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We always refer to the final weekend of the year as “rooster reduction” weekend. My dad and a couple of my good buddies. We ended up with 10 roosters on Saturday, and had to work for them. On Sunday, we hunted our farm and I was very happy with the 7 roosters bagged there. After a few years we...

That is an awesome bird. Not to be “that guy”, but mine was bigger.. from last weekend! I may not have measured him quite right however.. If he had been off of our property he would have been mounted, but unfortunately he was not! Good luck as the season winds down! In eastern Iowa the 9th and...

Good stuff. Have to appreciate those solo hunts with the dogs, something special about days like that. Had my dad and a buddy along this morning. Started at 8AM with a dense fog at what is usually a honey hole for us, first time we've ever hunted and not shot a bird, nonetheless not even fired...

Just thinking out loud, but the mild temperatures + increased hunting pressure throughout the State has made for some pretty slow hunting (relatively speaking) for me over the past couple of weeks. Roosters are relatively rare (probably 8:1 hen/rooster ratio on average) right now, and the...

I do not live out that way but I'll bet you may be able to find someone with a dog willing to take you out for a day!

The GSPs I have hunted with have been very hit or miss on retrieving. Some have been quite good, some not so much. All over the board really. What the GSPs might lack in retrieving they seem to make up for in other places alot of times. I haven't seen many GSPs run past a bird holding tight.

NE Iowa - just based on the counties he is mentioning.

I will say, I am just as bias as anybody, but at 2 years 9 months my golden has had over 700 wild roosters shot over him (probably retrieved 90% of them). I hunt with a lot of different guys and their dogs (musterlanders, GSPs, Labs, etc.). My golden is hands down the best retriever of the...

I have very nice gear as well, however it is all pretty worn from hunting non-stop from November-January. Orvis Strap Vest, LL Bean Brush Pants (used to have Orvis but like LL Bean better and they are ~$100 cheaper), CRISPI boots (I'll never give those up). Other than that, an old sweatshirt...

I doubt there are many in the public lots today.. pretty stiff breeze and sub-zero windchills here in Eastern Iowa. I'm debating taking the afternoon off to chase a few roosters.

That is an awesome picture! Looks l need to add to my troops!

Hunted golden's my whole life. I am definitely the minority, however. Seems to be primarily pointers and labs!

There was a stretch there a few years ago where you could consistently have great hunting on public land, and not even see another vehicle on the weekends. Those days are long gone. Still possible to have good hunting on Iowa Public, but you will have to work much harder. I also think ONX and...

I would also venture to guess that bird numbers in Iowa are essentially as good as they can get at this point. The weather has been great the last few years and most high quality areas are probably at their carrying capacity as far as birds go. Without significant improvements to "junk/brome"...

Hunted nothing but my home state of Iowa since I was born. The numbers have been relatively consistent statewide the past few years, but the hunting has gotten worse in most cases. The primary reason.. more hunters. I would venture to guess I've seen more hunters on both public and private this...

I had never had that happen prior to late last year. Similar story, bird hit, dog went in for the retrieve, and it flushed very low and kept on going. Also had it happen again just last week.. strange and frustrating!

Nothing better than chasing golden retriever's around the prairie, is there??

I was fortunate to take a friend out last weekend who is more interested in photography than hunting, so he was able to get some pretty awesome shots of the dogs for me. I am terrible with the camera!

It has been a good year so far. Seeing a ton of other hunters relative to past years, but have been able to find success on both public and private with enough walking. A quick photo dump..

I like the paths on public land.. gives me a good idea of where everyone else is hunting and where to avoid!