Six Surprises to Discover at the Spring Becoming an Outdoor Woman Workshop 3/25/2015 5:58:00 AM View Count 4975 There's just about a month to go before the second annual Spring Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop gets underway at Honey Creek Resort State Park.
Build a Bluebird House [Tutorial] 3/13/2015 5:49:00 AM View Count 16346 Bluebirds should be arriving soon in Iowa, so now's a great time to clean out those bluebird boxes, or if you don't have one yet, to build your own!
Gear Up to Start Tying Flies for Spring Fishing 3/11/2015 6:50:00 AM View Count 5162 Use our list from Iowa Outdoors magazine to start tying your own warm water flies.
Viking Lake Work Has Lasting Effect on Fishing, Water Quality 3/6/2015 6:35:00 AM View Count 6382 Once so thick with algae that the water looked more like green paint than water, southwest Iowa’s Viking Lake has been on the up and up since a major watershed improvement there wrapped up in 2009.Five years of monitoring Viking Lake in southwest Iowa reveals the lake is clean enough to be removed from the list of Iowa impaired waters for algae growth.
Why Are Robins So Big in the Spring? 3/5/2015 10:24:00 AM View Count 25307 Just like the first sighting of a robin marks spring for many people, so does the arrival of animal babies. But in this case, robins aren’t big in the spring because they’re ready to lay eggs. They’re not bigger at all – just really cold.
Water Quality Efforts Soak Up the Benefits in Monona 3/5/2015 5:00:00 AM View Count 4821 Imagine the flooding and runoff—and the destruction it could cause—from dumping 2,000 gallons of water on a parking lot in only one minute.
Wetlands Project Sinks Hole-in-one 3/5/2015 4:35:00 AM View Count 5389 The cackle of pheasants has returned along the north and west sides of Okoboji View Golf Course in Spirit Lake after a major watershed improvement project created wetlands and native prairie on 350 acres.
7 Reasons to Visit Honey Creek Resort this Spring 2/27/2015 9:50:00 AM View Count 5081 Enjoy a close-to-home getaway for a wonderful meal or an outdoor spring break adventure. Honey Creek Resort State Park has seven exciting reasons to visit this March and April.
Cool Things You Should Know About Iowa Hawks 2/27/2015 9:24:00 AM View Count 28345 After all, Iowa is the Hawkeye state, so read on to learn about some of Iowa’s coolest raptors.
Knots Every Angler Should Know 2/25/2015 8:15:00 AM View Count 17641 Knot tying is an essential skill for beginning anglers to learn. It's not hard - it just takes some practice. Knot tying is best learned with monofilament fishing line. Try these easy to tie knots to get you started.
Learn More About the Least Weasel 2/25/2015 4:10:00 AM View Count 10858 While it can still be common in specific locales in northern Iowa, for the most part, the least weasel is now pretty rare in Iowa.
Jump Into Winter Wildlife Tracking 2/25/2015 3:28:00 AM View Count 15100 Kids (of all ages!) love discovery, and what better way to feed that need than by turning snowbound winter days into a fun family or couple’s outing. Better yet, set aside time for regular outdoor jaunts to create a memorable tradition.
Snag a Paddlefish This Spring With These Pointers 2/25/2015 2:57:00 AM View Count 13778 Anglers fishing the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers this spring have a new angling opportunity. The new paddlefish fishing season opens March 1 and runs through April 15 (sunrise to sunset).
Turkey Vultures Don’t Deserve the Bad Rap: Cool Facts on These Iowa Scavengers 2/20/2015 8:27:00 AM View Count 62457 These scary looking vultures may be nature’s garbage collectors and have some especially gross (but effective!) defense mechanisms, but they are also very clean, curious and quite likeable creatures.
Central Park Lake Poised for Return 2/20/2015 4:56:00 AM View Count 5160 Central Park Lake encompasses only 25 acres, but the 297-acre park is a popular recreation destination in Jones County, despite the lake’s listing as “impaired” due to excess algae, bacteria and pH.
Winter Camouflage and Coloration in Iowa's Wildlife 2/20/2015 4:18:00 AM View Count 8800 For many Iowa animals, the stark landscape – bare trees and a bright white groundcover – makes them stand out more in the winter, which is good news for those who enjoy watching wildlife. But for a few Iowa critters, winter is a time for them to blend in with the scenery.
Can You Find the "Hidden" Animal? 2/20/2015 3:24:00 AM View Count 5379 Can you tell which Iowa animal is "hiding" in the photo?
Top Calorie-Burning Winter Outdoor Activities 2/19/2015 10:25:00 AM View Count 7690 Need to work off those Valentine’s Day chocolates or finally make good on a New Year’s Resolution? Or just looking a fun activity to try this winter weekend? Try these top outdoor activities for burning calories.
Six Things You Need to See and Do at Pheasant Fest 2/19/2015 9:51:00 AM View Count 4767 The 2015 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic returns to Des Moines this weekend, February 20-22, at the Iowa Events Center.
Louisiana Jambalaya The Iowa Way 2/13/2015 9:55:00 AM View Count 5542 After years of painstaking research—and many trials and errors—to come up with the best jambalaya recipe, we at the Iowa Outdoors test kitchen think we have a winner.
Rice Lake Returns 2/13/2015 9:03:00 AM View Count 8198 The topic was lake restoration, but in 2009, the small group of lake users living near Rice Lake wasn’t ready to discuss pulling the plug on the 1,000-acre shallow lake straddling the Worth-Winnebago county line.
Go Shed Antler Hunting 2/13/2015 8:54:00 AM View Count 89837 Whitetail deer have about a two-month shedding period in Iowa, beginning mid-Jan. and ending mid-March. Around Feb. 20 is the best time to start looking for shed antlers.
The Mighty Mink: Cool Things You Should Know 2/13/2015 7:12:00 AM View Count 34638 Built much like its larger relative the otter, the mink has a long, sleek body about 2 feet long. It has short, stubby legs, a long neck, small ears and eyes and a long, thick tail. In fact, one third of the mink’s length is tail.
Saw-Whet Owls: Iowa's Mysterious (and Tiny) Winter Visitor 2/13/2015 5:29:00 AM View Count 9984 The secrets of northern saw whet owl migration are coming to light, and an Iowa research effort is contributing greatly to understanding this mysterious winter visitor.
Tutorial: Tie Your Own Soft Hackle Fly 2/12/2015 9:53:00 AM View Count 10356 There are few better feelings for an angler than hooking a fish with a homemade lure. The soft hackle fly is one of the oldest and most varied patterns; tie your own orange and pheasant breast fly in minutes with these simple steps.
Explore Pine Lake State Park This Winter 2/11/2015 10:04:00 AM View Count 15676 Pine Lake State Park provides the winter adventurer 650 acres of woods garnished with a labyrinth of powdery trails to hike, ski and snowshoe; and spacious, remodeled cabins sporting super-sized stone fireplaces that breathe hickory-tinged heat into every nook and cranny.
The 9 Things You Need For Ice Fishing 2/6/2015 10:09:00 AM View Count 12439 Stock your tackle box with these basic necessities to get you started, and be sure to check local ice conditions before you go.
Go Ice Climbing this Winter - on an Iowa Grain Silo 2/6/2015 9:07:00 AM View Count 11402 There it stands: a shimmering, crystal tower. A frozen waterfall. A spire of ice. That’s if you look at it from the north side. From the south, it’s just a grain silo.
Make Your Own Snowman Bird Feeder 2/6/2015 5:11:00 AM View Count 5186 Add bird and wildlife foods to your snowman to make this seasonal rite of passage fun and functional.
How Many Iowa Birds On Our Winter Birding Checklist Have You Spotted? 2/6/2015 4:09:00 AM View Count 9955 Whether it's on one of Iowa's birding trails, state parks or at your own backyard feeder, winter is a great time to enjoy birdwatching. Use our checklist to see how many Iowa birds you can spot this winter!
Prairie Strips Help Iowa Farmers, Land and Water 2/4/2015 9:47:00 AM View Count 5020 “Conservation with a purpose” is how Tim Smith describes his newest farming venture that builds on past work to protect water quality on his Wright County farm.
8 Things You Can Do Right Now to Improve Your Ice Fishing 2/4/2015 9:08:00 AM View Count 20653 While we can't necessarily improve ice conditions, we can help you be a better ice angler with these tips - when Mother Nature cooperates with good ice, of course.
Go Calling Under the Owl Moon 2/3/2015 8:57:00 AM View Count 20823 February’s full moon is nicknamed the owl moon, as the crisp night air is filled with the calls and hoots of mating owls. Trek into the woods with the young and young at heart to practice calling owls.
What's the Difference Between a Groundhog and a Woodchuck? 1/29/2015 9:08:00 AM View Count 19933 How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? We’ll never know because the Marmota monax’s common name (woodchuck) is not representative of this mammal’s habits or habitat, but reflects the early English pronunciation of the Cree word for this creature—wuchak.
Winter Photo Tips from One of Iowa's Top Nature Photographers 1/29/2015 8:46:00 AM View Count 6721 Don’t let winter weather keep your camera up on the shelf, as the season can provide excellent opportunities for shooting picturesque winter landscapes and photographing Iowa’s wildlife at a time when they’re most visible and easy to find.
Can You Guess the Mystery Animal? 1/29/2015 8:10:00 AM View Count 4716 Can you guess the Iowa animal featured in this extreme close-up?
Cool Things You Should Know About Bald Eagles 1/28/2015 9:30:00 AM View Count 32263 An eagle can fly 35 to 44 miles per hour solo, or about 30 mph carrying a freshly caught meal. It can dive at speeds reaching 100 mph.
Trout in the Classroom 1/27/2015 4:52:00 AM View Count 5195 Some classes have a pet hamster or guinea pig. But some northeast Iowa classes have trout—and they’re raising them from eggs and releasing them in Iowa streams. A national Trout Unlimited program, Trout in the Classroom, allows students to raise fish and learn about their habitat and the importance of clean water.
Cooperation builds lasting results at North Bear Creek 1/26/2015 5:48:00 AM View Count 4713 When the hit film A River Runs Through It was released in 1992, it helped rejuvenate local economies and waterways in northeast Iowa, as the beauty and skill showcased so vividly in the film helped inspire more than half a million trips to trout streams, injecting more than $14 million into Iowa’s economy every year.
Tips for Better Winter Bird Feeding 1/15/2015 10:37:00 AM View Count 16140 If winter cold and snow drive you indoors, open a colorful cold-weather window with hours of bird-watching entertainment. Iowans spend more than $300 million annually watching wildlife, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Much of that comes from feeding birds, especially through our cold weather months. Use these tips to attract the most birds.
Here's Why It Sometimes Thunders When it Snows 1/15/2015 3:10:00 AM View Count 9715 If you hear a rumble in the distance this winter, it may not be the snow plow plodding along the road. It might actually be thunder.
Tips for Spotting Bald Eagles this Winter 1/9/2015 10:18:00 AM View Count 9786 Winter is the best time in Iowa to spot a majestic bald eagle soaring overhead or swooping down to the water to catch a fish.
Make Your Own Winter Survival Kit 1/9/2015 9:58:00 AM View Count 6385 Winter outdoor lovers should take extra travel precautions as rural and natural areas can put you alone against the elements during emergencies. A skid into a ditch, mechanical problems, black ice, drifting snow or sudden storms can lead to unplanned, dangerous situations in areas where passersby are rare.
What Do Snakes Do in the Winter? 1/9/2015 5:43:00 AM View Count 11892 Snakes, being cold-blooded, rely on their surroundings to regulate body temperature. Like other ectothermic animals, they bask in the sun to warm up, seek shade or water to cool down. So, when conditions are not conducive for temperature regulation, they brumate.
Build Your Own Simple Peanut Butter Birdfeeder 1/9/2015 5:08:00 AM View Count 5282 Attract chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, house finches and woodpeckers with this simple, inexpensive and effective bird magnet.