Go Shed Antler Hunting 2/13/2015 8:54:00 AM View Count 101608 Whitetail deer have about a two-month shedding period in Iowa, beginning mid-Jan. and ending mid-March. Around Feb. 20 is the best time to start looking for shed antlers.
The Mighty Mink: Cool Things You Should Know 2/13/2015 7:12:00 AM View Count 45352 Built much like its larger relative the otter, the mink has a long, sleek body about 2 feet long. It has short, stubby legs, a long neck, small ears and eyes and a long, thick tail. In fact, one third of the mink’s length is tail.
Saw-Whet Owls: Iowa's Mysterious (and Tiny) Winter Visitor 2/13/2015 5:29:00 AM View Count 12991 The secrets of northern saw whet owl migration are coming to light, and an Iowa research effort is contributing greatly to understanding this mysterious winter visitor.
Tutorial: Tie Your Own Soft Hackle Fly 2/12/2015 9:53:00 AM View Count 13908 There are few better feelings for an angler than hooking a fish with a homemade lure. The soft hackle fly is one of the oldest and most varied patterns; tie your own orange and pheasant breast fly in minutes with these simple steps.
Explore Pine Lake State Park This Winter 2/11/2015 10:04:00 AM View Count 18052 Pine Lake State Park provides the winter adventurer 650 acres of woods garnished with a labyrinth of powdery trails to hike, ski and snowshoe; and spacious, remodeled cabins sporting super-sized stone fireplaces that breathe hickory-tinged heat into every nook and cranny.
The 9 Things You Need For Ice Fishing 2/6/2015 10:09:00 AM View Count 15711 Stock your tackle box with these basic necessities to get you started, and be sure to check local ice conditions before you go.
Go Ice Climbing this Winter - on an Iowa Grain Silo 2/6/2015 9:07:00 AM View Count 15067 There it stands: a shimmering, crystal tower. A frozen waterfall. A spire of ice. That’s if you look at it from the north side. From the south, it’s just a grain silo.
Make Your Own Snowman Bird Feeder 2/6/2015 5:11:00 AM View Count 7220 Add bird and wildlife foods to your snowman to make this seasonal rite of passage fun and functional.
How Many Iowa Birds On Our Winter Birding Checklist Have You Spotted? 2/6/2015 4:09:00 AM View Count 13594 Whether it's on one of Iowa's birding trails, state parks or at your own backyard feeder, winter is a great time to enjoy birdwatching. Use our checklist to see how many Iowa birds you can spot this winter!
Prairie Strips Help Iowa Farmers, Land and Water 2/4/2015 9:47:00 AM View Count 7168 “Conservation with a purpose” is how Tim Smith describes his newest farming venture that builds on past work to protect water quality on his Wright County farm.
8 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Ice Fishing 2/4/2015 9:08:00 AM View Count 25056 While we can't necessarily improve ice conditions, we can help you be a better ice angler with these tips - when Mother Nature cooperates with good ice, of course.
Go Calling Under the Owl Moon 2/3/2015 8:57:00 AM View Count 24157 February’s full moon is nicknamed the owl moon, as the crisp night air is filled with the calls and hoots of mating owls. Trek into the woods with the young and young at heart to practice calling owls.
What's the Difference Between a Groundhog and a Woodchuck? 1/29/2015 9:08:00 AM View Count 24514 How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? We’ll never know because the Marmota monax’s common name (woodchuck) is not representative of this mammal’s habits or habitat, but reflects the early English pronunciation of the Cree word for this creature—wuchak.
Winter Photo Tips from One of Iowa's Top Nature Photographers 1/29/2015 8:46:00 AM View Count 9164 Don’t let winter weather keep your camera up on the shelf, as the season can provide excellent opportunities for shooting picturesque winter landscapes and photographing Iowa’s wildlife at a time when they’re most visible and easy to find.
Can You Guess the Mystery Animal? 1/29/2015 8:10:00 AM View Count 6514 Can you guess the Iowa animal featured in this extreme close-up?
Cool Things You Should Know About Bald Eagles 1/28/2015 9:30:00 AM View Count 40073 An eagle can fly 35 to 44 miles per hour solo, or about 30 mph carrying a freshly caught meal. It can dive at speeds reaching 100 mph.
Trout in the Classroom 1/27/2015 4:52:00 AM View Count 6880 Some classes have a pet hamster or guinea pig. But some northeast Iowa classes have trout—and they’re raising them from eggs and releasing them in Iowa streams. A national Trout Unlimited program, Trout in the Classroom, allows students to raise fish and learn about their habitat and the importance of clean water.
Cooperation builds lasting results at North Bear Creek 1/26/2015 5:48:00 AM View Count 6358 When the hit film A River Runs Through It was released in 1992, it helped rejuvenate local economies and waterways in northeast Iowa, as the beauty and skill showcased so vividly in the film helped inspire more than half a million trips to trout streams, injecting more than $14 million into Iowa’s economy every year.
Tips for Better Winter Bird Feeding 1/15/2015 10:37:00 AM View Count 20117 If winter cold and snow drive you indoors, open a colorful cold-weather window with hours of bird-watching entertainment. Iowans spend more than $300 million annually watching wildlife, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Much of that comes from feeding birds, especially through our cold weather months. Use these tips to attract the most birds.
Here's Why It Sometimes Thunders When it Snows 1/15/2015 3:10:00 AM View Count 11648 If you hear a rumble in the distance this winter, it may not be the snow plow plodding along the road. It might actually be thunder.
Tips for Spotting Bald Eagles this Winter 1/9/2015 10:18:00 AM View Count 12029 Winter is the best time in Iowa to spot a majestic bald eagle soaring overhead or swooping down to the water to catch a fish.
Make Your Own Winter Survival Kit 1/9/2015 9:58:00 AM View Count 8719 Winter outdoor lovers should take extra travel precautions as rural and natural areas can put you alone against the elements during emergencies. A skid into a ditch, mechanical problems, black ice, drifting snow or sudden storms can lead to unplanned, dangerous situations in areas where passersby are rare.
What Do Snakes Do in the Winter? 1/9/2015 5:43:00 AM View Count 17290 Snakes, being cold-blooded, rely on their surroundings to regulate body temperature. Like other ectothermic animals, they bask in the sun to warm up, seek shade or water to cool down. So, when conditions are not conducive for temperature regulation, they brumate.
Build Your Own Simple Peanut Butter Birdfeeder 1/9/2015 5:08:00 AM View Count 7418 Attract chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, house finches and woodpeckers with this simple, inexpensive and effective bird magnet.
Cool Things You Should Know About Deer 1/9/2015 4:56:00 AM View Count 23420 Even though the white-tailed deer is one of Iowa’s most well-known critters, here are some cool facts you may not know about deer.
Backyard Ben & Jerry's: Make Your Own Snow Ice Cream 1/9/2015 3:14:00 AM View Count 9013 County fairs have sno-cones, convenience stores have slushies and the Hawaiian Islands have shave-ice. Now, there's snow ice cream.
Iowa Winter Treks and Trails to Test Those Fitness Trackers 1/7/2015 8:59:00 AM View Count 12218 If you’re looking for a way to put that new fitness tracker to the test and you’re sick of walking circles at the gym, take it outside and try some of these top winter trail activities in Iowa’s state parks, recreation areas and forests.
Four Animals You Didn’t Know Lived In Iowa 1/7/2015 4:04:00 AM View Count 87786 Before Europeans began settling in Iowa, our landscape looked much different – not just the vista views of prairies and oak savannas, but the wildlife that called it home. You’d be hard pressed to find many elk, bison, black bear or lynx in the Iowa wild today, but not that long ago, they roamed our state.
Myth Busters: Do Cold-blooded Animals Get Cancer? 1/6/2015 10:29:00 AM View Count 9113 Cold-blooded animals like snakes, fish and sharks do get cancer, likely from polluted waters and foreign substances. While many questions still surround this issue, scientists hope the unique ways these animals deal with cancer might give hope for cancer treatments and possible cures in humans.
New Year's Iowa Checklist: Where to Go, What to Do Month By Month 1/6/2015 7:42:00 AM View Count 23076 It’s a New Year. I don’t do resolutions. So, call this a New Year's Outdoor Checklist; places or events across Iowa for each month. Most are return trips for me; worth a second or seventieth visit. A couple, I haven’t taken the time yet to check out. Maybe it will remind you of a few special outdoor ports of call, in the months ahead.
Feeling Sleepy? Learn About Iowa's True Hibernators 1/6/2015 4:57:00 AM View Count 15231 Winter has a lot of us wanting to settle in for a long nap and wake up when spring arrives, but Iowa actually has very few true hibernators.
Cool Things You Should Know About Owls 1/2/2015 11:05:00 AM View Count 27690 If you give a hoot about owls in Iowa, here are some cool facts you should know.
Enjoy Iowa's outdoors in the winter with these basic tips to stay warm 1/2/2015 10:57:00 AM View Count 12013 With real-deal winter temperatures making themselves known in Iowa, it calls to mind the old saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”
Do you know Iowa's largest fish? 12/26/2014 9:58:00 AM View Count 21888 While Iowa anglers have reeled in a 93-pound bighead carp and a 101-pound blue catfish, neither of those can dethrone Iowa’s largest official state record fish.
Need a stocking stuffer? Try our fishing trip coupon. 12/23/2014 8:24:00 AM View Count 7693 Need a last-minute stocking stuffer? Print off our fishing coupon below, and be sure to buy a 2016 license (available now) to go with it!
Mush your way through Iowa with dogsledding this winter 12/23/2014 7:31:00 AM View Count 13170 Grab a pair of mukluks and hit the trails, towed by a team of hard-working huskies. Hunkered down under a toasty pile of blankets provided by avid musher Ginger Plummer, families can taste travel adventure at its best with a 3-mile jaunt down the Great Western Trail in Warren County.
Explore Iowa's Palaces on Ice - Ice Fishing Shacks 12/19/2014 5:22:00 AM View Count 31097 For these ice anglers, the best way to beat cabin fever just means getting to their own cabin of sorts – the ice shack. And today’s ice shacks are swank ways to get away in the winter.
What's the Best Iowa Fish for the Dinner Plate? 12/18/2014 10:53:00 AM View Count 15269 For many anglers, there’s nothing better than a shore lunch or a good old-fashioned fish fry. But as to which fish are the best to eat, as opposed to the most fun to catch, is another debate altogether. Here are some facts and recipes for three of Iowa’s favorite fish to grace the dining table.
7 Ways to Enjoy Winter at Honey Creek Resort State Park 12/16/2014 9:52:00 AM View Count 7197 Relax this winter with these seven great ideas for enjoying Honey Creek State Park Resort.
Create Your Own Gift Bags from Stunning Iowa Outdoors Photos 12/12/2014 10:22:00 AM View Count 8816 Expert crafter Shelene Codner wanted a way to show off the fantastic nature photography featured in the calendar issue of Iowa Outdoors magazine - so she turned the pages of last year's calendar into reusable gift bags, perfect for the holidays or any gift-giving occasion.
Four Creative Ways to Use Venison 12/10/2014 8:24:00 AM View Count 16587 If you harvested your first deer this season or maybe are just looking for new ideas to put on the table, try our time-tested favorite recipes, pulled from the pages of Iowa Outdoors magazine and the Iowa Game Wardens’ Cookbook.
Take a Winter Getaway in an Iowa State Park Cabin 12/5/2014 9:11:00 AM View Count 7109 From November through April, you can rent cabins at state parks for two-day minimums (instead of the week-long requirement during peak season). And you’ll still get to take advantage of hiking trails (many allow cross-country skiing and snowmobiling), wildlife watching (deer and birds aplenty!), ice fishing and more.
Why Don’t Fish Freeze in the Winter? 12/5/2014 8:40:00 AM View Count 28696 Stepping out into the deep freeze that is Iowa in the winter, it can be hard to believe that much can make it in the often below-zero temperatures. And with ice so thick that heavy-duty trucks can drive out on a lake, how can a fish possibly survive below?
Make These Upcycled DIY Shotgun Shell Wreaths for Your Favorite Hunter This Holiday Season 12/5/2014 7:15:00 AM View Count 14957 Spend time together crafting these simple, yet elegant projects in an afternoon. Each has a refined look, yet are surprisingly simple—perfect for beginner to expert crafters. Use these idea starters, then add your own style.
Take a Winter Getaway in an Iowa State Park Cabin 12/5/2014 5:16:00 AM View Count 11591 From November through April, you can rent cabins at state parks for two-day minimums (instead of the week-long requirement during peak season). And you’ll still get to take advantage of hiking trails (many allow cross-country skiing and snowmobiling), wildlife watching (deer and birds aplenty!), ice fishing and more.