Iowa’s regular duck hunting seasons to start soon
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.
Regardless of whether you hunt from waders or a boat, the conditions are looking good heading ahead of Iowa’s duck hunting season opener.
“Right now there’s a lot of water out there and a lot of places for the ducks to go and they are taking advantage of that,” said Orrin Jones, state waterfowl biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “With all these new options available, hunters may see fewer ducks in traditional places. Scouting will be particularly important this year.”
Jones said hunters who find these new areas frequented by ducks and can get access, have the potential for excellent hunting.
While the local ducks are enjoying the new areas, warm and stable weather has not moved many of the early migrating species into the state.
“If we get the right weather conditions, we could get an impressive migration,”Jones said. “If not, there are a lot of areas where the birds can get away to. I know it sounds like a broken record, but the best way hunters can have success is to spend time scouting and find the birds.”
The daily bag and possession limits for 2016 are unchanged from 2015. The DNR posts wetland reports and weekly migration surveys on its website at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Migratory-Game-Birds.
2016-17 Seasons
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
North Zone: Sept.24-Oct. 2; and Oct. 15-Dec. 4
South Zone: Oct.1-5; and Oct. 22-Dec. 15
Missouri RiverZone: Oct. 8-9; and Oct. 22-Dec. 18
Dark Geese- Canada Geese, Brant and White-fronted Geese
North Zone: Sept.24-Oct. 9; and Oct. 15-Jan. 4, 2017
South Zone: Oct.1-9; and Oct. 22-Jan. 18, 2017
Missouri River Zone:Oct. 8-16; Oct. 22-Jan. 18, 2017
Light Geese – White and Blue-phase Snow Geese and Ross’ Geese
North Zone: Sept.24-Oct. 9; and Oct. 15-Jan. 13, 2017
South Zone: Oct.1-9; and Oct. 22-Jan. 27, 2017
Missouri RiverZone: Oct. 8-16; and Oct. 22-Jan. 27, 2017
Media Contact: Orrin Jones, State Waterfowl Biologist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 641-357-3517.
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Popular Outdoor Expo is September 24-25
The opportunity for families to experience the fun of Iowa’s outdoors is right around the corner. The Iowa Outdoor Expo is Sept. 24 and 25 at Waterworks Park in Des Moines, which coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day, on Sept. 24.
The Outdoor Expo allows attendees the opportunity to try many different activities in a safe, controlled environment. There will be opportunities to try fishing, bow fishing, canoeing and kayaking, outdoor cooking, trap shooting, archery and more. A full list of activities is available at www.iowadnr.gov/expo.
“This is a family friendly event with plenty of activities designed for people of all skill levels. We have instructors on hand to teach the activities, offer guidance and tips for them to enjoy the activity when they are on their own,” said Megan Wisecup, hunter education administrator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
While attendance and activities has grown each year, what has not grown is the entry fee – it is still free entry to everyone. The Iowa Outdoor Expo is open Sept. 24 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
The Iowa Outdoor Expo is sponsored by the Izaak Walton League, Polk County Conservation, Des Moines Parks and Recreation, the U.S. Sportsman’s Alliance Foundation, SOAR Saving Our Avian Resources, Weather by Foundation International, Friends of NRA, Mid-Iowa Bassmasters, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Theisens Home-Farm-Auto, Milo Locker, Shallow Water Investigators Bowfishing, Northern Lights Pizza, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and many more.
State Forest Nursery in need of walnuts
Iowa’s State Forest Nursery is in need of walnuts to propagate walnut seedlings this coming year, and is offering $2.50 per bushel.
Four buying stations have been set up throughout the state; the State Forest Nursery in Ames (800-865-2477), Shimek State Forest (319-878-3811) in Farmington, Stephens State Forest (641-774-4559) in Chariton and Yellow River State Forest(563-586-2090) in Harpers Ferry. To schedule a time to drop off walnuts, call the appropriate location weekdays, during normal business hours. Walnuts will be purchased until the nursery’s need is met.
The nuts should be fresh and in good condition, free of debris like sticks and leaves. Hulls do not need to be removed and nuts can be brought to the buying station in buckets, boxes or loose in a trailer or pickup box.
The state forest nursery provides low-cost, native seedlings to help improve existing woodlands, wildlife habitat and water quality. For more information on available nursery stock for your property, visit iowadnr.gov/nursery or call the nursery at 1-800-865-2477.
Iowa is getting a glimpse of fall color
Iowa’s leaf watchers are getting ready for the big fall show.
Unfortunately, this year may be more average than awesome for leaf viewers, according to Jeff Goerndt, DNR State Forest section supervisor.
“I hope my prediction is wrong,” says Goerndt. “But because of the wet weather we’ve been experiencing, color will likely be variable across the state. You get the best and brightest colors when you’ve got a lot of warm, dry, sunny days and crisp, cool nights.”
The broadest pallet of fall colors is found in northeast Iowa, where there are more hard maples supplying the bright reds and oranges, says Goerndt. But there are plenty of other areas around the state with outstanding fall landscapes. For example, the contrast between the yellow ash and the deep green cedars of the Loess Hills is a completely different yet equally beautiful fall look.
Leaves typically change first across northern Iowa between the last week of September to the second week of October. Central Iowa will see leaves changing from the first to third weeks of October and southern Iowa between the second week and the end of October.
What changes where is subject to weather. How vivid and how long leaves remain is also determined by weather, and the leaf-watching season can be cut short by strong wind events.
The warm days and cool nights, the length of the days and even the acidity of the soil at a tree’s location all influence the leaf color a tree produces. As days get shorter, chlorophyll production slows, allowing trees to go dormant and other leaf colors to show.
For weekly updates on fall color around Iowa contact the DNR fall color hotline at 515-233-4110. A pdf version of the weekly updates along with other fall color information can be found at www.iowadnr.gov/fallcolor
For fall festivals, scenic byways, places to stay and other ways to enjoy fall in Iowa, visit http://www.traveliowa.com/