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Without my biggest expense hunting is fuel and vehicle wear and tear. I would easily get several more years out of my truck(s) if I took hunting out of the equation!

The worst part is I never even left the state!

Some more photos.

Was fortunate enough to make it out hunting for at-least a quick hunt all but 15 days this past season in Iowa. Some of these were very quick "golden hour" hunts, but I had a few weeks of PTO, hunted every weekend, and didn't miss a Holiday. Very lucky to have a flexible work schedule. Of the...

One last hunt today with a good friend. We got our 6, and saw plenty more. Lots of hens as expected. I am concerned about the birds over the coming weeks with this nasty cold front coming through. Even the thickest tall prairie was full of snow, very little quality cover remaining for the birds!

Good call. Sitting by the fireplace as I type this!

Ended up with my 3 before 3, as that was the “closing time” I had placed in myself to allow the birds to settle back in before dark. Birds were holding tight as ever.

Against my better judgement, I think I am going to head out this afternoon for a quick hunt and then take the day off work tomorrow to chase birds on the final day. About 6" of snow here in Eastern IA and still falling. If we had had some more snow to hunt earlier this year I don't think I'd be...

My own two cents.. 1) Hunting pressure this year was 2x anything I've seen in the past several years. Public lands particularly, but even private lands. The past few weeks I've hunted some "prime" private spots and struggled to kill more than a handful of birds (with good dogs and pretty solid...

That is for sure. I am still hoping to get out for one last hunt to "enjoy" the nasty weather. Hoping it is not as bad as they are saying..

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.