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FEATURES DAYS TO HUNT WHITETAILS 36 EARLY SEASON DUCK STRATAGIES 10 BEST FALL ON HOW TO CATCH HUNTING SEASONS FISH OF THE YEAR 42 2018-19 16 AYOURPLANBIGGEST WHITETAILS 365: HUNTING PRESSURED WHITETAILS 48 ENTRANCE AND EXIT ROUTE DETAILS 20 YOURSELF UP FOR TRAPLINE SUCCESS 24 SETTING 52 EARLY SEASON WHITETAIL EFFORTS “HOW TO OPTIMIZE SPECIFIC DIFFERENCE IN CATCHING FISH PHEASANT AREAS” 56 28 IN THE SUMMER VS. THE FALL 32 IOWA’S URBAN FISHING OPPORTUNITIES DEPARTMENTS 62 AROUND THE STATE 6 PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT FISHING IOWA SPORTSMAN INTERACTIVE 8 IOWA 64 PHASES/ GUNDOG CORNER SUNRISE-SUNSET 9 MOON 66 IOWA COOKBOOK 46 TROPHY ROOM 68 FOCUS 60 FACEBOOK By Nick Johnson
By Billy Pryor
By Noel Gandy
By JD Rogge
By Todd Reed
By Tom Peplinski
By Ryan Graden
By Joel Johnson
By Ben Leal
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By Patrick McKinney
By Bob Jensen
Photos Submitted by Readers
Venison Recipes
ON THE COVER
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Welcome to the October issue of The Iowa Sportsman Magazine! On the cover this month is a photo of a mature Iowa whitetail glaring over the distance to detect any danger that might be present. October marks the first of the whitetail seasons. From now and until the middle of January thousands of hunters will pursue these cunning animals. Do you have what it takes to place a tag around one of the most challenging creatures to hunt....a Mature Iowa Whitetail? Good luck this fall/winter! 4
The Iowa Sportsman
October 2018
PUBLISHER STATEMENT
DNR SEEKING $3 INCREASE TO HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES.
For those not aware the DNR is proposing a $3 increase to resident and nonresident hunting and fishing licenses to help stop the short fall of funding currently available to the department. If approved this would be the first time since 2004 that annual licenses have increased. There have been several instances in the past where an increase has been proposed, but all of those proposals were declined by state legislators. Factor into the equation that the budget for the Iowa DNR has been slashed nearly 50% from 2009 until last year’s budget and you have a pretty significant shortfall of funds needed to appropriately operate and support our natural resources in the state. This go around might be a bit different however due to the fact that in May of this year legislation passed House File 631 into law. Which will allow the DNR and Natural Resource Commission (NRC) more control of setting hunting and fishing license rates. Basically moving forward with any rate increase will not be at the discretion of resources managers and not elected officials. It is also important to note that all revenues from hunting and fishing licenses go to the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund, which has specific uses outlined in the Iowa Constitution. So how do you feel? Are you in support of this proposed increase? Do you support the DNR and NRC being in control of how much and when increases occur? Personally I for one fully support the rate increase as I believe it is long overdue. It has been 14 years since we have had a hike in annual license fees. Over that time costs go up, there is just no escaping that fact of life no matter what sector we speak of. So here we have a managing department of our natural resources being deprived of funding, but it is expected everything to run as smoothly as it once may have. We can’t have our cake and eat it too, something has to give. I get that some naysayers of increases may be a bit peeved, but in the grand scheme of things is $6 a year to much to ask to support your passions? What about the pay to play notion going around? Where people suggest all people that use public lands in Iowa must pay a daily or year fee and not just rely on sportsman to foot the bill. I am in support of something like that as well, but that isn’t going to happen right away or possibly even at all. In the meantime if hunters and anglers want to see the lands and waters we hunt and fish taken care there is no choice but to support this increase. Right now I pay around $150-$200 every year in order to be able to fish and hunt deer, pheasants, turkey, and any other species I choose any given day of the year. I don’t know but that all sounds really reasonable to me and adding $6 to that amount still seems like a bargain. Not only I am doing something that I love to do for a bargain, but I am also providing food for the freezer as well. There are not many things in life that provide so much enjoyment for that cost. I am sure some people are a bit leery on the DNR and NCR being in control of establishing rates any given year, and rightfully so. As long as the new law isn’t abused I think it is the right thing to do though. Elected officials shouldn’t be in control of something like this, after all look at the negligence that was displayed towards our natural resource commissions when legislation was involved. Bottom line is if we want our lands and waterways protected and managed we have to provide an extra source of revenue to make that happen. Without an increase the DNR and our natural resources will continue to be underfunded and undermanaged and then we all suffer the consequences.
Patrick McKinney
@TheIowaSportsmanMagazine
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The Iowa Sportsman
TWIN RIVERS MEDIA, LLC. 1517 3rd Avenue NW Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 877-424-4594
VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 10 • OCTOBER 2018
Gale W. McKinney II, President & CEO Patrick McKinney, Publisher Audra McKinney, VP of Finance Dustin Hector, VP of Sales Aaron McKinney, Field Editor Brandon Peterson, Art Director/Graphic Designer Teri Marsh, Graphic Designer Dawn Busse, Office Manager Robert Reedy, Controller Shawna Nelson, Circulation Manager
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The information and advertising set forth herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable and compiled with great care. Twin Rivers Media, LLC. however, does not warrant complete accuracy of such information and assumes no responsibility for any consequences arising from the use thereof or reliance thereon. Our advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their respective advertisements appearing in this publication, and Publisher shall not be responsible or liable in any manner for inaccuracies, false statements or any material in such advertisement infringing upon the intellectual rights of others. Publisher reserves the right to reject or cancel any advertisement or space reservation at any time without notice. Publisher shall not be liable for any costs or damages if for any reason it fails to publish an advertisement. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright © 2018 All rights reserved.
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INTERACTIVE PAGE
WHAT AM I
IOWA SPORTSMAN ONLINE POLL IF YOU HUNT WHITETAILS WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED WEAPON OF CHOICE: Bow: 33% Shotgun: 41% Handgun: 4% Muzzleloader: 21% Crossbow: 1%
CAN YOU GUESS THE OBJECT IN THE PHOTO?
Please send your guesses to The Iowa Sportsman at 1597 3rd Ave. NW Fort Dodge, IA 50501 or email to info@twinriversmedia.com. Answer will be given in the following month on the interactive page.
WHAT AM I WINNER
The winner of last month’s “What Am I” was Mark Goodsen. The answer was: Weedless Hook.
Like us on Facebook! @ theiowasportsmanmagazine
104 votes
FIND THE MISSING ANTLER We need your help readers! The antler in The Iowa Sportsman logo has come off and we need your help to bring it back! This antler could be anywhere, but most likely it will be hiding in a photo, so it will not be easily found. If you find the missing antler in this month’s The Iowa Sportsman magazine, send in your guesses via email to info@twinriversmedia. com or by mail with the page number and a brief description of where the antler is found. A reader with the first correct answer will be listed in next month’s magazine. Good luck! The antler last month was located on page 64.
THE WINNER OF THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE WAS TANNER JENSEN
PHOTO HUNT: CAN YOU FIND THE 12 DIFFERENCES ON THIS PHOTO?
Answers: Quaker State logo is moved up, Coca-Cola sign is tilted, Michelin man is gone, extra window pane, Scooby-Doo is in the doorway, star is tilted,“I” on “FINA” is darker, telephone pole is shorter, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper are flipped around, wood panel is missing a piece, extra door header, Gulf sign has corner missing.
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MOON PHASES
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TheIowaSportsman.com
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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND is our annual “Best Days To Hunt Whitetail” article! Each year our staff gets together and picks what we believe will be the “best” days for hunters to be out in the timber pursuing those cagey creatures we call whitetails. Some of these days will be based on the fact it is the first day of the season, while others will be based off of when we predict the best chances for a hunter to tag a nice buck will be. Before we move forward with the article please take note that whitetails are living animals. Just because we predict one day to be better than others doesn’t mean you will experience the same results where you hunt. While there are no doctorates or wildlife biologists amongst the individuals that put this October 2018
article together. We did put a lot of thought into this article and tried to pick what we believe will be great days to be out hunting, based off past personal experiences, traditional wisdom, and research. So without further ado we unveil our picks for the best days to hunt whitetail for 2018/19. TheIowaSportsman.com
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BEST DAYS TO HUNT WHITETAIL THIS YEAR
SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2018
This always seems to be our favorite day to list even though the majority of folks don’t participate in this season. Today marks the opening day for youth and disabled hunters. Let me tell you folks, if you have never seen a child or person with a handicap put a tag on a whitetail you are missing out! There is nothing more gratifying to witness and when you see the smile come across that persons face you can’t help but beam from ear to ear yourself. If you have the opportunity to take a youth or disabled person out on a hunt this year please do so. You will end up making great memories and establishing a future love of the sport for these individuals. Bucks will most likely start separating from bachelor groups. You should be able to pattern them in a food source they have been frequenting. Set up a blind, load the muzzleloader, and wait for the memories to happen. Remember though this season shouldn’t be all about shooting the biggest deer possible. Rather this should be a learning experience for the hunters and establishing a lifelong love and respect of the sport.
OCTOBER
MONDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, 2018
We can stop the countdown! Archery hunters it is here, that day you have been waiting 9 months for. It is opening day archery season in Iowa! While typically not the best day to be in the stand, many hunters think of it as a ritual! There is just something about being out in the stand today, no matter what the deer movement will be. Opening day can be a bit tricky to hunt, normally it is hot and buggy here in Iowa. We suggest setting up near water or a stand on a known food source. Bucks will typically be in a pretty strict pattern of hitting hot food sources, during the late evening hours. If the bucks aren’t moving, and its likely they won’t, don’t be afraid to put down a doe or two today.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13TH, 2018
Time to break out the long gun! Today is the first day of early muzzleloader season. Those bucks you have patterned over the last month or so are now in danger of being tagged from 150 yards. Find a beanfield or known food source and set up at a safe distance. There is no need to get too close to where a deer will
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likely appear. You have distance on your side with the long gun, so don’t blow it by setting up to close.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2018
Mid-October isn’t usually thought of as a great time to hunt. Many hunters believe this is the time when the infamous October Lull occurs. When the bucks just seem to up and vanish. Get ready to be astonished or possibly even mad…we don’t necessarily believe in the October Lull! Yes bucks seem to disappear but studies indicate a buck’s activity slowly increases all the way through October. So where in the heck did they go? The best answers we can give is that they have moved onto other food sources that you haven’t been scouting and/or hunting pressure has bumped them from the area. By mid-October a lot of the crops we normally see deer over have been harvested or are not as palatable as they once were. So naturally deer will move on for better options, and a lot of times hunters do not follow. Put out some trail cameras before the season and check them during the season. Heck even take a day away from hunting and do some scouting to see if the deer have moved to a different food option. You are likely to see activity is still occurring, just not where you expected it. Hunting pressure is one of the biggest detriments to hunters in October. By now deer know they are being hunted and will take necessary measures to steer clear of danger. When hunting early in the year be mindful of this and don’t put too much pressure on deer. Try to hunt stands relatively close to the edges and stay out of deeper stand locations.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2018
Today is the rutting moon and if you are a believer in the theory it suggests that this is peak buck activity. However as we mentioned in the sidebar we tend to go off of tradition and the length of daylight diminishing as the main trigger for the rut. With that said today can still be a very good day to be out in the stand. A buck’s testosterone has been building for several weeks now. This boost in aggression will have some bucks checking does that might come into early estrus. You should be seeing more buck sightings during shooting hours the past few days and moving forward.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27TH, 2018
Another season opens today but it has To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
nothing to do with whitetails; today is opening pheasant season in Iowa. While it is not what it once was there will still be several thousand bird hunters out in the field across the state. We pick this day pretty much every year because the bird hunters are pushing all of those big mature bucks out of the CRP fields and remote areas that deer hunters never hunt. A likely landing spot for deer is back into the timber where they will feel safe from the intrusion, but not safe from you sitting 15 feet above waiting for them. Tip your cap to the pheasant hunters today and thank them for the assistance. Even with the help from the pheasant hunters a buck’s testosterone levels are nearing peak levels. They are aggressive and looking to fend off any opponents that might interfere with finding a mate. A few does are probably even in estrus by now, making bucks even more frantic. Daytime sightings are up and bucks should start to seek does. If you are into rattling and using a decoy now would be a good time to instigate a fight.
NOVEMBER
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2018
complete silence when all of the sudden the timber comes alive with a love stricken buck chasing a doe.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2018
With the peak chasing phase winding down and lockdown phase pretty much at its peak today there will be far less buck sightings. Bucks now have plenty to pick from in the form of a doe in estrus, but we would never tell you to stay home. Even though does everywhere are being tended that doesn’t mean you should be on the couch watching tv. Get to the stand and hunt! Bucks don’t stay with just one doe, rather they do their business and get on with the next one. Be in the stand today and you can possibly catch a buck on the move looking for his next date.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, 2018
With peak lockdown a week in the rearview mirror bucks should start their secondary charge at finding any remaining does still not in estrus yet. While the activity won’t be as fast and furious as earlier in the month, bucks will be actively cruising to find does. Today hit up a food plot where you normally see does frequent.
Bucks will be checking these areas to find love as well as a bite to eat…kind of like a human’s dinner and date routine. Winter is fast approaching and while bucks still have love on their mind they will start feeding more frequently to pack on vital nutrition they lost during the rigors of the rut.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, 2018
This is the last day of early archery season. If you still have a tag in your pocket it is use it now or save it until late season after the shotgun seasons wrap up. Today is a good day to hunt because it gives you one last crack at a deer before the gun seasons have them spooked every which way. Bucks will start to head into feed and rest mode, but there will still be some rut activity going one if the area has any does left to breed. Put your focus again on food plots and areas in between food and bedding areas. Bucks will be lurking around food sources that are close to their bedding areas to conserve energy.
DECEMBER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, 2018
Shotgun hunters it is your time to
Welcome to November, the month we have all been waiting for. If you can make a 4 day weekend happen go for it! Today should be right in the middle of the peak seeking phase of the rut, with quite a bit of chasing going on as well. Forgo your traditional early season stands today and hit up areas where you traditionally see a lot of doe activity. Keep an eye out for those mid-day cruisers! Bucks will be on the move pretty much all day looking for those first does in estrus. We are a few days from peak chasing and buck activity, but it is starting to get really hot and heavy in the whitetail kingdom!
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2018
Today is the day! We mark this as the best day to be in your stand. Actually if you can swing it the days leading up to and the next few days after today you should be in your stand as much as possible. So give the wife and kids a kiss and tell them “see you in a week!” Chasing phase is in full effect now as a lot of the does will be in or nearing estrus. Bucks will be cruising all day long in lust of a companion so keep your head on a swivel and eyes peeled, because the moment of truth can literally happen in mere seconds any time of the day. It won’t be uncommon to be sitting in October 2018
TheIowaSportsman.com
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BEST DAYS TO HUNT WHITETAIL THIS YEAR shine today. The majority of all deer shot in the 2018-19 seasons will happen over the course of the next few weeks. Today is a great day for hunters because it allows you to hunt with several of your friends and family. A lot of times this season is more about the comradery amongst your hunting group than it is about tagging a big mature buck….and that is completely fine, after all that is what hunting is all about. Traditionally deer drives are the go to tactic during the shotgun season and rightfully so as it is a proven strategy. However, depending on the size of your group, we suggest hunters to slow down and hunt today more like an archery hunter. Let the groups on neighboring properties around you push deer to you. The entire state will be in a frenzy. Deer will be running constantly looking for safe haven. Set up shop the first few hours of the day in some thick cover and let the deer be pushed to you.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, 2018
Today is smackdab in the middle of second shotgun season. We earmarked today because the competition of hunters won’t be as much as the first shotgun
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The Iowa Sportsman
season. Deer will still be leery and skittish so any type of hunting done will have to be planned accordingly. If you are hunting by yourself look for areas of remote thick cover. Mature deer are smart, they know by now that the timber isn’t the safest place for them and will retreat to smaller patches of cover that don’t get hunted.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24TH, 2018
Today is a great day to be hunting if you can manage to get out during the holiday hustle and bustle. The shotgun seasons have come and gone and deer, while still on alert, have settled back into a normal routine. This routine revolves around feeding as there are still several months of harsh winter to survive. Brave the cold today and hit up a food source. If you can find any crop that is still standing these are dynamite locations. Deer likely won’t move much during the midday hours to save valuable energy. So save your own energy and concentrate on hunting the morning and evening hours when deer will be on their feet the most. Areas near food sources that receive direct sunlight attract deer because of the warmth of the rays. Look for any south facing slopes
and food and you can probably find deer.
JANUARY
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10TH, 2019
Last day of the season folks! If you haven’t used your general any sex tag then it is time to get hectic. Deer will still be in feeding mode, but it may be time to get even more aggressive. Try setting up as close to a bedding area as you possibly can. You might be able to get a shot at a deer getting up for a stretch and hopefully moving towards a food plot. If you were in hopes of tagging a buck this year it might be time to switch focus and harvest a doe. We get that a big mature buck is what a lot of people are targeting, but there is no time left. Time to make the decision of filling your freezer or eating the proverbial tag soup this winter.
WHAT TRIGGERS THE RUT? Moon Phase Theory – This theory suggests that the changing phases of the moon has a direct effect on when the breeding season for whitetails will occur. The theory says that peak rut activity (when bucks are frantically searching for does) occurs the few days leading up to and the few days after the second full moon of the fall, also known as the “Rutting Moon”. If you follow this theory then the timing of the rut changes every year. It is likely that you have heard someone say “this year’s rut is going to be earlier or later than last.” This is because the second full moon of the fall doesn’t happen the same time every year. Sometimes it is in late October or even in the middle of November depending on when the full moon lands. Decreasing Daylight Theory (Traditional) – This theory suggest that the rut happens pretty much the same time every year and is triggered by the diminishing amount of light during the day. It is believed whitetails have a built in sense that allows them to use the length of day to trigger when breeding starts. With this theory there is really not much to think about. If you witness a lot of rut activity during the first week of November then you will traditionally witness the same sort of activity the same time in future years. Right, wrong, or indifferent we use the Traditional Theory as our predictor for our Best Days To Hunt article. If you are a firm believer in the Moon Phase Theory you can expect the rut to be early, as the rutting moon will take place October 24th this year.
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October 2018
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October 2018
IT IS THAT TIME of year again... fall! It is a beautiful season change. The leaves start to glow with bright hues of yellow and orange, the chilly mornings have a crisp frost on the grass, and the earlier sunset shines the most vibrant fall colors. It is also the time of year when you start to see a lot of us cleaning, organizing, and winterizing our boats for next year. We start arranging our tackle boxes and clearing out all of the fishing gear from the garage. However, fall is actually a time when we want to make sure that we are out on the water and have a large selection of lures and baits ready to go. October can be the best month for that big fish that we are after! Fall can be a tough time of the year to be out fishing though, but that does not mean that it is impossible to catch fish on these increasingly colder days. As a matter of fact, you may catch your biggest fish October 2018
of the year in October! In early fall, the fish start to get confused about the season change, mainly due to the change in water temperature. One issue that can complicate fall fishing is an “Indian Summer�. An
Indian Summer is when the warmer, late summer weather continues well into the fall. A warm fall will obviously keep the water temperatures warmer longer but it is not just the warmer weather that will determine the water temperature. It is also the amount of sunlight each day. The sun will not shine as long in the fall as it does in the summer, thus allowing the water to cool more and more each night. Fall weather can be unpredictable and the fish will become more active with these daily weather changes. Fish will begin to stock up on as much food as they can to prepare them for the upcoming freezing conditions. As their metabolism slows, fish will often look for larger bait fish to eat. Thanks to the change of TheIowaSportsman.com
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A PLAN ON HOW TO CATCH YOUR BIGGEST FISH OF THE YEAR seasons and weather patterns, the big fish in October can be enticed to attack larger lures, unlike the lunkers that you are after in the warmer summer months. In the month of October, as the weather starts to change, it is not unusual to experience short strikes, or not being able to get the fish set on your hook. Fish have a natural ability to understand if the bait that they are chasing will provide them with more calories then they will burn attempting to catch it. So they may not try too hard to get hold of your lure or bait. A good way to handle this issue, is to try using lures that have a trailing hook. This will ensure that if a short strike occurs there will be a second opportunity to plant the hook in the lip of that big fish. With the water temperatures dropping, foliage is starting to die off. Bait fish will move towards the banks, stumps, and grass beds for cover and stable temperatures. This gives predator fish the advantage to find and stock up on these nutritious meals. If you are fishing in an area of rapid water, like a dam, then look for action right at the base of the dam. Live bait presentations work best and chubs are generally the best bait that I use. A simple vertical jig is an effective
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The Iowa Sportsman
presentation. Vertical jigging (chubs, minnows, and soft plastics) in deeper waters is effective because the fish are likely to change depths more frequently as the water temperature fluctuates. Since fall weather can be so unpredictable, it is a good idea to keep plenty of lure options ready to rig up and try out. Some of the lure options I have had success with on an October fishing trip include: lipless crankbaits, buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and flat sided crankbaits. The lure I decide to tie on will depend on the water temperature and amount of submerged habitat. If it is still warm, I will try to cover as much of the water as I can by using a buzzbait or a spinnerbait. If the water temperature has dropped below roughly 50 degrees I will use a lipless crankbait or a flat sided crankbait. It is possible that October may still be warm. This will change my tactics a little. I will focus on using buzzbaits during the early morning and late evening hours because of the lower light conditions. The less light on shore means less light under water. With less light, fish are still able to search for food by detecting vibrations in the water, until they are close enough to see what is causing it. I prefer to use a bright white buzzbait to close the
deal. The great thing about a buzzbait is that it will allow you to cover vast amounts of water in a shorter period of time. It can also get you on top of the fish that are scattered throughout the open water. After the sun has risen and the day is warming up, I like to switch to a spinnerbait. Just like the buzzbait, it can cover a lot of water in a short amount of time. I like using a flashy combo of a silver Colorado blade and a gold willow leaf blade. This will give you the enticing flash that you need when you are running it through deeper clear water and in the murkier shallows. Another possibility is that your October fishing trip may be a brisk one. This is where I will choose a flat sided crankbait or a lipless crankbait. These crankbaits are extremely versatile and seem to get the most response in 45 to 55 degree water. Depending on the amount of foliage and other possible snags in the water will determine which of these two I would use. If you are on a lake with little vegetation and clear water then I would rig up a flat sided crankbait. You can retrieve it slowly and occasionally give it a small jerk, suspend it next to cover, or swim it right over the top of the dying vegetation. I like to run a silent, flat sided crankbait because of it’s subtle flash and lifelike look of a small bait fish trying to sneak by. If the water you are fishing has submerged vegetation or stumps to maneuver around, I would try throwing out a lipless crankbait. This style of crankbait allows you to focus more on the shallow feeding fish that range from 4 to 6 feet deep. Lipless crankbaits seem to perform best when you hold your rod tip higher, let it fall and jerk it up a bit to get a rattling flutter. With the subtle jerk, you will get the look of a dying shad that is darting frantically. Using this technique over the grass beds and barely bumping the tips of the taller vegetation, the fish seem to hit it when the other lures are not getting the job done. But remember the fish tend to strike softer in colder water, so be ready for that little tick because it may be a monster. Fall fishing can be a great experience but your time is limited. October’s days are shorter and the weather is unpredictable. Although it is more of a challenge to fish in the fall, it can be very rewarding if you know the behavior of these witty predators. This time of year, the fish are hungry and willing to go after a wide variety lure options. This knowledge can make all the difference between a good day and a great day. So do not put away your fishing gear too early. If you take advantage of October, you may catch your biggest fish of the year. Good Luck! To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
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October 2018
THE MISTAKE WAS MADE! I saw a good buck on his feet during daylight and made the mistake of telling my buddies. Due to the sheer excitement that I had experienced in seeing a shooter on this particular tract I let on that I practically had the buck in the bag. Anticipation for the next day’s hunt was diminished quickly, however, when I arrived at the parking area to two new hunter’s vehicles that had not been there any time prior while I’d been hunting this piece of ground. One buddy told his buddy, who told his buddy, who told his cousin’s uncle’s sister twice removed. My “foot in mouth” syndrome had acted up again and it was practically impossible for me to garner any expectations for the foreseeable future. Every year the scenario described above seems to become more of the norm than the exception. Private land opportunities seem to be harder to come by than they did even a decade ago. Hunting leases, farming developments taking down timber, and other issues are creating the dilemma of having more hunters on less land. Many of Iowa’s hunters are forced to take their passions to our public land institutions which, quite frankly, can be a beast all on their own. The silver lining to all of the seemingly negative connotations of more hunters and less land is that you can hunt smart and still harvest a trophy whitetail in our great state with some work, willpower, and flexibility. Several strategies can be implored when hunting deer who are experiencing tons of unnatural pressure due to human intrusion. We will call it unnatural pressure because things like farm equipment during harvest almost seem like second nature when it comes to a deer’s perception. There are two major segments of hunters in our state: archers and shotgunners. While
during archery season so there are still some challenges. The benefit to archery hunting in high pressure situations is that it is a long season and the rut occurs during its midst. While there were plenty of hunters out in “my” spot the day after the encounter all I had to do was wait two days to have it all to myself again. Why? The day the vehicles were there was Saturday. Generally speaking, there are many more hunters in the field Friday through Sunday. The “weekend warriors” are hitting it during these times due to work and family obligations. How do we combat that? Hunt during low traffic times. Monday through Friday mornings can be really good hunting. The sweet spot in my opinion is Wednesday. During this midweek session the deer have had a chance to calm down from high pressure weekends and can get back to some resemblance of normalcy. “What if the weekend is the only time I have to hunt?” My suggestion would be to go out early and often! If you’re heading
there are some who do both it is certain that we all fall into one category or the other. In that light, we will paint a picture on bettering our odds to harvest a mature whitetail under pressure. Archery season seems to bring a little less pressure on the whitetail population due to the fact that there are traditionally fewer hunters in the field during this time. The story described above, however, was
into the woods then plan to be in your stand at least an hour before daylight. Those same hunters who had to work all week are usually a bit tougher to get out of bed on a Saturday morning. This lends itself to field infiltration at daylight or after. If you’re positioned well before daylight then deer activity could be higher at the daylight hour due to humans pushing them around. Plan to sit in the stand during midday.
October 2018
The magical hours for hunting pressured deer are 11-2 during the middle of the day. The reasoning is simple: most hunters have an internal clock that strikes at 10:00 a.m. This is usually when a mass exodus from the woods occurs due to the call of nature, hunger pangs, or our kid’s soccer schedules. This unnatural fleeing from the field can possibly get deer on their feet and heading into the direction of your stand. Hunter’s internal clocks often ding between 2 and 3 o’clock to let them know it’s time to head back to the field for the evening hunt. If you are positioned in your stand during these hours then the odds are a bit higher that a trophy could slip by your location in an attempt to escape the
BE WILLING TO GO WHERE OTHER HUNTERS ARE NOT WILLING TO GO. ARIEL MAPS ARE EASILY ATTAINABLE AND THEY SHOULD BE HIGHLY UTILIZED. ONE WAY TO FIND A PLACE TO HUNT IS TO LOCATE ALL OF THE ACCESS TO AN AREA AND LOOK TO PLACE A STAND AS FAR AWAY FROM THOSE AREAS AS POSSIBLE. pressure. As for the weekend hunter, Sunday afternoon can possibly be your best sit. Avid deer hunters are often fans of many sports: including football. Many outdoorsmen will gladly give up one afternoon afield for the chance to watch their team on Sunday evening thus leaving the woods a little more barren. During Iowa’s shotgun seasons it is likely that ton of pressure is being put on our grassy fields, creeks, and ditches due to party hunting by the “orange army.” If you are not a part of one of these groups then I suggest that you go to where they are not. If stand hunting is your forte’ then head to where the deer want to be in escaping danger. This might include some easily overlooked space such as an overgrown farmstead or small block of timber. Deer are very intelligent and know to go where the people are not. Play the wind and be patient. Likely, the principals that you implore during archery season as far as timing go will still apply during high pressure gun season. Be willing to go where other hunters are not willing to go. Ariel maps are easily attainable and they should be highly utilized. One way to find a place to hunt is TheIowaSportsman.com
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HUNTING PRESSURED WHITETAILS to locate all of the access to an area and look to place a stand as far away from those areas as possible. Hunting away from the gate usually requires work which is something that not so many are willing to do. Therefore, foot traffic on the fringes is high and will drive deer toward the safety of the interior. As you make the trek to find a big Iowa brute don’t be afraid to get creative. Advancements have been made in electric bicycles as well as other ride on vehicles. While these are not legal to use in every situation they can be a huge advantage where they are legal. I can highly recommend Rambo bikes (www.rambobikes.com) for their power, stealth, and accessories geared specifically towards hunters. Kayaks and canoes can also be a huge advantage where access is negated by water. These are quiet but efficient ways to enter a hunting area while remaining scent free. Some areas are not conducive to treestand hunting: hunt from the ground. Don’t give up on an area simply because you can’t hang a treestand. Take time to create a natural blind. Don’t forget that a good backdrop within a ground blind is nearly as important as the cover that is immediately in front of the hunter. A hunter
who breaks his outline is a step ahead. Playing the wind is always important in any situation but is especially important when a hunter is eye level with his quarry. Finally, in the throes of avoiding the crowds, understand that bad weather can be a good friend. The hours immediately preceeding and following a weather front, especially the cold, lends itself to a deer’s natural tendency to get up and feed. Being in the deer woods during these strategic times can be climactic for the hunter. People are people and have a natural tendency to avoid bad weather. This is not
encouragement to endure bad weather, and by no means should you ever put yourself in danger, but being close to your hunting area during these times can be beneficial. As per the buck that was noted earlier: I hung around the camp fire and overheard the story that the buck I had spotted during
HOW DO WE COMBAT THAT? HUNT DURING LOW TRAFFIC TIMES. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNINGS CAN BE REALLY GOOD HUNTING. THE SWEET SPOT IN MY OPINION IS WEDNESDAY. DURING THIS MIDWEEK SESSION THE DEER HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO CALM DOWN FROM HIGH PRESSURE WEEKENDS AND CAN GET BACK TO SOME RESEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY. a previous outing had been spotted but not killed. A hunter made the statement that he’d “be all over him” come the next weekend. He never got the opportunity because the combination of the rut being in full swing and the flexibility in my work schedule that week got the deer. The most recent information I had received allowed me to put another piece of the puzzle together in order to harvest the buck. The combination of hunting midday during the week allowed the opportunity that many can only dream about. Iowa is full of hunting opportunities that many around the country covet. Your trophy could be under the next bush. You just have to be there! The old saying goes, “You can’t kill them sitting on the couch.” Get into the field for yourself and see just what kinds of hunting opportunities that Iowa has to offer.
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October 2018
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ONE FACTOR MOST successful trappers have in common is their dedication to pre-season preparation and scouting. Pre-season prep can be the difference between meeting your season’s goals and falling woefully short of your expectations. I’ve known many trappers who prior to season claim to be ready to pile up the fur, only to find themselves unorganized and without the proper gear and preparations as the season wears on. Each fall thousands of trappers go through their yearly ritual of dying and waxing their traps. While this method has certainly stood the test of time, it is time consuming, messy, and a bit of a hassle. I do dye my stakes every other year, but use a cold dye method instead of cooking them in a barrel, this method can be used with your steel traps as well. I think anytime I can get by without heating up my metal equipment the longer it will last, and the stronger my springs will stay. I prefer to use a large tote, filled with water and stir in some logwood dye. I then soak my stakes in this cold dye for 12 hours or so, giving them a good dark color. I like to put a batch of stakes in first thing in
my snares 2-3 dips, drying in between coats, until the snares have a light tan color, which blends very well with dead grass. I then dip the snares in 1 coat of a product called Full Metal Jacket. Full Metal Jacket dries into a clear hard coat on the outside of the snare that “slicks” the snare back up almost as wax would. All dip/dye products will somewhat slow a snares action more than bare cable, but I have found the Full Metal Jacket speeds the action of the snare considerably. When the snares are dry I roll them up individually, and stack them in square 4-gallon buckets, 100 per bucket, snap the lid on and write what kind of snare they are on the lid in marker.
IF A TRAPPER PLANS TO KEEP HIS CATCH HIGH, AND TRAP DEEP INTO THE SEASON THEY SHOULD HAVE SEVERAL LINES PLANNED, SCOUTED, EVEN PRESTAKED. the morning, then rotate them out in the evening and soak the next batch overnight. For my traps and snares, I prefer the water based dip Formula 1 brown which is mixed with one part Formula 1 and two parts water. This is the ratio that I prefer on steel traps, NOT on snares. Formula 1 is very quick drying, and I often dip equipment in the evening and set it the following day. Water based dips can also be made by thinning exterior latex house paints with water, but this method requires a little more “air out” time if the equipment is used out of the water. On snares my preferred method is to thin the Formula 1 considerably more than the manufacturer recommends, until it has a consistency similar to water. I give
October 2018
One common snare treatment which has been used for years is to boil the snares in water with baking soda. While this method does work to take the shine off the snare cable, boiling the cable also takes the oil out of the cable which will cause the cable to corrode from within, shortening the life of the cable. When cable corrodes it will look like there is a fine powder on the cable, and the strength, speed, and durability of the cable will be compromised. Another problem caused by poor preseason prep is having the proper amount of locations scouted and secured to set during the course of the season. Most trappers are creatures of habit, and start the season setting their “ol’faithful”
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SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR TRAPLINE SUCCESS hotspots, along routes that they have trapped in prior seasons. It seems few trappers look ahead to a plan B or even a plan C, if something would happen to disrupt their line on their normal route. It could be competition, weather, crop rotations, road conditions, animal populations, or many other factors that influence whether a section of line will be productive or not. I typically trap a section of line for 4-5 days taking the cream off the population before pulling, and setting a new line into new populations. If a trapper plans to keep his catch high, and trap deep into the season they should have several lines planned, scouted, even prestaked. When the catch starts to decline on one line the trapper can quickly shift to another scouted/prestaked line to keep his catch numbers high. Later in the season you can shift back to previous lines as more animals again start to use these locations. A good example of this would be if you heavily set a section of creek with running tiles, or fast moving water, and pulled the traps after the catch declined early in the season, this would be a good place to return to during the late season. Running tiles or fast moving water will often stay open during very cold temperatures when other water is frozen, these places become a magnet for all kinds of furbearers, and become hotspots for the trapper. Always try to have more locations scouted than you think you can possibly set during the course of the season. You never know when your Plan A will be disrupted and you will need to shift all or part of your line to new territory; if you don’t have any new ground scouted you’re in a tough spot and your lines’ efficiency will take a hit. I begin my pre-season scouting in early October, and keep a notebook, a plat book, and a county map handy. Keep detailed notes
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and you will have new locations/lines at you’re fingertips later in the season when you need them. Pre-staking is an important part of my early season success. In Iowa, a trapper can pre-stake equipment on public right of way (road ditches) two weeks prior to the opening of season. Pre-staking is not “claiming” your locations-if your equipment isn’t actually set, another trapper can still legally set that location before you. Once your equipment is actually set it can’t be legally touched by another trapper. What pre-staking allows me to do is get a large amount of equipment set on opening day. Instead of pounding stakes, and hauling equipment on opening day, all I need to do is set/bait the equipment that is already staked in. Once again detailed notes are an essential part of my system-each location is written down as it’s staked, then checked off as it’s set, and later crossed off as it’s pulled. I try to start my truck out as organized as I can to make me as efficient as possible at least for the first few days of the season. As much as I would like to say the truck stays that way, it wouldn’t
be the truth. After a few days on the line it generally looks as if a bomb went off in the back of my truck. To begin season I have equipment organized in the back of my truck so that it can be easily accessed from either side of the truck, this includes two sets of some pieces of equipment such as hammers, pliers, cable cutters, tile spades, etc. Unfortunately things get lost or left at the locations, and it helps to have extra equipment to keep you moving. The old adage “two is one, one is none,” was never as true as it is on the trapline. Trying to keep ahead of the mess in your truck bed will save you time, and make you more efficient on your line. Time is money, and your time is the most important and valuable thing you possess on your trapline. How you choose to spend your time during pre-season will absolutely effect your success on the line during season. I liken this to athletics-the athlete who works in the off season to prepare their mind and body to play, is almost always more successful than the athlete who doesn’t prepare but just shows up and plays. Good Luck and Happy Trapping!
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October 2018
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By Todd Reed
AS ANOTHER PAGE on the calendar is turned and the heat of summer is now gone, fall is in the air. To many fall equates to hunting seasons and football, while some outdoors people are still enjoying the sport of fishing. If you are one of those anglers that still pursue your favorite fish species throughout the month of October it can be a challenging month. The ecosystem of the fish has done a “180� in the last month, so we as anglers must evolve as well if we want to have success on the water. Here are few things that can help you stay on top of the fish in the fall season. 28
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In the fall season the time of day can be critical to your success. When fishing for game fish in summer it is vital to fish the first few hours of daylight as well as the last few hours of daylight, this is no longer the case. As the water is cooling throughout the days of the month it is no longer necessary to consider the time. Actually it is better to not rush things in the morning and let the fish get active. The sun is now your friend as it warms the water in the morning. This is one time of the year when the clock is not a significant To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
factor in catching fish. Sleep in, have one more cup of coffee, and then head out to your favorite fishing place. ~ Water clarity is another factor that anglers must make special consideration this time of year. No matter if you fish rivers or lakes the water will be at its clearest this time of year. The microorganisms that populated the water column are all but gone this time of year and the water will gleam like no other time. When this occurs we must make three important changes to our fishing October 2018
techniques. The first being our line. Line diameter should be the smallest that you can get away with. During this time 6-10# test line will take care of
The smaller the diameter the better when working with clear water. Another reason to use the smallest diameter line is to accomplish the second factor with water
THINK ABOUT YOUR CADENCE. THIS IS IMPORTANT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR, HOWEVER IN THE BEGINNING STAGES OF FALL IT CAN BE THE FACTOR OF A GREAT DAY OF FISHING AND A TOTAL BUST. most presentations, bluegills, crappies and even those larger bass and walleyes.
clarity. During this period of clear water, making long casts will be advantageous TheIowaSportsman.com
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DIFFERENCE IN CATCHING FISH IN THE SUMMER VERSUS THE FALL
for the angler. The less we give away our location, the better! The third adjustment for the change in water clarity comes down to our baits. If you enjoy live bait, this season is really for you. Natural colors really shine this time of year. The clean water gives all fish species a better look at the bait you are offering. We must blend in if we want to maximize our chances. Browns, oranges, whites and silvers are all good choices to begin with when the water is clean. ~ Think about your cadence. This is important throughout the entire year, however in the beginning stages of fall it can be the factor of a great day of fishing and a total bust. Cadence is the speed of the lure/bait you are using. Trolling speed is important to consider this time of year, too fast...too slow what is the piece of the puzzle on that particular day? Those angler who like to cast lures must constantly think about what their bait looks like in the water. A simple stop-ngo retrieve has created many great days of fall fishing for me. This works well with crankbaits and spinnerbaits. As soon as you pause your bait, the fish eat it up. This technique is very powerful in the fall months of the year. If you like throwing jigs and slip bobbers this time of year then cadence is a variable you must figure out as well. Casting a bobber and letting it sit there for 5 minutes without a bite, and then doing the same thing again, and again, and again probably isn’t going to work. I have the slow reel on a slip bobber to prove lethal on fall bluegills 30
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and crappies. Cast the bobber rig out, and ever so slowly reel it back to the boat or land. This technique is great with kids too because most of the time the fish hook themselves. If you are offering the fish a jig this time of year, play with the cadence for more bites. Slow hops, fast hops, dragging, dead stick, all can be good presentations, don’t go a day without trying them all. ~The last point to notice this time of year is experimentation. Fish can be in one location one day and not to be seen in that same location the next day. Fish species are on the move following bait to feed up for the winter and the colder weather ahead. This time of year also presents fish in all depths of the water column. Topwater baits can still work this time of year, as well dragging baits on the bottom. Experimenting with moving baits as well as slow presentations will have you narrowing down your search for your species of fish. I like to refer this time of year to the “full deck” period. At the end of a day of fishing my front deck could have a dozen of rods scattered around, each with a different lure and water depth in mind. It is a puzzle each and every day this time of year, but the rewards of experimentation can be great. There are numerous things in life this time of year that grab our attention, however if you can find some time to hit the lake or river you can make some simple adjustments to have a great fall day of fishing. Enjoy, and as always be safe on the water. To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
October 2018
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I WOULD VENTURE to say that many, if not most, of all anglers out there, hooked their very first fish in a pond. Usually a bluegill or small crappie and, every once in a while, a nice surprise bass will find its way onto your hook. I am a fly-fishing aficionado and love to chase after most warm water species with a flyrod. When my son was younger we had a chance to go to a small urban pond by a library. It was teeming with small bluegill. I tied on a small fly and with every drop my son made we had one of those “trophies” wiggling away on the line. We caught so many fish that we wore the finish off the hook! What an experience and it’s one that we still talk about with fondness as he now joins me on the boat chasing after bass and northern pike. But back then the fishing was easy it was more “catching” than fishing, and for young’uns, it definitely grabs their attention and plants the fishing seed which, we ultimately hope, turns them into fishing fanatics like Mom and Dad. Here in Iowa, we’re privileged to have community fishing program that is managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. These small urban lakes and ponds are great places to introduce your children, teens, and adults to the joys of feeling that fish stretch your line. These little fisheries are all just a few minutes away where you can enjoy relaxing outdoor fun with friends and family.
THE FISH
The Iowa DNR mainly stocks largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish in urban fisheries. Bluegill – These feisty little fighters are great fun when you’re first learning how to fish or introducing your children to fishing. These fish can also be easily seen during their spawning period which typically begins in May and will continue on to early August. Males build nests in 1 to 4 feet of water along the shoreline, over diverse substrate materials, but sand and gravel October 2018
are preferred. The nests are saucer-shaped depressions about 1 to 2 feet in diameter. From the shore, the colony of nests look like “elephant tracks”. The aggressive males often build nests, almost touching adjoining nests. It is common to find as many as 50 nests in a 75-foot radius. Most nests are only 2- to 3-inches deep, and the male fish keep them fanned free of silt. They readily take the hook, especially baited with small pieces of a night crawler
keep the panfish population in check. They primarily feed the young bluegill and crappie along with frogs, crayfish, aquatic insects and other small animal or bird that might fall in the water. Medium action rods with ten-pound test line work well for these fighters. For anglers that are first starting to explore bass fishing, ponds are a great place to learn. Structure in these small bodies of water can be forgiving and you can walk around and explore as you target largemouth bass. Plastic worms work well and for some excitement, tie on an imitation frog and drag it along the shoreline where weeds, lilies, and patches of grass are present. You’ll be surprised when bass explode on your lure as you’re retrieving it. You’ll miss more bass than you catch, but the excitement of the strike is well worth it, and you’ll get more hookups as you gain experience. Channel Catfish – For those that would like to slide on a chunk of bait on a hook
BY WORKING WITH THE CITY, AND BY GETTING INVOLVED DURING THE DESIGN PHASE, THE IOWA DNR CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPER NUMBER AND SPECIES OF FISH ARE STOCKED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. or cricket. As I’ve already eluded to, they are also a blast to catch on a flyrod. Light line and a small fly or popper are the ticket. Small spinning gear also with light line work well. Downsizing to 1/16 oz or 1/32 oz jigs will also result in some fun catches. Usually, a while grub or “twister tail” threaded on to the hook will net results. Largemouth Bass – Atop the food chain, the largemouth bass is one of the most popular sports fish in Iowa. Most of Iowa’s ponds are populated with largemouth bass, and really for two reasons. One is that they provide hours of fun for anglers throughout the year, and second, they help
and let it soak while enjoying some family time, channel catfish offer both great table fare as well as amazing action when the hook is set. You’ll want to use a pretty stiff rod with ten-pound test line or maybe a bit more. Catfish can and do get big, so horsing one of these in on light line will be difficult. For bait, well the worse it smells the more likely a channel catfish will bite on it. Chicken liver works very well as some of the commercially available stink baits. There’re also folks that will soak hotdog pieces in stink bait, slide it over a hook and send it to the bottom. If you’re planning on 33 TheIowaSportsman.com
IOWA’S URBAN FISHING OPPORTUNITIES a catch and release type of fishing, then a circle hook would be most recommended. These are specifically designed to allow catfish or other bottom feeders to take the bait and as they swim away it hooks them in the corner of the mouth rather than the potential of having a hook deep in its throat or stomach. Deep hooked fish will eventually die even if released and cutting the hook off and releasing has the same effect.
WHERE TO GO
Honestly, the best source for community fishing locations is the Iowa DNR’s website at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fish-Local. However, with the help of Iowa DNR Urban Fishing Biologist Tyler Stubbs, we’ll make some recommendations on where to go as well as providing info on what we as anglers can do to help improve these little gems.
THE PROGRAM
“This spring we changed the name to the Community Fishing Program”, said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Community Fishing Biologist Tyler Stubbs. “The mission of Iowa’s Community Fishing Program is to increase angling participation and opportunities in Iowa’s biggest cities. We are currently focusing on the top 30 cities by total population, and their suburban areas.” The goal of the program is to increase the quality of angling opportunities and access within Iowa’s densely populated areas. The Iowa DNR is also working with partners to promote fishing as a safe, family-friendly activity and identifying a way to get Iowan’s fishing in urban and suburban areas. “Working with cities to develop sustainable fisheries out of stormwater retention basins is a big part of this program”, continued Stubbs. “As cities continue to grow, they build these basins to manage the increased runoff rate from urban development into storm sewers. Eventually, through various means, fish get into the basin and start to provide an angling opportunity.” By working with the city, and by getting involved during the design phase, the Iowa DNR can make sure that the proper number and species of fish are stocked as soon as possible. This helps make sure that they are starting off on the right track to achieve a balanced fish population. These basins were not initially built or designed to be fished due to increased vegetation growth, resulting in fish kills, however, the Iowa DNR has been working with cities willing to offer fishing in these locations to build them more like a farm
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pond; a fishing friendly design that still maintains stormwater management goals. “Many of these basins are in city parks, and provide great access for families, novice and avid anglers, and kids”, adds the biologist. “Surprising to some anglers, many of these ponds have the potential to produce some rather large bass and bluegill which can make things exciting!” As everyone knows here in Iowa, we deal with water quality issues in our large impoundments each year and urban fisheries are no exception. Many of these ponds have some water quality issues with excess algae and different invasive species of plants and fish, which is why it is important for anglers to know that it is illegal to transport water and vegetation to these ponds. It is also illegal to stock fish into public waters. “Crappie, Goldfish, Koi, Northern Pike, Flathead Catfish, etc. show up via potential illegal stockings that are well intentioned, but misguided”, noted Stubbs. “They can have a negative effect on fisheries we are trying to develop with Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Channel Catfish which could hinder the fishery from reaching its full potential.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
This program is still in its early stages, but it is starting to gain some traction, especially in the growing suburban areas where many of these basins are being built. So far since 2016 the Community Fishing Program has assisted cities with the design and/or stocking of 22 new fisheries in 12 different cities with 6 more currently in the design phase for 2019. “We want people to get out and use these places, take a kid and/or someone new to fishing with you, and catch some fish!”, encouraged the biologist. “Don’t be afraid to harvest fish as well, especially Bluegill and Crappie, which have a daily limit of 25 fish each.” As always leave the pond in better shape than when you arrived. Cities are doing a great job of maintaining these urban fishing areas by keeping them clean. Pack out what you pack in, remove unwanted fishing line and recycle when you can. It’s everyone responsibility to steward the resources we enjoy all across the State to include our urban fishing areas. Should you have any issues or questions regarding the Community Fishing Program contact the Iowa DNR. “We are here to help you have an enjoyable and memorable angling experience close to home”, concluded Stubbs. Tight Lines All!
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THE ONSET OF duck season stirs many emotions in a waterfowl hunter. It often starts with super early mornings and mild weather and the hopes that any prior scouting missions will prove successful. This is a chance for hunters to knock the dust off their gear, which if you are like me has been in storage for the past 7 months. I always tell myself I am going to hose off the decoys in the summer, vacuum out blind bags and blinds but come opening day it never fails that I show up with dried mud on the decoys and various snack wrappers and corn stubble in every pocket of the gear bag. The ducks don’t care right? Early season plays out a lot differently than hunting late season. You are dealing with lots of local birds comprised heavily of mallards, gadwall, wigeon and some pintail, along with early migrants like blue winged teal and wood ducks. As October slides towards November you will start to see more mallards, green winged teal, pintails, gadwall, wigeon and various divers migrating. There is often that rush of pressure on opening weekend that scatters birds around and in many places this pressure holds until the whitetail rut starts to pull deer hunters away with its soothing promise of Boone and Crocket bucks. The early season ducks aren’t grouped up like they are later in the year and can be trickier to find. This is the time of year to be out scouting just as it starts getting light enough to see. Ducks like to fly and trade around early and it can sometimes help you pinpoint where they are heading or even as simple as where they are flying over. The vegetation in October is still pretty dense and it can be very difficult to locate numbers of birds on a marsh or lake with lots of cover without seeing October 2018
them go in. If you’ve read my articles before you will know how much I harp on the importance of scouting.
SHOOT SOME CLAYS
I am as guilty as anyone when it comes to letting my wingshooting go rusty in the off season but I still make an effort to at least put a box of shells through the gun before the first couple outings. This not
duck hunter, this is not the time of year to run 10 dozen mallard decoys paired with 7 dozen honkers. I mean, you can if you want but in all honesty less can often be more in the first couple weeks of season. You are by-and-large dealing with a lot of local birds, young birds and birds that haven’t been shot at for the past two months as they made their way up from gulf coast states. When dealing with heavily pressured ducks and ducks late season then yes, big spreads can really make a difference. If you are where the ducks want to be and have good concealment and the wind right then a dozen decoys can be more than enough to fill a limit. This also opens up opportunities to hunt some hard to reach places on foot. Some of the best public land duck hunts Ive had involved hiking into areas where other hunters either didn’t know about or unwilling to put in the work. Many male species of ducks this time
YOU ARE BY-AND-LARGE DEALING WITH A LOT OF LOCAL BIRDS, YOUNG BIRDS AND BIRDS THAT HAVEN’T BEEN SHOT AT FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY UP FROM GULF COAST STATES. o n l y lets you make sure the gun is in working order but also bring back the muscle memory of following and shooting a moving target. It would surprise you how much a few clays can help especially if it has been more than a couple months since you and the gun last saw action.
of year are still fairly drab in color, not yet into their full breeding plumage. I will generally run more hen decoys than drakes in an attempt to look more natural. Ive not done any investigation on whether this theory is accurate but if it gives you confidence then that’s a win in my book.
DECOYS
HUNT MID-DAY
Thankfully for the budget conscious
You will notice that a lot of hunters TheIowaSportsman.com
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EARLY SEASON DUCK STRATEGIES
wont stick it out much past 10 or 11 am which is generally when the hunting hits a slow point. On multiple occasions I’ve gone back in the afternoon to check out a public spot I hunted the same morning and noticed ducks scattered around where we had set up. I’ve never actually gone out and decoy hunted
over water in the afternoon before but I have stayed through the morning into the afternoon and had some surprising results. Sometimes it just simply stays dead and the ducks don’t fly again until late evening but other times you will pick off one or two here and there looking to come back when they have learned it
is safe. Have actually filled a few limits doing that once in a while. This trick also works during late season too!
TRY JUMP SHOOTING
I know this sounds non-traditional but it does work, especially on wood ducks. Throw a pair of waders on and stalk along a creek being as stealthy as possible and using the inside bends to hide your approach as you round a curve. Little creeks like these are all over the state and pretty easy to jump shoot if the cover isn’t too thick along the shoreline. Just be very mindful of other people that may be in the area and know whats behind your target before pulling the trigger.
MOTION
If the weather is calm or you happen to be hunting in an area heavily sheltered from the wind then it can really pay to use motion in the decoy spread for both realism and attention grabbing. Nothing looks more fake than a bunch of motionless decoys on flat calm water. Even sleeping live ducks on calm water still make little ripples. Motion decoys such as Mojos, pulsators, ripplers and jerk-rigs can all be very effective at pulling in ducks to a spread. Early season duck hunting brings a great opportunity to get someone new out to try it for the first time. The weather usually isn’t nasty yet, the duck hunting is fair overall and allows for someone learning to call a chance to try it when the ducks are a little more forgiving. Have a great waterfowl season and stay safe.
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October 2018
October 2018
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OCTOBER IS FINALLY here and you know what that don’t have anything picked out, but you are ready to have an means? THE SEASON IS NOW OPEN! That’s right, cabin fever is over and you can now pursue that trophy that you’ve been eyeballing through the Spring and Summer. Or maybe you
encounter with something. Whatever the case may be, early season is here and it’s time to hunt!
2018 LICENSE & FEES
4242
RESIDENT HUNTING
DEER & TURKEY
Hunting 16 years and older $19.00 Habitat Fee (Age 16-64) $13.00 Hunting & Fishing Combo $30.00 Hunting 3-Year w/ Habitat $86.00 Migratory Game Bird Fee $10.00 Federal Duck Stamp $25.00 Apprentice $30.00 Furharvester 16 & older $22.50 Furharvester under 16 $7.50 Hunting/Fishing/Habitat $47.00 Hunting Preserve $7.00 Lifetime Hunting (65+) $52.50 Lifetime Furharvester (65+) $52.50
General Deer Antlerless only – 1st tag Antlerless only – additional Landowner General Deer Antlerless only Reduced Fee Wild Turkey Landowner Turkey
TheIowa IowaSportsman Sportsman The
NONRESIDENT HUNTING $28.50 $28.50 $13.00 $2.00 $2.00 $13.00 $24.50 $1.00
Hunting 18 years and older $112.00 Hunting under 18 $32.00 Habitat Fee $13.00 Hunting/Habitat Combo 18+ $123.00 Migratory Game Bird $10.00 Federal Duck Stamp $25.00 *Apprentice $123.00 *(Can’t be used for deer and turkey)
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2018-19 HUNTING SEASON INFORMATION *Make sure and read the DNR Guidelines and Regulations booklet before each season you partake in. Understanding and knowing all rules and regulations is the individual’s responsibility.
IMPORTANT NOTICES • At the time of printing, the DNR was going through the process to propose a hunting and fishing license increase. If approved those fees will be effective on December 15th, for 2019 licenses. All 2018 licenses are valid through January 10th, 2019. Existing multi-year licenses will be valid through their end date.
WATERFOWL • Youth waterfowl seasons will be on the weekend prior to the opening of regular duck season in each zone. • Bag limit for pintail has changed. Furharvesters • 12 counties have been added to the open bobcat season.
DEER • The antlerlees-only license quotas in nine counties has changed. • A January antlerless-only season in Allamakee, Clayton, Appanoose, and Wayne counties. • Three new Deer Management Zones have been established near Harpers Ferry, Elkader, and Seymour. • An unfilled Youth license is now valid for any remaining seasons but must follow all other rules specified for each season.
2018-19 HUNTING SEASON INFORMATION SPECIES
SEASON
SHOOTING HOURS
BAG LIMIT
Pheasant (Youth) Pheasant Quail Gray Partridge Ruffed Grouse Cottontail Squirrel Groundhog Crow
Oct. 20 - 21 Oct. 27 - Jan. 10, 2019 Oct. 27 - Jan. 31, 2019 Oct. 13 - Jan. 31, 2019 Oct. 6 - Jan. 31, 2019 Sept. 1 - Feb. 28, 2019 Sept. 1 - Jan. 31, 2019 Continuous Open Season Oct. 15 - Nov. 30 Jan. 14 - March 31, 2019 Continuous Open Season Continuous Open Season
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunrise to Sunset Sunrise to Sunset No Restrictions No Restrictions No Restrictions
Daily 1 3 8 8 3 10 6 No Limit No Limit
Possession 2 12 16 16 6 20 12 No Limit No Limit
No Restrictions No Restrictions
No Limit No Limit
No Limit No Limit
Pigeon Coyote
2018 DEER HUNTING SEASONS Seasons
Youth Disabled Early Archery Late Archery Early Muzzleloader Late Muzzleloader Shotgun 1 Shotgun 2 Nonresident Holiday January Antlerless
Dates
Sept. 15-30 Sept. 15-30 Oct. 1 - Nov. 30 Dec. 17 - Jan. 10. 2019 Oct. 13 - 21 Dec. 17 - Jan. 10. 2019 Dec. 1 - 5 Dec. 8 - 16 Dec. 24 - Jan. 2, 2019 Jan. 11 - 27, 2019
ANTLERLESS QUOTAS AND ANTLERED ONLY COUNTIES FOR RESIDENT HUNTERS Counties in Red: Antlered deer only during first shotgun and early muzzleloader seasons. Counties in Blue: January anterless season, allows centerfire rifles .24 caliber or larger, in addition to all other methods of take.
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2018-19 FALL HUNTING SEASONS
2018 FALL WILD TURKEY *Nonresidents are not eligible for fall turkey licenses *Hunters may purchase up to two licenses.
GUN/BOW QUOTA Zone Quota
4 1,500 5 650 6 1,400 7 250 8 150 9 200 *Sold until quotas are filled.
License Type
Season Dates
Gun/Bow Oct. 16 – Nov. 30 Archery Only Oct. 1 – Nov. 30 Dec. 17 – Jan. 10, 2019
Shooting Hours
Gun: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset Bow: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset.
Bag Limit:
Daily and Possession limit is one wild turkey of either sex for each valid license.
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MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS SEASONS • Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset for all species except woodcock, which is sunrise to sunset. September teal season, shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.
SEASON NORTH ZONE
SOUTH ZONE
MISSOURI RIVER
BAG LIMITS:
Oct. 20 – Dec. 11
Oct. 27 – Dec. 18
Youth Sept. 22-23 Sept. 29-30 Oct. 6-7 Ducks, Mergansers & Coots Sept. 29 – Oct. 5 Oct. 6 – 12 Oct. 13 – 19
Oct. 13 – Dec. 4
Ducks: Daily limit 6, including no more than 4 mallards (of which no more than 2 may be female), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 3 scaup, 2 pintail, 2 black
ducks, and 2 canvasback. Mergansers: Daily limit 5, including no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Coots: Daily limit 15. Youth Limits: Conforms with those set for the regular waterfowl seasons.
DARK & LIGHT GEESE
Sept. 22 – Oct. 7 Oct. 13 – Dec. 4 Dec. 15 – Jan. 12, 2019
Sept. 29 – Oct. 14 Oct. 20 – Dec. 11 Dec. 22 – Jan. 19, 2019
Oct. 6 – 21 Oct. 27 – Dec. 18 Dec. 29 – Jan. 26, 2019
BAG LIMITS: Daily bag limit for dark geese is 5 and may include no more than 2 Canada geese from September 16 through October 31 and no more than 3 Canada geese from November 1 through the end of the season. The daily bag limit for light geese is 20. September Teal Sept. 1 – 16 Daily limit is 6 Doves Sept. 1 – Nov. 29 Daily limit is 15 Snipe Sept. 1 – Nov. 30 Daily limit is 8 Rail Sept. 1 – Nov. 9 Daily limit is 12 Woodcock Oct. 6 – Nov. 19 Daily limit is 3 Light Geese Conservation Order White & Blue phase snow geese & Ross geese – Jan. 27 – April 15, 2019. Possession limits are three times the daily bag limit for all migratory birds, except light geese for which there is no possession limit. The possession limit for doves, woodcock, snipe, and rails is twice the daily bag limit.
FURBEARING ANIMALS HUNTING: SPECIES SEASON HOURS DAILY LIMIT POSSESSION Raccoon, Opossum, Nov. 3 – Jan. 31, 2019 8 a.m. on first day Badger, Striped Skunk, Fox. Bobcats Nov. 3 – Jan. 31, 2019 8 a.m. on first day *Only one bobcat is allowed per season per licensed furharvester, either hunted or trapped.
No limit
No limit
1
1
8 a.m on first day
No limit
No limit
8 a.m. on first day 8 a.m. on first day 8 a.m. on first day
No limit 2 1
No limit 2 1
FURBEARER: Coyote, Mink, Muskrat, Nov. 3 – Jan. 31, 2019 Weasel, Striped Skunk, Badger, Opossum, Fox, Raccoon Beaver Nov. 3 – April 15, 2019 Otter Nov. 3 – Jan. 31, 2019 Bobcat Nov. 3 – Jan. 31, 2019 Civet Cat Closed Gray Wolf Closed
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TROPHY ROOM
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS!
TROPHYROOM AYDEN SHERMAN
GRACELYN BAIN
Want to share a photo of your recent harvest or catch? Submit your hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor photos to The Iowa Sportsman Trophy Room and you could be in an upcoming issue! To Submit: E-mail a high-resolution photo along with your name and where you are from to: patrick@twinriversmedia.com or directly mail them to: The Iowa Sportsman, Attn:Trophy Room, 1597 3rd Ave NW, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
Show Off Your TROPHY!
TYSON WHITE
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TO SUBMIT, SEND TO: PATRICK@TWINRIVERSMEDIA.COM * Photos are placed in the order they are received
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THIS MONTH, I’m trying to address several questions regarding entrance and exit routes to stand locations. Many readers have asked that I go over in detail how to create setups that have great access to and from stand sites.
ENTRANCE AND EXIT ROUTES
Since soliciting questions from the readers began, I’ve received several wanting me to go over how I decide or figure out how to get to and from my stand sites without bumping deer. I talk a lot about entrance and exit routes because I feel this part of the hunt is maybe the least 48
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understood and certainly it might be the least talked about. Many hunters don’t realize that their chosen access route to their stand location on any given hunt might actually be destroying their chances of seeing deer before their hunt even starts. The reasons are because we don’t know or realize what we are doing because it is hard for us to
comprehend how a deer can use it’s senses the way they do. Let’s start by just talking about how important it is for a deer to use its senses to a level we can’t comprehend. Imagine for a moment, if you were in the wild living off the land but you were also co-habiting that land with predators who wanted to kill and eat you. (I know this sounds weird but go with it!) Every day you go about your life literally fearful that if you make a mistake you will become food for another animal…all day…all night…no vacations! That’s what a deer deals with every day. That’s why over millions of years deer have To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
become so good at detecting predators with their eyes, ears, and noses. Those deer that couldn’t detect danger got eaten first. The deer with the best senses and the most nervous attributes likely lived the longest… so now we are left with the super-deer. Their senses have been honed to give them the highest chance of being able to make it surrounded by predators their whole lives. I know this sounds quirky, but its literally how a deer has to live its life every day. We can’t comprehend this because we go to bed each night not worrying about a coyote coming into our rooms and eating us…if we did I would suggest we might not sleep the same or even sleep at all. This is important to understand. It’s important to let this concept sink in. Because every time you enter the deer’s home you are alerting it to your presence and the fact that it’s being hunted. If a deer knows it’s being hunted at any given moment, your chances of killing that deer are over. Our only chance, is if a deer is lulled into a false sense of security long enough to make a mistake. Thus, the older a deer gets, the harder it becomes to kill because it has learned how to survive. Enough with the rambling right? Ok, I’ll get on with it. When you are walking to your stand you need to avoid alerting deer to your presence. This means you have to prevent deer from using their acute senses of hearing, seeing, and most importantly smelling. Preventing a deer from seeing you going in and out is harder than it might sound. If you are hunting rolling hills or bluff type terrain, deer will often bed high enough to see vast distances out in front of them. This isn’t an accident. When deer bed in hill country, they will often bed just off the edge of a ridge or high point facing downhill with the wind at their backs. Any predator, like us, coming from the downhill side will likely be seen by them. Even deer in flat country have a way of finding places to bed that allow them great views from their upwind side. To avoid being seen by deer, you have to consider this. Try using terrain features like ditches, low spots, thick cover, etc. to block the view of deer. A favorite of mine is using switch grass, corn, or even a planted screen to block my entrance and exit from a deer’s eyes. When leaving after your hunt…all the same rules apply only it might get harder. If you walked a field edge to sneak in for an evening hunt, that same field edge might not be the ticket on your way out. It is just as bad to bump deer walking out as it is walking in. Now, add in avoiding detection by a deer’s ears and it gets a little harder. If they can’t see you they can sure as heck figure October 2018
out the sound of a hunter and the pattern our footsteps make. Add in some clanking from our stands we are carrying in, or our rattling antlers banging accidently in our pack and they’ve got us figured out pretty easily. To avoid being detected by their ears, I like to have all my routes mowed and even raked to eliminate the swooshing of grass against my stride or the cracking of twigs under my feet. For stands located closer to bedding areas or inside the timber, I’ll sometimes wait for hunts when the wind is blowing so that the wind covers my entrance and exit. I have a couple stands I simply can’t get to unless there is a solid 10mph wind or higher covering any noise I might make. Oh, and make sure your stands, blinds, ladders, etc. don’t have creaks and cracks in them. So, if you’ve managed to avoid detection from a deers eyes and ears, you have the hardest and least understood sense yet to try and beat. All hunters know we have to beat a deer’s sense of smell. But many hunters don’t understand how our scent gives us away while walking to and from our stand locations. I’ve seen different data concerning how far a deer can detect human odor. I’ve also witnessed firsthand deer smelling me and others from as far away as 200 yards or more. For
this reason, I consider anything within 200 yards on my downwind side to be blown when I’m on stand OR when I’m walking to and from my hunting location. So, just do some quick math…if you are walking into your stand and have a half mile to go, you are allowing your scent to contaminate and alert deer in an area 880 yards long by 200 yards wide. That’s almost 40 acres of land you’ve contaminated with your scent and alerted any deer in that area that you have walked by. If you are doing this in a way that alerts the deer you are hunting for that sit, your hunt is quite possibly over before you’ve even gotten to your stand. Do this over and over again without regard to where your scent is blowing and it won’t take long into the season and you’ll burn out your hunting location. This is where it gets difficult. Not only do you have to worry about not being seen, you have to worry about not being heard… and now you can’t let your scent blow anywhere there are deer. Well, in some cases you can have almost bullet proof setups that meet all three criteria. In other cases, it won’t be perfect. But ignoring any one of the three elements altogether is what hurts so many hunters. A perfect scenario then looks like this…You are able to walk into your stand quietly enough that deer
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WHITETAILS 365
To illustrate correct and incorrect entrance and exit routes, take this 160-acre parcel. In this example, the hunter lives on the property and has three stands to choose from. Stand A works great for a southeast wind because while on stand the hunter’s scent blows over the neighboring pond…a pretty safe bet! An incorrect route would be to walk from home down a path, across the food source, and to try and sneak into stand A. The problem is you are alerting deer all along the way, especially by casting your scent 200 yards downwind into the primary bedding on the north end of the property. If there were any deer bedded in the timber you bumped those too. And, you’ve left scent all along your path. A much better route to stand A would be to clear out a quiet path along the west side of your property and enter stand A on a breezy day with that same southeast wind. All the way in your scent would be blowing over open ground on the neighbors. Better yet…if you could gain access from your neighbor, walk in through his property straight to your stand. In either case, you are better off accessing stand A from the west. Can you see the correct and incorrect entrances to stands B and C? What winds are best to hunt B and C from?
won’t hear you, they can’t see you because you are using terrain features that hide your
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actions, and your paths into each stand are directly into the wind thus the only scent
you are casting out is where you just walked. That’s the perfect scenario. The same would go for exiting your stand and many times this requires an exit route different than your original entrance route with the wind now at your back. This is why it is so critical to have multiple stand locations planned out in advance for each set of conditions like wind direction, wind speed, early season when the leaves are still on, etc. One last thing. For me, getting to my stand sites has always been easier going undetected than getting back out at the end of the hunt. This is especially true on evening hunts when deer are up on their feet feeding at quitting time. In some cases, you can plan out your exit by setting up in transition areas instead of right at an evening food source (for example) so that the deer have gone past you by quitting time. This is why I like transition interior plots so much. In other cases, it seems like you just can’t make the setups perfect. In cases where you still have deer by you at quitting time, using a coyote call to spook the deer away, having someone drive close by to spook the deer, or any other method other than you bumping the deer seems to be better than letting them know your hunting location! Next month I have some hunting tactic and in season related questions to go over. Make sure to send in any questions or ideas for an article you would like written for the Whitetails 365 column to tapeppy@ gmail.com. Thank you. To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
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OCTOBER IS FINALLY here and you know what that means? THE SEASON IS
have October at our disposal? That’s a good question. Maybe our chances are good in October too. Here’s some advice to help you gain the edge on an early season trophy.
NOW OPEN! That’s right, cabin fever is over and you can now pursue that trophy that you’ve been eyeballing through the Spring and Summer. Or maybe you don’t have anything picked out, but you are ready to have an encounter with something. DO YOUR HOMEWORK To be an early season hunter, you have Whatever the case may be, early season is here and it’s time to hunt! to put a little more effort into your hunt. In I’ve been a bowhunter now for a good many years and I’ve noticed that there are a good number of bowhunters who will not waste too much time with the early season. They may venture into the timber here and there in the early season, but you will not see them spend large amounts of time in a stand until the rut hits in November. Now, I understand that there are reasons for this and they are valid. Maybe there’s too much cover. The deer are still nocturnal. Bucks aren’t “stupid” yet. The bugs are too bad. 52
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Whatever the excuse may be, they have settled in on that reason and will not easily change their mind. I also know that in the years that I have been a bowhunter, I’ve seen some monsters killed during the early season! Deer in the 180’s to 200’s taken in the early part of October. It can be accomplished if you have done your homework and know what you’re doing. So why are many of us reluctant to take the chance? Why are we putting all our thoughts into November and later when we
November, during the rut, you could put a stand in any area with deer traffic and have a good chance at seeing a big buck. Their territory gets much larger during that month and they will cover lots of ground in their chase for a doe in estrus. But to hunt the early season, you have to know who’s around and when and where they will be making a visit. I’ve written on this topic in a few other articles that have been published in previous issues, but taking the time to scout is HUGE for filling a tag in the early season. Spend some time out in the timber and fields to put To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
together your plan considering the following things. First, food sources are vital to getting yourself into the right spot for an encounter with a trophy. If you don’t have the privilege of hunting over food plots, figure out what the deer are eating. Acorns, favorite greens, or maybe the neighboring field. Regardless of if they are eating on your property or somebody else’s, know what and where they are eating. Second, know their patterns and trails. This is something that I pay attention to in the late winter and early spring. I make a mental note of the trails deer are using to access these food sources. Deer are creatures of habit. Unless something drastically happens to change their pattern of travel, (a tree falls across their trail, erosion, development of some sort) deer will continue to use the same trails year after year. Take time to know October 2018
where the trials start (sometimes hundreds of yards away) and where they end up (hopefully where you’re hunting) Third, begin to notice the time. This might mean you have to find a place to watch from a distance. Maybe find a high point on a hill a few hundred yards away. Alternatively, put a temporary stand up a few hundred yards away that will allow you to see the food source. Start sitting and watching the
in the evening hours. Then, right before sundown the bucks will begin to show up. If you don’t bother the “scene” at all, these deer will continue this regular pattern until the rut begins to kick in. Use this to your advantage!
STAND PLACEMENT
This is going to be key to your success. It also depends on what you are looking to
IF YOU KNOW WHERE THIS BUCK IS COMING FROM, I WOULD SUGGEST CAREFULLY SETTING UP AN “AMBUSH” AND INSTEAD OF PURSUING HIM IN THE AREA WHERE HE FEEDS, CATCH HIM ON HIS WAY THERE. deer come into the area that they are feeding in. Make a note of what time they begin to show up and what deer you are seeing. Typically, you’ll see does and fawns earlier
fill your tag with. If you are content with a mature doe in the freezer, I’d just make sure your stand is hung in the high traffic areas that you have already scouted. My advice TheIowaSportsman.com
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EARLY SEASON EFFORTS is a bit different if you are looking to bag the big guy you’ve seen showing up at dusk on a regular basis. You see, he is not always going to show up before shooting hours are closed. Therefore, you need to be a bit sneaky and “create” some time for your hunt. If you know where this buck is coming from, I would suggest carefully setting up an “ambush” and instead of pursuing him in the area where he feeds, catch him on his way there. Take your stand and carefully find a good setting further down the trail that he’s most likely to use. A trail camera can really give you an advantage here! Moving the camera further and further down a trail could give you more accurate information as to where he’s coming from. However, if you can’t do that, just 50 yards down the trial could give you a ten to fifteen minute advantage in getting a shot at this trophy before shooting hours come to an end. I’d also suggest to look for a good “pinch point” in setting up your ambush. Following a trail deeper in to the timber could actually make it harder to guarantee a shot within a reasonable distance for a bowhunter. Nevertheless, if you follow this trail to a pinch point, this deer will follow the contours of the terrain and naturally come closer to you for a shot. This has been one of my greatest tactics in shooting mature bucks. When hunting the early season, you are going to have to deal with more cover. This brings me to my next suggestion.
STAND PREPARATION
There are two things that I want to mention here. The first thing that I want to touch on is the “cover” that you have around your stand. I’ve met some guys over the years who will entirely clear out anything that might be in their way of a shot from their stand. No kidding, they will literally cut off and cut down anything that would be in their way of 180+ degrees of shooting capability! Now, I know that this makes it able for you to take any shot that you might have, but think of what you are doing here! You’ve just totally exposed your hiding place! Any cover that you’re hoping your camouflage will blend in with is gone! All that you have is the tree bark you are standing near and the skyline behind you. If a passing whitetail decides to take a glace up the tree, you’re in trouble! My best suggestion, trim a series of lanes. Keep your cover, but give yourself three to four different cleared lanes of shooting. With any luck, when a buck comes walking by, you can get him to stop in at least one of those lanes for you to take a shot without sacrificing your cover. Remember, you want 54
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to blend in like a part of the surroundings. If you eliminate the surroundings, you’ve taken away your greatest advantage! The second thing that I wanted to talk about with stand preparation is your shooting. Think of this when you are preparing for your early season hunt. Truthfully, this probably goes for anytime of the season you are bowhunting in. Practice shooting from an elevated stand, with cover around. Think of it, most guys when they are out taking some practice shots with their bow, are shooting in a straight, linear position. They are standing on the ground aiming at a target twenty to forty yards away hoping to hit the center of the ring. Realistically, how many deer have you shot standing on the ground twenty to forty yards from them. It’s only ever happened to me once and that was a totally lucky situation. You need to practice from an elevated position. To take the proper shot and know that you are going to hit the mark, you need to be doing the same in practice. It’s certainly not the most convenient thing to practice. To set up a stand. Go up and down after every so many shots. I know that it’s a lot of work, but, what’s it worth to you? When you are looking through your peep site at a mature buck, you’ll want the confidence of a practiced shot in your mind.
CONTINUING ON
As the early season matures onto the rut and then on to the late season, all of your preparations will not be wasted. Scouting properly should let you know where to find the deer no matter what the month may be. Placing your stand in the right place should continue to give you opportunities as the season continues too. However, if you see travel patterns change, don’t be afraid to make a quick stand move if needed. I’ve done this on a few occasions and had success. Make sure you don’t disturb the scene too much and be quick about it. Practicing your shot over and over again from different angles and in different cover is always a good thing to be doing! We’ve probably all heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” A good archer is confident in their shooting ability and is able to handle many situations that are presented to them. Take the time to ensure that you are making a good shot. It will relieve you of the frustration of a missed shot. It is also the right thing to do for the respect of the animal you are pursuing. So as the bow season continues, enjoy the time in creation! The chase is on and hopefully you will have the upper hand! Good luck!
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R & R Sports 3250 Fields Drive Bettendorf, IA 52722 563-243-4696 www.randrsportsinc.com Fin & Feather 125 Hwy 1 W Iowa City, IA 52246 319-354-2200 www.finfeather.com Palo Outdoors 1204 1st Street Palo, IA 52324 319-851-5290 www.palo-outdoors.com Bluff Creek Archery 117 Washington Ave E Albia, IA 52531 641-932-2422 www.bcarcheryia.com Sommerfeld Outfitters 330 N Main St Lidderdale, IA 51452 712-822-5780 www.shopsommerfeld.com The Iowa Outdoors Store 1597 3rd Ave NW Fort Dodge, IA 50501 515-955-HUNT (4868) www.iowaoutdoorsstore.com
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AS I STUFFED the second rooster into my battered, blaze-orange, vest, I marveled at how many birds our party had just shot. It was mid-November, we had been hunting for less than an hour, and the action had been fast and furious. The weather was overcast and mild with the mercury hovering in the low thirties, and the small parcels of North Central Iowa switchgrass were bursting with pheasants. The adjacent cornfields had only been picked the day before, and we started into the first 5-acre patch at 8am sharp. 56
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Almost immediately the dogs were on the trail; flushing over a dozen birds wild and into the trap we’d set across the road. Blockers were posted on the far side of the perceived refuge, and we knew these once-flushed birds would hold tight on the next push. “Once we cross the road and step into that grass, make sure the dogs work close and be ready for anything!” I hollered down the line of walkers. To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
“If you knock a bird down, make sure you mark it!” Jeff reminded. “We have blockers on the end, so let the low flushers and skimmers go!” Shannon warned. “Keep it safe and mind your shots!” A few steps into the tanglefoot the first rooster flushed between Jay’s legs. The staccato one-two report of the Ithaca double forecasted doom for the rookie bird, and the second pattern of October 2018
#4 shot crumpled the ring neck 25 yards ahead. Right on cue, Gus the yellow
march, bird after bird flushed out of the head-high grass; whipping the dogs into a frenzy; tails beating the brush and noses straining to interpret the overwhelming scent. Several more birds dropped into the ocean of grass and the dogs reliably located and fetched their quarry. Nearing the end of the 6-acre chicken coop, our party slowed the pace, insuring the dogs left no stone unturned. The hunters and the hunted faced off until at last the pheasants broke cover. When the walkers and dogs reached the last 30 yards, and the blockers were
THE TYPE OF COVER TO IMPLEMENT DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE SIZE AND LAYOUT OF THE PROPERTY, AND AS A RULE OF THUMB, MORE IS BETTER! lab expertly marked and fetched the bird back to hand. As we continued the
in sight, all heck broke loose. Hens and roosters erupted from the grass, escaping TheIowaSportsman.com
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“HOW TO OPTIMIZE SPECIFIC PHEASANT AREAS” in every direction. The disciplined hunting party managed the chaos and patiently picked their shots. When the smoke cleared and the last bird was retrieved, several hunters had a brace of matching tail feathers protruding from their vests, myself included. No matter where you hunt pheasants, a few critical elements must exist to optimize bird production. Robust winter cover that blocks the wind and stands up to heavy snow and ice is the number one priority. A close second is diverse nesting cover that provides good overhead protection and a dynamic understory that promotes effective escape routes. Finally, to strategically target birds and maximize their overall health, you can install diverse food sources throughout the property. In the state of Iowa, having available food sources is rarely a limiting factor to bird production due to intensive agriculture throughout the state. As a result, if budget is a concern, it is wise to spend your hard-earned dollars on cover first and food second. The type of cover to implement depends largely on the size and layout of the property, and as a rule of thumb, more is better! No matter how many acres of land to you plan to develop, consulting the local FSA office or Pheasants Forever biologist should be your first step. These kind folks can help you develop the best possible strategy for the property and insure you are taking advantage of available cost-share opportunities. Their knowledge is invaluable, and they can uniquely leverage experience from other pheasant enhancement projects to help design the best approach. In my experience, it doesn’t take hundreds of acres to establish a thriving local pheasant population. In fact, one of my go-to spots in Carroll county has less than 5 acres of grass, but it churns out numbers of pheasants every year. This honey-hole is simply a shallow drainage ditch with 60 feet of switch grass riparian strips on both sides. It runs roughly 100-150 yards in length and forms one side of a triangle with roads forming the other sides. The fields surrounding this spot are slightly rolling with established waterways, weedy road ditches, and brushy terraces. The birds have plenty of feed available throughout the year and multiple escape routes exist whether flying or running. During the day we often see them feeding in the open fields or loafing on or around the terraces. At these 58
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times the birds are rarely approachable for an effective hunt. However, in the evenings they almost always fly into the switch grass to roost; the thickest cover available in the section. This habit creates an ideal opportunity to harvest some of these birds, and when we time a morning hunt right after the corn harvest or after a snow storm the results can be extraordinary. Large CRP fields can produce and hold consistent numbers of pheasants every season. These areas can be optimized by strategically planting trees and shrubs to create a living snow fence or shelterbelt on the north and west sides to provide relief from frigid arctic winds. Creating snow catch areas directly downwind can capture large volumes of snow and ice; enhancing the windbreak and preventing food sources from being buried. Hunting large CRP tracts can be an exercise in patience, and one pro tip is to approach the fields unconventionally. Birds’ pea-sized brains somehow learn to pattern hunters coming in from the same entry point every time. Therefore, they often flush wild upon the first door slam or beeper collar test. Instead of coming at them from the most convenient parking lot or field lane entrance, consider going the extra mile and coming at them from side or hunt the property backwards. When hunting large areas with a small party also be sure to zig zag your way across the cover and pay close attention to your dogs’ nose. These places are ideally suited for rangy pointers and spaniels that can cover a lot of ground quickly. If you keep up with the dogs and post blockers strategically you will be rewarded for your persistence. Big or small, any property can be optimized for pheasant production. Your top priorities should always be installing sturdy winter cover followed by diverse nesting habitat. If you have money left over, consider planting green food plots in the spring to maximize insect production for hens and chicks. In the fall consider plots with small grains to maximize tonnage for the birds and other wildlife. Designing and executing a pheasant enhancement project can be a tremendously rewarding endeavor; providing a legacy of hunting memories for several generations.
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FACEBOOK FOCUS Shawna Nelson
Jacob Jones
HUNTING & FISHING TATTOOS This month we asked our Facebook followers to share with us their hunting and fishing tattoos. Take a look below at some of the tattoos people shared with us. Check out our Facebook page @ TheIowaSportsmanMagazine and our website to see the rest of the photos. Then stay tuned for more special articles like this!
Cody Frank
Tasha Pettit
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Chad Odenbrett
Cole Potter
Michael Cornish
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Shawna Nelson
Peter Grangaard
Jesse Reysack
Kyle Alstott
Michael Cornish
Brandon Hilligas
Zach Haas
Luke Moore
October 2018
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AROUND THE STATE
AROUND THE STATE
LEARN TO HUNT SERIES TEACHES WATERFOWL HUNTING BASICS AT BUTCH OLOFSON
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Capitol Callers Chapter of Delta Waterfowl are offering two classes teaching waterfowl hunting basics at the Butch Olofson Shooting Range, near Big Creek State Park. Session One: focuses on waterfowl biology, identification and basic hunting gear. This session is Sept. 19, from 6-9 p.m., and will be mostly indoors. Registration for session one is available at https://www. register-ed.com/events/view/128397 Session Two: focuses on scouting, calling and guns and ammo. This session is Sept. 26, from 6-9 p.m., and will be mostly outdoors. Registration for session two is available at https://www.register-ed.com/ events/view/128398 Students may participate in one or both sessions. Registration is required for each session. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is offering Learn to Hunt Opportunities and Mentored Hunts around the state. To view and register for upcoming events visit https://www.register-ed.com/ programs/iowa/schedule/agency:31/ category:outreach For more information, contact Jamie Cook, Iowa State Coordinator, Pheasants Forever Inc., Quail Forever, at 859-779-0222.
GABRIELSON WILDLIFE AREA OFFERS VISITORS A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IOWA MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE CENTURIES AGO
The 800-acre Gabrielson Wildlife Management Area in northeast Hancock County is a unique mix of mature oak timber with wetlands dotting the savanna, prairies and hidden fens. Some of the massive oaks date back hundreds of years; likely greeting settlers as they made their way across the prairie. Looking at the soil records from more than 62
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a century ago, 190,000 acres in the corner where Hancock, Worth, Cerro Gordo and Winnebago counties meet had trees like this. Most were removed as the state was settled leaving only a few groves and farmsteads with these massive oaks. “You don’t think of north central Iowa as a place to come to see an amazing forest resource but it’s an amazing place,” said TJ Herrick, wildlife management biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He said a person could spend a day going from tree to tree looking at the giant oaks in the area. This timber has seen a lot of things come and go, but a current invader is a particular nuisance: common buckthorn. Common buckthorn is an unwanted invasive species choking out the timber understory and carpeting the floor with a massive seed bank meant to replace any trees that are removed. For oaks to regenerate, they need an open forest floor. Herrick is attempting to provide that space by spraying and grinding existing buckthorn trees, then running fire through the timber. “If we don’t do something to replace the oaks, eventually, we won’t have anything to take their place when they’re gone,” he said. To the west of the timber is a former hayfield in its third year as a prairie. What makes this one different from others is that Herrick added acorns to the mix when the prairie was seeded. Now small but determined oak trees are starting to appear among the stiff golden rod, partridge pea, primrose, tic trefoil and big bluestem. His vision is to have an oak savanna here when his grandkids are grandparents. “As land managers, we remove trees from places where they shouldn’t be and add them to places where they once were historically and where they should be today,” he said. The young prairie savanna is also great bugging habitat for pheasant and turkey broods. Rare species, unique wetlands “A lot of this area has never been farmed, that’s why we see the giant oaks, fen orchids
and other unique species,” Herrick said. Gabrielson is home to rare species like smooth green snakes, gray fox, red squirrels, Dion skippers and broad-winged skippers as well as more common timber species like scarlet tanagers and pileated woodpeckers. Sandhill cranes can be seen in and around the area. This area of the state had been the only place in Iowa where southern red-backed voles called home. It was last documented here in the 1980s. North Iowa is on the southern edge of its normal range. Wetlands tucked in with the oak savanna are home to some rare plants like the fen thistle and fen twayblade. Leafy northern green orchid was confirmed for the first time in Hancock County in 2015. There’s a three acre fen on the west end of the area that has never been plowed. Fens are unique landforms that develop when a seep or spring usually on the side of a hill releases calcium rich groundwater to the surface creating a permanent wet area. This one is filled with native cattails. “It’s always wet,” Herrick said. “I’ve been out here in February and saw live leopard frogs swimming in the pools.” Just below the fen, a small wetland was created when a drainage tile was broken and a tile intake was plugged. It catches water from the fen. This area was likely a shallow lake at one time. Popular during the hunting season Rarely does a day go by in November where there isn’t a car or two in the parking lots. It’s a destination for deer and turkey hunting in a part of the state that is more often associated with duck and pheasant hunting. Squirrel hunters need to be aware that red squirrels are here and are protected. Nonresident deer hunters usually from the east coast and the southeast often call to ask what Gabrielson has to offer. It’s in a zone that has fewer deer tags and fewer applicants but could increase the chance of drawing a tag. “That’s why we do what we do,” he said. “We want people to use these areas.”
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Pro Motorsports 3610 W Mount St W Burlington, IA 319-758-6117
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October 2018
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FISHING IOWA
IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT FALL FISHING By Bob Jensen
Depending on where you live, the young people and their teachers are getting ready to go back to school, football season is either here or just around the corner, and the fall fishing season is not far off. Some folks may not like this progression of seasons, but many anglers do. They know that autumn can provide the best fishing of the year for both numbers of fish and trophy fish. Many anglers have caught the biggest fish of their life in the fall. If we want to take full advantage of fall fishing, now is a good time to make preparations to do so. Following are some things to keep in mind as we prepare for fall fishing. Whether you’re fishing a lake, river, or reservoir, at some point in the fall the fish will school up. In the summer they’ll be loosely schooled more of the time, but when the fish feel the water temperatures drop and notice the days getting shorter, they’ll group up. Therefore, it works well to keep moving with an eye on your sonar until you find where the fish are hanging out. The importance of paying attention to your sonar was once again driven home on a fall trip to Lake Kabetogama a couple of years ago. Kab is known for its walleyes, but it’s also a world-class smallmouth fishery. We were fishing for the smallmouth on deep structures. We located the structures on the maps in our sonar units, then cruised over them looking for fish. The first two spots were fishless, the third showed fish. We dropped jigs and dropshot rigs to them and had immediate action. Just for the heck of it, we tried similar looking structures that
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didn’t show fish on the sonar, and that’s what we caught: Nothing. The fact that you’ve got to fish where the fish are if you want to catch fish was reinforced that day. We were using Raymarine sonar at the time: I can’t remember which units we had, but the Axiom series of sonar from Raymarine that we’re using now does an amazing job of showing fish, and they have the other features necessary that make fish-catching so much more consistent. Start the autumn season off with fresh line. Just as we start the season with fresh line, we want to be sure our connection to the fish is in good shape in the fall. Be sure that when that fish-of-a-lifetime eats your bait, your line will be ready to handle it. There are lots of line choices out there, and they all have a purpose. With that said, day-in and day-out, I use P-Line CX or CXX Premium. These are kind of like monofilament line, and I’ve developed a lot of trust in them. If I
want more sensitivity and better hooksetting ability, I use XTCB braid with a Tactical fluorocarbon leader. This set-up provides the ultimate in strength and minimal stretch, yet allows for a very natural presentation. In the fall, fish like larger lures. Even the smaller fish eat bigger baits in the autumn. Mother Nature tells the fish that it’s better to eat one large meal instead of several smaller ones. Use big bait for big fish. There are lots of options for recreation in the fall. Football and hunting take up lots of folk’s time. But if you like to fish, reserve some time for doing-so. The weather is pleasant, the scenery is nice, and the catching can be outstanding. Discover that for yourself when the leaves on the trees turn colorful. To see the most recent and older episodes of Fishing the Midwest television, new and old fishing articles, and fishing video tips, go to fishingthemidwest.com
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GUNDOG CORNER
PREP FOR THIS SEASON:
FIRST AID OVERVIEW FOR SPORTING DOGS By Ryan Eder, President, Upland Gundog Association
As I sit down
to collect my notes for this article, I must reflect and share with you my experience this past week on a hunt I went on. It is nuisance goose season, an early time period prior to waterfowl season where hunters can legally hunt local geese at a five bird per hunter limit. Just this morning we shot over a dozen geese, but it wasn’t the same without my dog in the layout blind with me. Colt, a three-year-old black lab male is my right hand man in the field. He has earned his UGA Advanced Flusher title, and is only a couple of passes away from his AKC Master Hunter title. Needless to say, he is a talented dog that was sidelined from his favorite game this week due to injury. We are at that time of year when we begin to shift activity with our dogs from the training field, hunt tests or field trials to full blown hunting. I felt it very important, especially considering my personal experiences as of late to provide an overview of important first aid materials to have with you in the field (at least in the truck) at all times when competing in field trials, running hunt tests, hunting or training with your dog. Bear in mind, the type of hunting you do, your dog’s unique tendencies and even geographic location can influence how we “build” a first aid kit for our sporting dogs, but I do feel there are common injuries and factors to consider for all of us that can occur regardless of what or where you hunt. It is also important that I tell you that this article is more of an overview with a few “quick considerations and recommendations”, but there is a significant amount of fantastic information out there (books, videos, articles) regarding first aid care of sporting dogs. Today, there is no excuse for any of us as sporting dog owners to not be aware of how to prepare for and treat several possible injuries that occur in hunting situations for our dogs. Prior to any hunt (or training session, exercise session, hunt test, or field trial) it is always a good idea to inspect your dog head to tail. Look for any cuts, soreness or other obvious injuries before you work them. Do not forget to look in the ears, and definitely check their paws (pads, between the toes, make sure nails are trimmed and maintained). This is a great way to notice injury or issues before working the dog so that further injury or complications do not occur. Often times, injuries are worsened 66
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during a hunt and do not originate there. It only takes a few minutes to stay in tune with the condition of your dog. A few basic essentials for first aid in the field are bandages, tape, vet wrap, tweezers and/or forceps (pulling out thorns or quills for example). With these items, you can at least cover a wound safely and effectively, as well as remove anything that can cut or pierce your dog’s skin. Saline solution is also very important in order to clean a wound and flush it prior to bandaging it. Hydrogen peroxide is also an option, as it cleans and disinfects. The only downside is the burn of alcohol and discomfort it may cause. Cuts and gashes to the paws, legs and chest are very common injuries in both upland and waterfowl hunting scenarios. Our dogs are running on various terrain with constant threat of something cutting their paws or legs, and occasionally can run through thick enough cover or objects that can cut their chest or other areas of the body. The ability to clean a wound and bandage it properly is crucial. Other items such as scissors will prove useful to cut tape or bandages to size. Styptic pencils are also something we should all carry in our kits, as they can stop bleeding on smaller, minor cuts on
the ears or even torn-off toenails, both of which are common occurrences in the field.
BASIC SPORTING DOG FIRST AID ITEMS: Bandages Tape Vet wrap Tweezers Forceps Saline solution Hydrogen Peroxide Scissors Styptic pencil
These basic items prepare you to handle almost any common injury to a sporting dog in the field. This is not to replace veterinary care, rather, to at least begin proper treatment to prevent worsening of an injury. We invest significantly into our hunting dogs, not only in terms of money and time, but the emotional attachment and bond that we have with them. With just a few basic items we can help take better care of our hunting partners and help reduce risk in the field.
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DOG BREEDERS
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IOWA SPORTSMAN COOKBOOK
WHISKEY ROSEMARY CREAM SAUCE OVER DEER STEAK AND MUSHROOMS INGREDIENTS
• 4 deer steaks – your cut of choice • 3 cloves garlic (mince two and leave the other whole) • 4 Tablespoons butter • 1 large white onion, diced
• 2 cups preferred mushrooms chopped • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 1/2 cup whiskey • 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar • 3/4 cup cream
• 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard • 1 Tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
DIRECTIONS • Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. • Prepare the steaks by taking the whole clove of garlic, cutting it in half, and rubbing the cut edge over the deer steaks. Season generously with salt and pepper. • Place the steaks in the preheated pan and cook to medium, or your preference. • After steaks have cooked, tent them loosely under aluminum foil and allow to rest while you start the sauce. • To the same pan the steaks were cooked in, add four Tablespoons of butter and melt. • Once the butter is bubbly and melted, add the diced onion. Allow to cook for three to four minutes. • Add the minced garlic and cook an additional two minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
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• Add the roughly chopped mushrooms and cook for five minutes. By this point, the mushrooms and onions should both be soft. • Season the mixture with nutmeg, salt and pepper. • Turn the heat off from the pan and pour in the half cup of whiskey. Allow to boil for two minutes and then add the balsamic vinegar. Boil gently an additional two minutes. • Pour in the 3/4 cup of cream and the Dijon mustard. Stir and bring to a simmer. Add the rosemary. • Allow the cream to reduce slightly by simmering the mixture for five minutes. • Slice the deer steak into thick strips, cutting against the grain of the meat. • To plate, arrange deer on serving platter and generously cover in whiskey cream sauce. • Serve and enjoy – goes great with a red wine or whiskey of your liking!
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VENISON TACO WARM PASTA SALAD INGREDIENTS
• 2 pounds ground venison • 16-ounce box of rotini-style pasta cooked to box instructions • 1 large sweet yellow onion or 2 medium onions diced • 1 cup jarred jalapeno peppers
• 2 packs of your favorite taco seasoning • 8 ounces cherry tomatoes halved • 4 cups shredded cheese • 1 1/2 cups chipotle ranch dressing • 8 ounces shredded lettuce
TOPPINGS • Sliced avocado
• Diced green onion
• Corn chips
INSTRUCTIONS • Brown venison and onion over mediumhigh heat until meat is brown and onion is cooked through. • Add taco seasoning packets and a half cup of water. Reduce heat to a simmer. • While venison is browning, cook pasta.
• Drain pasta and transfer over to a large mixing bowl. • Add the seasoned meat, jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, cheese, lettuce and chipotle ranch dressing. • Stir well to combine and serve immediately.
HUNTER’S PIE BAKED POTATOES INGREDIENTS • 1.5 lb ground venison • 1/2 red onion, minced • 2 cloves garlic • 2 carrots, finely diced • 1 cup of peas • 1 tsp. minced thyme or oregano, 1/2 tsp if using ground • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 2 cups diced tomatoes • Splash of wine, Guinness, or vermouth to deglaze the pan • 4 large baking potatoes, such as russet • 4 Tbsp. butter • 1/2 cup milk • Salt and pepper to taste
DRESSING • Preheat oven to 375°F. Place potatoes on oven rack and bake until tender, about 45 minutes-1 hour. • Brown ground venison in a skillet over medium heat on the stove. • Add the onion, carrots, peas, 1 clove of minced garlic, thyme, and a handful of chopped parsley. Sauté a few minutes. • Add about 2 Tbsp. of wine or Guinness or vermouth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any bits. • Add the tomatoes and stir well. Cook until the liquid is absorbed and the meat is cooked through. Keep warm until the potatoes are done. • When the potatoes are done cooking and cool enough to handle, cut them in half lengthwise. • Scoop the inside of the potato out into a
bowl leaving the wall of the potato intact. • Place the hollowed out potato skins on a baking sheet. Add butter, milk, and 1 clove of minced garlic to the insides of the potato and mash/whip the potatoes. • Season to taste with salt and pepper. • Place mashed/whipped potatoes into a quart size plastic bag and cut the corner to make a pastry-type bag or use a pastry bag and tip if you have one. • Spoon the venison mixture into the potato skins and then pipe some of the whipped potatoes on top. • Put the potatoes back into the oven and cook about 10 minutes until heated through.
WE WANT YOUR RECIPES!
We want to see what our readers are cooking up, more importantly we want to taste what you are cooking. Please send us some of your most tastiest wild game recipes and we will publish them in the Iowa Cookbook Section. You can send recipes to patrick@twinriversmedia.com or mail them to The Iowa Sportsman, 1517 3rd Ave NW, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
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Lake of the Woods
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Marketplace
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Auctions
October 2018
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Marketplace
1597 3rd Ave NW Fort Dodge, IA 50501 515-955-4868 www.iowaoutdoorsstore.com
North Lake Truck Repair 1420 N Lake Ave Storm Lake, IA 50588 712-732-1500 www.nltruckrepair.com
Avalon Service Center 20756 Hwy 52 N Rickardsville, IA 52039 563-552-1551 www.avalontrailers.com
Backyard Building, Bait & More 827 North Highway 61 Wapello, IA 52653 319-523-2463 www.backyardbuildingsandmore.net
Thomas Bus Sales 5636 NE 14th St Des Moines, IA 50313 515-265-6056 www.thomasamerican.com
Lake Fireplace & Spa 1604 Highway 18 W Clear Lake, IA 50428 641-357-3325 lakefireplace@cltel.net www.lakefireplace.com
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416 Central Ave Hampton, IA 50441 641-456-1900 https://hamptonhardware.net/
Adel & Winterset TV & Appliance Co. 916 Main St. Adel, Iowa 50003 515-993-4287 tammy@adelwintersettv.com www.adelwintersettv.com https://www.facebook.com/adtv4287/
The Iowa Sportsman
October 2018
Marketplace
Anita Supply Center 309 Truman Rd • Anita, IA 50020 712-762-3321 • www.anitasupplycenter.com www.facebook.com/AnitaSupplyCenter/
Ed’s Lawn Equipment 706 Sunnyside Ln • Atlantic, IA 50022 712-243-5566 www.edslawnequipment.com
Kramer Hardware & Rental 580 US Highway 18 East Clear Lake, IA 50428 641-357-7080 www.kramerhardare.com
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Marketplace
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The Iowa Sportsman
To Subscribe CALL 877-424-4594
Classifieds DEER PROCESSING/ MEAT LOCKER Minden Meat Market Don’t Forget Us For Processing Your Deer! HUSH Program Participant. 315 Main St. - Minden, IA. 712-483-2836
GOODS & SERVICES Lake or Pond? Aeration is your 1st step toward improved water quality. Algae Reduction, de-icing, attract wildlife, etc. Also - High efficiency water fall pumps 11,000 gph flow - only 3.6 amps!! CHECK OUT OUR GREAT PRICING ON TOP QUALITY POND PRODUCTS!!! www.fishpondaerator.com 608-254-2735 • Open every day!
GUIDES & OUTFITTERS
GUNS & ACCESSORIES
Hunt the beautiful Pine Ridge area of western Nebr this fall for White Tail or Mule Deer. Now booking a 4 day hunt for party of 2 hunters for conventional rifle hunt (iron sights only). Season dates November 10-18, 2018. Also booking a 4 day hunt for scope rifle hunters. For more information contact Doug- Hidden Canyon Ranch 708-205-9257 mornings or evenings.
Fireice Firearms Gunsmithing & Firearm Sales 400+ Guns in Stock. Bowtech Dealer, Hunting and Fishing Licenses. Pella Security Safes Available. All Major Credit Cards Accepted. Cherokee, IA 712-225-2213 • fireicefirearms@yahoo.com
OUTFITTERS
GUNS/ GUNSHOWS
River Bluff Rustic Log Cabin,
Attention collectors interior designers & custom Decorators! Selling 1000’s of Taxidermy African & collectible pieces. Taxidermy & alternative livestock auction Sept 26 & 27. Lolli Bros Macon, MO 660-385-2516 www.lollibros.com
Guided Northern Minnesota Black Bear Hunts
Nestled only a stones throw away from the Canadian border
GUN SHOWS
POND MANAGEMENT
Davenport, IA • October 5-8th Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds Dubuque, IA • October 19-21st Dubuque County Fairgrounds Maquoketa, IA • December 21-23rd Jackson County Fairgrounds
Buffalo, MN
Davenport, IA • January 11-13th Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds
Your one stop shop for Fish House supplies since 2003!
Dubuque, IA • January 18-21st Dubuque County Fairgrounds
763-682-2953
All Parts in Stock! Order online Today!
www.fishhousesupply.com
America’s first and largest on-line store for all your fish house parts and accessories!!!
REAL ESTATE
Maquoketa, IA • February 15-17th Jackson County Fairgrounds Davenport, IA • March 1-3rd Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds
www.bigboreenterprise.com
CasCade 5000 Floating POND FOUNTAIN! Aerator Now Available Factory Direct! FAST UPS shipping right to your door! www.fishpondaerator.com Call 7 days/week! (608) 254-2735 Complete with light & timer, 100 ft power cord, 1yr warranty! Pre-Assembled - Installs in Minutes! Elegance & Improved Water Quaility $698.95 “$ave Hundreds!”
RESORTS
3.6 acres, 16x30, Great hunting cabin, vast state lands a short hike away, electric, no well, no septic, rain catch system for water with pump , composting toilet, Amish built with addition, 2 loft bedrooms. No neighbors close by. Drone Video available. $59,000 Listing #1430
Rush Creek Realty De Soto, WI 888-942-6644 www.rushcreekrealty.com TAXIDERMY Winter Taxidermy 2616 W Stockwell Lane • Clinton, IA 52732 Taxidermy Services include birds, small mammals, fish, and game heads. My average turn around is 3-4 months. I can be reached at 563-613-2965 or email docwinterdds@yahoo.com
Send Your Trophy Photos To info@iowasportsman.com Or log on to www.iowasportsman.com
Admission is free to veterans
Southwest Iowa Gun Show
Oct 5th - 7th, 2018 at Page County Fairgrounds 200 S 6th St. Clarinda, IA Fri 4-8pm Sat 9am-5pm Sun 9am-2pm 100 tables Admission $7 ea. day Jim Wymore 712-621-8026
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