Autumn Trout
"The stream talked, the leaves stirred and rustled, the sun warmed him, and his heart echoed it all." For this writer, his annual October day on the stream rejuvenates and recharges life.
Story by Tom Langlas
Tacitus Hussey
Meet an early leader of conservation in Iowa–and relive his epic 1892 adventure down 135 miles of the Des Moines River as modern paddlers also make the voyage.
Story and Photos by John Wenck
Storms of the Heartlan
Come afield in derecho-damaged lands on a fall bow hunt for giant whitetails to see why weather can be both friend and foe.
Story and Photos by Eyad H. Yehyawi
150 Years of Fisheries Management
Would you believe in the 1870s, salmon and Arctic grayling were stocked in Iowa? From dealing with abuses of waters to today's science based successes, see how fisherie managment has evolved over the last century and a half.
Story by Brian Button
Snow Goose Hill
Find out why exploding populations of snow geese are harming their arctic breeding areas and why hunting them in Iowa winter to spring is not only a great opportunity, but helpful in controlling overpopulation.
Story and Photos by Hank Kohler
Zombie Life
Happy Halloween, dear readers. Nature has things far spookier than any carved pumpkins, skeletons or witch decor. Read on–if you dare.
Story by Brian Button
Outdoor Skills
Use a stick in the ground to find east-west directions and learn how to properly store sleeping bags end of season. Use caulk to keep out pesky Asia lady beetles and count cricket chirps to tell the temp.
Mythbusters
Learn the backstory behind "deer in the headlights" and "twinkle, twinkle little star."
Together
Use our plans to build a "Leopold bench" for comfort and its hidden feature for observing backyard wildlife.
Lost in Iowa
See unusual plants and rocks so ancient they are wind-polished. Absorb the sights and flavors at the newly renovated, historic old Fort Atkinson and explore two state parks during their centennial year.
My Backyard
These ten distinctive trees will add beauty and diversify the tree species in your area.
Wild Cuisine
We've got flavorful ways to supercharge s'mores, those campground staples around since the 1920s.
Flora & Fauna
In the ghoulish Halloween forest you may find what appears to be decaying fingers reaching up from the grave. It's the aptly named fungi, "dead man's fingers."
Notes from the Field
Wicked weather kept field staff busy last spring. Hear their accounts from the field.