DES MOINES – Furharvesters have reported harvesting 132 bobcats and 289 otters taken as of 11 a.m. Friday. The DNR has a quota of 200 bobcats and 500 otters for the season. Once the quotas are reached, a 48-hour grace period begins.
The harvest quota numbers are updated regularly by calling the Iowa DNR at 515-281-5918.
The 48-hour grace period only applies to trappers, to allow time to move their traps from areas likely frequented by bobcats and otters. Hunters are not allowed a grace period.
Once the grace period ends, all bobcats and otters must be turned over to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
For more information, contact Ron Andrews, state furbearer biologist, at 641-357-3517

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.

CRESTON – Green Valley State Park will be closed to the general public November 21, 22 and 23, in order to hold a special park deer hunt. The sixth annual hunt is designed to allow 30 hunters to harvest up to 60 does, using only muzzleloaders.
All hunters have registered and will receive two antlerless tags each, redeemable only during the special hunt at the designated areas and specified dates.

DES MOINES – Licenses for Iowa’s three-day November antlerless deer season go on sale Nov. 14, in participating counties where the antlerless only licenses have not sold out. The November antlerless season is Nov. 27, 28 and 29 and is open to Iowa residents only.

DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has taken over the daily operation of the Banner Shooting Range in Summerset State Park, north of Indianola, after a contract with a private vendor expired in October.
Banner Shooting Range is a popular, multi-use shooting facility that offers a safe, clean, family friendly shooting environment for handguns, rifles and shotguns. Range safety offers are on-site during all hours of operation to provide safety instruction to customers and are available for any firearms or DNR related program questions or information. In 2010 the DNR plans to add a variety of educational and firearms safety related programs for the public to attend at the range.

By Larry "Doc" Richards



I am often asked by various people, “Going elk hunting again? Doesn’t it get boring doing the same thing?” My answer, “yes , and no” in that order. First, the country in which they live is beautiful, dangerous, and challenging. The snow we negotiated on the way back reminds me of why I only like to visit there, not reside there Second, the elk is a magnificent animal, and you always hold the hope that the really big guy will be near your stand this year. Third, the male bonding of good friends, horses, fine food, and self reliance is good for the soul.

With that in mind, DF Snook and I headed west with a pickup full of gear, and four horses in tow. This year we took along two additional navigational devices, my GPS and Mrs. Snook. After we left her in Fort Collins with her grandsons, it was just the three of us on our own. We made enough changes in the route that the feminine voice in the GPS had set, that we grew to be able to predict how long it would take before “recalculating” would chime in. I am proud to say that in the first Cabelas store, I spent less than Barb. This was not the case in Sidney, as I outfitted me, plus bought souvenirs for family.

By Lowell Washburn
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

For Iowa’s 56,000 archery deer hunters, there is no mystery to why November is called the Hunter’s Moon. With the annual rut in full swing, the best days of the entire season are currently at hand.
It’s a time like no other. Restless and itching for a scrap, mature monster whitetails are on the prowl 24/7. Wide beamed nocturnal stags that have remained invisible all summer have suddenly changed their ways. Brazen and full of attitude, these bruisers now swagger through mid-day stubble. Locked into perpetual search mode, bucks of all shapes and sizes relentlessly cruise ridge tops, river bottoms, and brushy fence lines in search of does. Sometimes, these wandering bucks find rival males instead. When that happens, the Iowa timbers resound with the sharp clash of dueling antlers.

For immediate release: october 15, 2009


The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report.

While Iowa Sportsman is happy to give our members a way to sell their extra items they no longer use. It is becoming evident that some people are taking advantage of Iowa Sportsman as a way to get rid of items they may have purchased at auctions or are selling items as way of making income. All ads deemed business oriented will not be approved.
Members posting a ad for sale will need to have a minimum of 10 posts and be a member in good standing for 30 days to be eligible to post to the classified ads.

WEST UNION, Iowa – Two South Carolina law enforcement officers pleaded guilty to falsely claiming Iowa residency to obtain in-state hunting licenses. Charges were filed against Kester “Kess” Holmes, 33, and Phillip Lee Morris, 34, both of Saluda, S.C., last fall.