National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHF Day), an annual celebration of hunters and anglers, features a new twist this year. Richard Childress, NASCAR legend and honorary chair for NHF Day, is asking hunters and anglers to participate in the new NHF Day Challenge by taking someone hunting, fishing or target shooting. By pledging to introduce someone to the outdoors between now and NHF Day on Saturday, Sept. 23, participants will be eligible to win a Richard Childress Racing VIP race weekend package or the Ultimate Outdoor Experience in America’s Conservation Capital from Big Cedar Lodge and Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium.

In Iowa, NHF Day will be celebrated at the DNR’s 9th annual Iowa Outdoor Expo on September 23 and 24. Learn more by visiting www.iowadnr.gov/expo. Attendees can experience hunting, shooting, fishing and general outdoor recreation activities for free in a safe, friendly environment.

“If you are a sportsman, sportswoman or an angler, you can make a difference and support National Hunting and Fishing Day by becoming a mentor,” said Childress. “Mentoring is critical to ensure our outdoor tradition lives on through future generations. Make the commitment to take someone outdoors and show them why you value hunting, fishing and target shooting.”

If any Iowan is interested in mentoring a new hunter, angler or shooter, please contact Megan Wisecup, DNR Shooting Sports at 515-238-4968 or megan.wisecup@dnr.iowa.gov. The DNR is working hard to identify mentors and build a database of mentors. For millions of Americans, time spent hunting and fishing are treasured moments. Hunting and fishing brings friends and family together and provides one of the most immersive outdoor experiences possible.

“Today fewer people are connecting with nature through hunting and fishing,” said Childress. “As outdoorsmen and women, we are one of the keys to reversing this trend. Help a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker learn how to hunt, fish or shoot. Introducing someone to the joys of the outdoors not only enriches their life, it creates a future conservationist.”

Each new hunter and angler created helps fund conservation. Every time someone buys a firearm, ammunition, archery equipment or fishing tackle, they contribute to habitat conservation and science-based wildlife management through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program. The WSFR is the cornerstone of fish and wildlife conservation in North America because it brings funding from the sporting arms, archery and fishing industries and sportsmen and women back to state wildlife management agencies. These monies, in addition to hunting and fishing license fees, are critical for conserving fish and wildlife across our nation.

Those who pledge to take someone hunting, target shooting or fishing will be entered for a chance to win two amazing prize packages. The first grand prize is two HOT passes to a future NASCAR race, which includes pit and garage passes, garage and team hauler tours, and an opportunity to meet team owner Richard Childress. The second grand prize package is a trip to America’s Conservation Capital: Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. A passion of Bass Pro Shops founder and Ozarks native Johnny Morris, the destination spans multiple properties and thousands of unspoiled acres, making it the ultimate destination for anyone who loves the outdoors. The package includes a two-night stay in a log cabin at Big Cedar Lodge, America’s premier wilderness resort, and nature-based excursions including guided bass fishing on 43,000-acre Table Rock Lake; Adventure Passes for the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail and Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum at Top of the Rock; shotgun sports at Bass Pro Shops’ Outdoor Shooting Academy; and passes to Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, the largest, most immersive wildlife attraction in the world, opening Sept, 21, 2017.

To get involved in the NHF Day Challenge, visit NHFDay.org or call 417 225-1162.

• Corning  .12″
• Denison  .03″
• Clarinda  .35″
• Glenwood  .12″
• Manning  .03″
• Woodbine  .17″
• Shenandoah  .2″
• Council Bluffs  .22″
• Creston  .05″
• Villisca  .7″
• Elk Horn  Trace
• Underwood  Trace

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is reporting six people were arrested for boating while intoxicated in the state between June 30th and July 2nd. The DNR took part in a national campaign called Operation Dry Water. Susan Stocker, the DNR’s boating law administrator and education coordinator, says the six drunk boating arrests is down slightly from last year. “During the 2016 campaign, we had 10 boating while intoxicated arrests,” Stocker said.

Law officers stepped-up enforcement efforts over the recent holiday weekend at Okoboji, Clear Lake, Saylorville, Coralville Reservoir/Lake MacBride, Lake Delhi, and both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. During the three-day enforcement operation, 153 officers participated, spending more than 1,800 hours making contact with 1,463 vessels.

In addition to the six boating while intoxicated arrests, the DNR reports officers issued 478 various citations or warnings. Six people were killed in Iowa in boat crashes last year. Two of those crashes involved alcohol.

(Radio Iowa)

A blistering heat wave has washed over Iowa this week and as temperatures rise, so does the level of concern among livestock producers. Iowa State University Beef Center Veterinarian Grant Dewell says the biggest keys to keeping cattle comfortable is plenty of shade and large amounts of drinking water.

“Their water intake will increase by two to three times during these hot days,” Dewell said. “So, we always want to make sure people’s water tanks are in good shape, the valves are running freely, and they don’t have something stuck or some hard water deposits on there that limit the ability for those tanks to refill.”

Farmers are also advised to use fans and sprinkle cattle with water if the animals are showing signs of heat stress. According to Dewell, cattle in Iowa fair pretty well when temperatures are below 90-degrees. Actual temperatures this week have reached the mid-to-upper 90s in parts of the state.

“If you think about it, most of our cattle we deal with (in Iowa) — Angus, Hereford, Simmentals — are cattle from the north; northern England, Germany, and those types of places where they don’t get this amount of heat,” Dewell said. “They’re really developed for cold weather environments and an Iowa summer is a little bit warm for them.”

There have been no reports of cattle deaths in Iowa due to heat in many years. In the summer of 2011, beef producers in five states reported nearly 20,000 cattle deaths due to an extended period of extreme heat and humidity. According to the Iowa Beef Industry Council, there are more than 3.8 million cows on farms across the state. Iowa is ranked 9th in the country in terms of beef cow production and 12th in dairy cows.

(Radio Iowa)

Some homeowners are worried after seeing leaves being stripped from trees and plants by Japanese beetles, but an Iowa State University horticulturist says there’s not a lot that can be done. Extension horticulturist, Richard Jauron, says the conditions were right and the beetles apparently came out a little early this year. He says it doesn’t appear to be a statewide issue. “Some areas have huge numbers while other areas have just a few. So, it really kind of depends, it’s more spotty than widespread,” Jauron says.

He says you may see more Japanese beetles in your yard because you have some of their favorite trees and plants to munch on.    Linden trees for example, are a favorite. “If you have a linden tree — and if you have a large population in your area — there’ll be thousands in that tree feeding on the foliage. So, it really kind of depends on the area and the tree.” Jauron explains. “Some plants they love. They like grape vines, they like roses, they like raspberries, they like birch trees.”

There are other trees and plants that they don’t care to eat. “Like maples, oaks, lilacs vibernums. It really kind of depends on the plant,” Jauron says, “so if you have plants in your yard that they really don’t like, you may not see that many.”

The bugs have a green metallic head with copper-colored wing covers. Jauron says there’s not a good way to get rid of the Japanese beetles once they decide to make your tree their meal. “We would typically suggest just to ignore it if you can. And that’s because even though they may eat most of the foliage and essentially defoliate the tree — they are not going to kill it– and that’s the bottom line,” Jauron says. “And trying to control them at this point, it’s basically impossible.”

There are some plastic traps you can buy that will catch the Japanese beetles, but Jauron says they may do more harm than good by attracting more beetles to your area. “So if you have a trap in the yard, you may actually have more in the yard than you would otherwise. So, we typically don’t recommend their use,” according to Jauron.

Jauron says the Japanese beetles will stick around until the end of July or early August. If you had a bad beetle infestation this year, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll return again next year. Jauron says weather conditions dictate their population, as cold weather can kill off the grubs in the ground that emerge as beetles.

(Radio Iowa)

• KJAN, Atlantic  .08″
• Elk Horn  .72″
• Avoca  .5″
• Neola  .5″
• Audubon  1.3″
• Guthrie Center  .84″
• Missouri Valley  .76″
• Manning  .13″
• Woodbine  .85″
• Logan  .82″
• Irwin  .7″
• Underwood  .13″
• Oakland  .05″
• Carroll  .08″
• Denison  .3″

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is reducing the number of tags it gives deer hunters as part of an effort to maintain the state’s deer population while combating animal diseases. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources approved the move and it was finalized at a legislative rules meeting this month. It should not result in a reduction in the number of antlerless deer hunted in the state. Department officials note roughly 10,000 deer tags were not claimed in 2016.

The change will ultimately decrease available deer tags from a little over 74,500 to just over 72,100. It will be in effect for antlerless deer hunting that begins in September and runs through early next year. Officials say the setup should help combat reported cases of chronic wasting disease.

Officials with Shelby County ISU Extension and Outreach report the Southwest Iowa Pasture Clinics will address a wide variety of pasture management topics for producers who are looking for ways to optimize livestock and forage production practices and weed management strategies. This new field day will be hosted in five counties across southwest Iowa.

Each pasture clinic will cover information about beef cattle, forage, and watering systems, and will highlight features and challenges specific to the site. The clinics will be hosted by ISU Extension field specialists.

The programs will be 2-3 hours long with a meal included. Each pasture clinic will be interactive and include a resource guide.  Please contact the local county extension office to RSVP for the event.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has announced layoffs and will dissolve its forestry bureau to offset a $1.2 million reduction in its budget. The agency confirmed Wednesday it’s eliminating eight positions, including state geologist and animal feeding operations coordinator. Duties will either be transferred within the department or contracted out.

The agency will also close its forestry bureau, eliminating the top bureau chief position and reorganizing others within DNR. DNR spokesman Alex Murphy says no services will be impacted by the changes, which also include the elimination of a program that helps maintain Iowa’s trails. The department is also ending its participation in the AmeriCorps program.

The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature agreed this year to reduce funding for several states agencies amid multiple budget shortfalls.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is offering hunter education classes during the months of July and August. The classes are taught by knowledgeable and certified volunteer instructors and Iowa DNR Conservation Officers. Classroom courses are typically 12 to 15 hours in length, and held over a period of two to three days. In order to receive certification, a student must attend all sessions and pass the final exam.

Iowa law requires that anyone born after Jan. 1st, 1972, must be certified in hunter education before they are eligible to purchase an Iowa hunting license.

Locally, Hunter Education classes are being offered:

July 20th in Panora, by the Guthrie County Conservation Board

August 12th in Hamburg, at Agrivision

And August 19th in Villisca, at the Villisca Community Building.