Snowy Owls In Iowa 12/14/2021 3:34:00 PM View Count 2112 Snowy Owls breed in the open landscapes of the Arctic Tundra. During summers with abundant food (particularly lemmings), many young are produced, and the following winter, many of those young owls disperse south into the US to look for winter prey.
Waterfowl refuge at Hawkeye Wildlife Area closed until mid-December 9/28/2021 9:36:00 PM View Count 335 SWISHER, Iowa - The waterfowl refuge at the Hawkeye Wildlife Area is currently closed to hunting all species to allow waterfowl and other birds a place to rest during the fall migration. The refuge closed Sept. 24, and will reopen to hunting mid-December.
Iowa’s youth only waterfowl season starts Sept. 25 in the north zone 9/14/2021 3:06:00 PM View Count 428 The first of Iowa’s two-day youth waterfowl seasons begin Sept. 25 in the north zone, allowing the kids to experience the fun of the hunt, without the pressure of keeping up with the adults, or fighting lousy weather.
Learn to Hunt program opens registration for virtual waterfowl Q& A session 8/17/2021 11:47:00 AM View Count 450 DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a virtual program to that allows participants to ask questions from statewide experts and waterfowl hunting enthusiasts.
Learn to Hunt program opens registration for Sept. 11 waterfowl workshop 8/10/2021 1:21:00 PM View Count 468 DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook waterfowl to youth who have little to no waterfowl hunting experience.
Learn to Hunt program opens registration for youth waterfowl workshop 7/28/2021 11:44:00 AM View Count 467 DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a program to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook waterfowl to youth who have little to no waterfowl hunting experience on Aug. 28, at the Olofson Shooting Range, near Polk City.
Hunting restricted at Otter Creek Marsh, Hawkeye Wildlife Area refuges to non-waterfowl species 12/8/2020 7:08:00 PM View Count 1341 The 450-acre wildlife refuge section of Otter Creek Marsh Wildlife Area in Tama County will open for public use on Dec. 9, including for trapping and hunting game species other than waterfowl.
Virtual clinic aims to improve hunter skills 11/3/2020 12:29:00 PM View Count 1255 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting a free virtual wing shooting clinic designed to help hunters age 16 and older become more effective waterfowl and upland bird hunters.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides guidance related to waterfowl hunting in damaged crop fields 8/19/2020 7:17:00 AM View Count 4692 Hunters planning to hunt waterfowl in fields damaged by the derecho storm on Aug. 10 need to be aware of what has taken place in the field after the fact to stay in compliance with the regulations.
Learn to Hunt program opens registration for virtual waterfowl hunting workshop 8/19/2020 7:00:00 AM View Count 1123 DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a free virtual workshop to teach skills needed to hunt, field dress and cook waterfowl to individuals who have little to no waterfowl hunting experience.
Dewey’s Pasture Wildlife Complex is a bucket list destination 7/28/2020 12:24:00 PM View Count 1385 The 8,000-acre Dewey’s Pasture complex, in northwest Iowa, is one of the best representatives of pre-settlement grassland-wetland ecosystems in the state and one of Iowa’s premier public areas.
3 ducks you may not know live in Iowa 2/11/2020 10:15:00 AM View Count 4784 Some ducks in Iowa aren’t as common as mallards, wood ducks or blue-winged teals. Check out these duck species you might not know live here:
Proposed waterfowl rules available for public comment 2/9/2020 2:48:00 PM View Count 1888 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting comments on proposed waterfowl and coot hunting seasons and bag limits, which includes 2021-22 season dates, and the proposed restructuring of the hunting zones and seasons for 2021-2025.
Meet Iowa's smallest owl 1/24/2020 9:41:00 AM View Count 5248 What has bright yellow eyes, weighs less than a lemon, and winters in Iowa? The northern saw-whet owl!
Duck hunters are optimistic with the main season underway 10/22/2019 3:37:00 PM View Count 1935 The September rain was a game changer for Iowa duck hunters, improving habitat conditions across most of the state by creating a number of shallow water areas where food is available.
Waterfowl hunters reminded of rules for hunting in flooded crop fields 10/15/2019 11:45:00 AM View Count 1713 Iowa’s unusually wet spring and fall has created a unique situation in certain parts of the state where floodwaters are reaching crop fields and causing issues regarding what waterfowl hunters can and can’t do in these areas.
Meeting in Oelwein to discuss waterfowl season, zone structure moves to Oct. 17 9/24/2019 12:54:00 PM View Count 1519 The meeting to present the waterfowl season and zone structure of the 2021-2015 season originally scheduled for Oct. 16, has been moved to Oct. 17, due to a scheduling conflict.
Out of sight wetland at Blackhawk Bottoms is in plain view of waterfowl 9/24/2019 12:51:00 PM View Count 2348 Burlington, Iowa - It’s not often that a trip to the grocery store ends with an unsolicited public endorsement but that’s what Andy Robbins got last year while walking to his vehicle.
Meetings set to discuss waterfowl season, zone structure for 2021-2025 9/19/2019 2:16:00 PM View Count 1987 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled five meetings across the state in October to present its proposed waterfowl season and zone structure for the 2021-2025 waterfowl hunting seasons.
Meet Iowa's winter raptors 11/29/2018 12:08:00 PM View Count 6705 Get out your binoculars! These raptors can only be found in Iowa during the winter as they breed elsewhere -maybe you'll get lucky and catch a glimpse of these winter residents!
Waterfowl hunters reminded of rules for hunting in flooded crop fields 10/19/2018 12:27:00 PM View Count 3549 Iowa’s unusually wet fall has created a unique situation where floodwaters are reaching fields and causing issues regarding what waterfowl hunters can and can’t do in these areas.
Barn Owl Nesting Bonanza 11/2/2017 8:45:00 AM View Count 5487 While the documentation of 17 Barn Owl nests and 33 total records in 2016 was an all-time record high for Iowa, that record was more than doubled this year. Currently, 38 Barn Owl nests are documented in 26 counties, and 71 young Barn Owls have fledged from 26 nests.
DNR seeking comments on furbearer, waterfowl and falconry regulations prior to drafting rules 10/30/2017 8:59:00 AM View Count 3316 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is accepting public comments on 2018 furbearer, waterfowl and falconry regulations, from Nov. 1-8.
Locked up and feet down, Iowa duck hunters are ready for opening day 9/19/2017 2:38:00 PM View Count 3338 Waterfowlers have waited all year for this: for the next three weekends in Iowa, there will be an opening day for duck and goose hunting. The north zone opens on Sept. 23, the south zone opens on Sept. 30 and the Missouri River zone opens on Oct. 7.
Reports of nesting barn owls on the rise 9/5/2017 12:58:00 PM View Count 5975 State wildlife experts are crediting a series of mild winters and an abundance of meadow vole prey in grasslands for a nesting boon for barn owls, primarily across southern Iowa.
Look for expanded waterfowl zone and deer hunting options in 2017-18 Iowa hunting regulations 7/25/2017 1:15:00 PM View Count 3430 The 2017-18 Iowa Hunting, Trapping and Migratory Game Bird Regulations will be arriving at license vendors across the state in the next few weeks.
Hunting seasons starting to close 1/3/2017 12:18:00 PM View Count 3846 Iowa’s pheasant, late muzzleloader and archery deer, and archery fall turkey seasons close on Jan. 10. Furbearer seasons, squirrel, quail, partridge and grouse remain open until Jan. 31.
Iowa owl identification guide 12/5/2016 2:51:00 PM View Count 66536 That tell-tale disc-shaped face tells you it’s an owl, sure – but which one? Iowa has nine different species that call our state home, whether full-time or part-time, and you can find them in a number of different habitats. Here’s what to look for.
Waterfowl refuges closed to any access until duck seasons end 12/2/2016 10:16:00 AM View Count 3749 Iowa waterfowl refuges are closed to all access until the day after duck season closes. This year the duck season closes later than previous years and the later season dates may impact some deer hunters who have hunted the areas in the past.
DNR looking for opinions on current migratory game bird seasons 11/16/2016 10:00:00 AM View Count 3430 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking Iowa migratory game bird hunters what they liked and disliked about the 2016 migratory game bird seasons, as a first step in developing proposed 2017 migratory game bird season dates.
Endangered barn owls thriving in one Iowa woodlot 10/7/2016 2:06:00 PM View Count 13237 Join Iowa DNR Biologist Bruce Ehresman as he describes a night among barn owls, great horned owls and raccoons – all in one special north Iowa woodlot.
Flooding in northern Iowa impacts some public areas and raises baiting questions 9/23/2016 3:19:00 PM View Count 3578 DES MOINES - It will not be a run-of-the-mill type of opener for many waterfowl hunters in northern portions of the state on Saturday. Extensive flooding has impacted some of the more popular public areas and also raises questions on when hunting flooded fields might be considered baiting.
Iowa’s regular duck hunting seasons to start soon 9/20/2016 12:57:00 PM View Count 6307 Iowa has had a wet start to summer and now a wet end to summer filling wetlands and marshes across the state and flooding crop fields in certain areas. Adding to the mix that local Iowa ducks had a good hatch this spring and these young ducks are now spread out and using newly flooded areas for food and cover.
Canada goose season closed during youth duck season 9/16/2016 9:45:00 AM View Count 2971 The first of Iowa’s two-day youth waterfowl seasons begin Saturday in the north zone and hunters planning to take a young person on this special hunt are reminded that only the youth may participate in the hunt and only ducks, mergansers and coots are legal species.
Missouri River Waterfowl Hunting Zone Remains the Same for 2016 9/6/2016 1:32:00 PM View Count 4068 Waterfowl hunters who plan to hunt in southwest Iowa are reminded that the Missouri River zone has not changed for the 2016-17 hunting season
Let's Talk Teal: Season Opens Sept 3 8/26/2016 1:02:00 PM View Count 3096 Early teal hunting season looks promising for Iowa hunters since a wet summer has kept Iowa's wetland areas filled with water. Now, according to DNR waterfowl biologists, it's up to weather and migration.
Commission Approves Iowa Migratory Game Bird Seasons 4/19/2016 7:51:00 AM View Count 3957 The 2016-17 migratory game bird seasons were approved Thursday by the Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Waterfowl Hunter Input Helps Guide Season Setting Process 3/1/2016 9:24:00 AM View Count 3142 It was a conversation that began last fall with a randomly selected group of duck hunters meeting in Ames. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was looking for their thoughts on the waterfowl seasons and zones before hosting six meetings that would help formulate waterfowl hunting seasons in Iowa from 2017-2021.
Proposed Waterfowl Seasons and Zones Available for Public Comment, Topic of March 8 Meeting 2/2/2016 7:07:00 AM View Count 5658 Waterfowl hunters have the opportunity to comment on proposed 2016 Iowa waterfowl seasons that were approved during the Jan. 20 meeting of the Natural Resource Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Waterfowl Refuges Begin Opening to Other Hunting 12/15/2015 7:28:00 AM View Count 5545 As the Iowa waterfowl seasons began closing, Iowa’s waterfowl refuges will begin opening allowing hunters access to hunt non waterfowl species with a current open season, and trapping. The main purpose of the waterfowl refuge is to provide a safe resting and feeding area for waterfowl.
Waterfowl Zones and Seasons Topic of DNR Listening Sessions 10/27/2015 8:41:00 AM View Count 3712 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is holding six meetings across the state to receive input from waterfowl hunters on waterfowl zones and seasons.
Cedar Rapids Site Added to DNR Waterfowl Zones and Seasons Listening Sessions 10/20/2015 8:38:00 AM View Count 3767 CEDAR RAPIDS - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is holding six meetings across the state to receive input from waterfowl hunters on waterfowl zones and seasons.
Waterfowl Zones and Seasons Topic of DNR Listening Sessions 10/15/2015 10:49:00 AM View Count 3435 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is holding six meetings across the state to receive input from waterfowl hunters on waterfowl zones and seasons.
8 Iowa Animals You May Not Know are Threatened or Endangered 8/11/2015 9:57:00 AM View Count 16524 Nothing sounds more common than a mouse, owl, turtle or bat, but in Iowa, loss of habitat and other threats are creating serious conditions for different species of these critters, landing them on Iowa’s threatened and endangered species list.