or Mom, or load the kids into the car and get out there. Plan a day trip or spend the entire weekend at one of Iowa’s great state parks. Enjoy the beautiful weather and “hook” some memories that will last a lifetime.

7 Native, Easy to Care For Plants for Your Yard

• 5/12/2015 11:15:00 AM
• View Count 25997

Natives are resilient and pest resistant, take less watering and care, and will reward you with an April through October blooming season. With some 250 native prairie plants (translate prairie as “sun-loving”) to choose from, which plants are the must-haves for the average garden?

8 Surprising Memorial Day Camping Getaways

• 5/1/2015 10:22:00 AM
• View Count 20249

Not all hope is lost when it comes to finding a place to camp this Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25. For those who like a little more quiet, don’t mind more primitive camping or are willing to take a chance on a first-come, first-served or “walk-in” campsite, here are some nice possibilities. Try kicking off the summer season with one of these lesser-known state parks:

5 Awesome Tips for Spring Panfish Fishing

• 5/1/2015 8:54:00 AM
• View Count 21994

Crappies and bluegills are biting in small ponds and lakes across Iowa. Spring panfish fishing is a great opportunity to introduce beginners of all ages to fishing. Panfish can be caught easily and are excellent to eat. Grab your fishing pole and tackle box and try these simple tips for a fun and successful spring fishing season.

14 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle

• 5/1/2015 8:28:00 AM
• View Count 20967

Paper, sure. Plastic, cardboard, of course. But before you toss those old shingles or paint, or dump a box of Styrofoam packing peanuts in the trash, you’ll want to look up where you can recycle them.

Five Awesome Outdoorsy Spring Recipes

• 5/1/2015 5:34:00 AM
• View Count 18798

Set the table, because spring in Iowa is a great time to fill the frying pan and warm up the grill for the best of Iowa's outdoors, from crappie and turkey to morels and wild asparagus.

Top Spots to Hunt Turkey This Spring

• 5/1/2015 5:10:00 AM
• View Count 13361

While we’re not about to give away anybody’s prized hunting spot, there are areas better than others when it comes to turkey hunting. Use these tips to scout out your own site this year, And don’t forget to brush up on your basic turkey hunting safety tips:

6 Water Trails to Explore This Spring

• 4/30/2015 10:36:00 AM
• View Count 23874

If you’re looking to blaze a new trail this spring, consider hitting the water for something different. Iowa boasts a number of water trails, which offer a unique perspective on Iowa in spring.

Bee Beautiful – 5 Tips to Attract Pollinators to Your Backyard

• 4/29/2015 10:29:00 AM
• View Count 27027

One out of every three bites of food we eat relies on pollinators, mostly insects, to reproduce. Unfortunately, bees (colony and solitary), butterflies and moths, bats, birds and beetles are facing challenges due to habitat loss, disease, parasites and pesticides.

Take a Spring Wildflower No-Pick Scavenger Hunt

• 4/24/2015 8:20:00 AM
• View Count 15662

The colorful return of wildflowers to Iowa's woodlands each spring is a thankful sign that winter is (mostly) behind us. Head out to an Iowa state park or preserve to take in the show, and be sure to take along a guide or our no-pick scavenger hunt list.

Are Slugs Just Snails Looking For a Shell?

• 4/22/2015 10:09:00 AM
• View Count 24095

While slugs are pretty much snails without shells, they don’t seem to be jealous of their cousins’ houses on the go.

Helping Kids Be Thankful for Nature

• 4/22/2015 9:35:00 AM
• View Count 10940

Our modern lives are busy, with work, school, errands and all kinds of organized activities – often making it hard to find time in natural areas. Make sure your kids – or any of your friends or family, really – can foster a love of and respect for nature, with these tips.

Foraging for Wild Asparagus: Hunting and Cooking

• 4/22/2015 9:33:00 AM
• View Count 41389

When I was young, I did not like asparagus. But on a spring camping trip, I found a few spears of wild asparagus, and skeptically threw them into a pot of boiling water. The sweet, juicy, fresh taste changed my mind on the spot.

4 Lures You Need for Crappie Fishing in Iowa

• 4/22/2015 8:48:00 AM
• View Count 111374

It’s that time of year that anglers across Iowa have been waiting for – crappies are biting. Crappies are one of the most frequently caught panfish. Add one of these lures suggested by our fisheries biologists to your tackle box and start planning your next spring fishing trip.

7 Easy Ways to Help Nature for Earth Day - and Every Day

• 4/22/2015 5:27:00 AM
• View Count 7708

Earth Day doesn't have to be just one day a year - these simple steps help protect Iowa's valuable natural resources all year long:

Cool Things You Didn’t Know About Wild Turkey

• 4/17/2015 9:25:00 AM
• View Count 68257

'Tis the season to have wild turkey on the brain! Here are some cool facts you may not have known about wild turkey in Iowa:

Four Creative Morel Mushroom Recipes

• 4/17/2015 9:01:00 AM
• View Count 23490

There’s nothing better than some fresh-picked morels lightly sautéed in butter, but if you’re looking for a way to change up your morel routine, here are some new recipes to try. Remember, it's best to learn how to identify mushrooms (including what's edible and what's not) in-person from an experienced mushroom hunter.

Leave Wildlife Babies in the Wild

• 4/17/2015 8:05:00 AM
• View Count 16089

If you find an animal baby that appears to be on its own, don’t worry. Generally, one of its parents is nearby, watching.

Get Ready for Spring Camping [Checklist]

• 4/15/2015 6:56:00 AM
• View Count 7311

It's that time of year when it's time to dust off the tents and equipment or pull the camper out of storage. With water being turned on soon in state park campgrounds (parks vary, always call ahead first), it won't be long before camping become a regular activity again. Use our handy checklist to get ready for that first outing of spring!

Nature's Spring Trifecta: Morels, Crappies, Turkey

• 4/14/2015 10:45:00 AM
• View Count 16002

It’s springtime in Van Buren County. And that means three things: turkey, fish and morels.

7 Things to Try this Week in Iowa’s Outdoors

• 4/10/2015 11:31:00 AM
• View Count 16729

Iowa's great outdoors is waking up from a long winter's sleep, and more seasonable temperatures make this a perfect time to explore.

Four Great Spring Cabin Getaways in Iowa State Parks

• 4/10/2015 10:26:00 AM
• View Count 11086

From now until mid-May, state park cabins can be rented for two-day minimums (instead of the week-long requirement during the summer season). Shake off the winter blues by renting a cabin for a couple of days. Take a spring hike or bike ride. Grab some binoculars and do a little wildlife watching. Birding is great during this peak migration time. And, of course, there is always fishing – spring offers some of the best!

6 Tips for Catch and Release Fishing

• 4/10/2015 8:54:00 AM
• View Count 14718

Every angler should be prepared to release some of their catch. Whether you are practicing catch and release by choice or to comply with regulations, it is necessary to release the fish quickly. Follow these simple tips to give the fish you release the best chance for survival.

50 Tips to Spot Morels

• 4/8/2015 8:51:00 AM
• View Count 761885

Here’s how to put more morels in your basket from mushrooming expert and former science teacher Mike Krebill.

11 Things You Need in Your Tackle Box Right Now - Spring Fishing Edition

• 4/3/2015 8:10:00 AM
• View Count 17157

Fishing is a great way for families and friends to enjoy being outdoors and learn new skills. Pack your tackle box with these basic necessities for a fun and successful spring fishing trip. Don’t forget to bring along your fishing license and a camera to capture all the memories.

Finding Injured Wildlife: What to Do

• 4/3/2015 7:52:00 AM
• View Count 39932

When Pete Vande Poppe spotted a great horned owl along Highway 60 near Alton about a month ago, he knew something wasn’t right. He swung by home to tell his wife, Gretchen. She grabbed the camera and off they went, finding the owl in the grass alongside the road.

How to Create Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs and Other DIY Projects [Tutorial]

• 4/3/2015 6:39:00 AM
• View Count 10169

Create super intense Easter eggs that outshine those made with store-bought dyes with these foraged, natural dyes. Get outside with a friend or loved one to gather plants and brew a tempest of color. The dyes are easily frozen for later use.

Cool Things You Should Know About Prairie Chickens

• 4/2/2015 10:22:00 AM
• View Count 17157

Early in April, eerie, hollow booming reverberates over a field near Kellerton, the last remnant of greater prairie chicken habitat in Iowa. Go to the lek, or breeding ground, to hear the males begin their courtship rituals. Watch as they shrink and expand leathery orange sacs on each side of their necks to make the haunting sounds that hens love.

Eight Historical CCC Parks in Iowa

• 3/31/2015 11:26:00 AM
• View Count 53654

From the iconic boathouse at Backbone, to the spillway at Beeds Lake, to the varied and beautiful stone lodges and shelters within so many of our parks, we owe a debt of gratitude to the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Celebrate the CCC’s anniversary, March 31, by learning about these stand-out examples of CCC projects in Iowa.

How Do Birds Know to Return in the Spring?

• 3/27/2015 9:07:00 AM
• View Count 11315

Common sense tells us birds fly south in the winter to escape the harsh conditions of the north, and return “home” in the spring when the weather improves. While that theory doesn’t fly in the face of truth, it isn’t altogether factual, given most birds are well-equipped to handle extreme temperatures.

Spring Turkey Hunting Safety Tips

• 3/27/2015 8:43:00 AM
• View Count 9073

An estimated 50,000 hunters will be in the timber this spring pursuing the elusive wild turkey and while the woods will not be crawling with hunters, there is a chance for an occasional encounter. Hunters should practice defensive hunting techniques.  Hunters should make a loud statement like “hey – hunter over here,” if they see someone coming into the same area. One loud noise shouldn’t scare a bird too much because loud noises happen in the woods. However, don’t make motion or throw something to get the oth...

Where Does Water Go After it Goes Down the Drain?

• 3/26/2015 11:28:00 AM
• View Count 52016

Whether it’s rainfall from a summer storm washing over land, or wastewater from your household, all water heads downhill, often through a drain.

Six Surprises to Discover at the Spring Becoming an Outdoor Woman Workshop

• 3/25/2015 5:58:00 AM
• View Count 6420

There's just about a month to go before the second annual Spring Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop gets underway at Honey Creek Resort State Park.

Build a Bluebird House [Tutorial]

• 3/13/2015 5:49:00 AM
• View Count 18964

Bluebirds should be arriving soon in Iowa, so now's a great time to clean out those bluebird boxes, or if you don't have one yet, to build your own!

Gear Up to Start Tying Flies for Spring Fishing

• 3/11/2015 6:50:00 AM
• View Count 6974

Use our list from Iowa Outdoors magazine to start tying your own warm water flies.

Viking Lake Work Has Lasting Effect on Fishing, Water Quality

• 3/6/2015 6:35:00 AM
• View Count 8057

Once so thick with algae that the water looked more like green paint than water, southwest Iowa’s Viking Lake has been on the up and up since a major watershed improvement there wrapped up in 2009.Five years of monitoring Viking Lake in southwest Iowa reveals the lake is clean enough to be removed from the list of Iowa impaired waters for algae growth.

Why Are Robins So Big in the Spring?

• 3/5/2015 10:24:00 AM
• View Count 37350

Just like the first sighting of a robin marks spring for many people, so does the arrival of animal babies. But in this case, robins aren’t big in the spring because they’re ready to lay eggs. They’re not bigger at all – just really cold.

Water Quality Efforts Soak Up the Benefits in Monona

• 3/5/2015 5:00:00 AM
• View Count 6524

Imagine the flooding and runoff—and the destruction it could cause—from dumping 2,000 gallons of water on a parking lot in only one minute.

Wetlands Project Sinks Hole-in-one

• 3/5/2015 4:35:00 AM
• View Count 7201

The cackle of pheasants has returned along the north and west sides of Okoboji View Golf Course in Spirit Lake after a major watershed improvement project created wetlands and native prairie on 350 acres.

7 Reasons to Visit Honey Creek Resort this Spring

• 2/27/2015 9:50:00 AM
• View Count 6683

Enjoy a close-to-home getaway for a wonderful meal or an outdoor spring break adventure. Honey Creek Resort State Park has seven exciting reasons to visit this March and April.

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