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Chris Kolbert

Creative tactics fill a 2026 Iowa turkey tag

Featured, Features, Hunting, Hunting, Iowa, Minnesota /

Two pale white heads appeared on the hillside not 20 yards below us, barely rising above the gooseberry bushes that choked the forest floor.
My hunting partner, fellow southeast Minnesota resident Jim Vagts, sat against a tree 10 feet away from me, trying to get a shot as the gobblers ducked and weaved through the brush while looking for the “sultry hen” that was calling them. We were both hoping to fill our Iowa turkey tags that morning, and it seemed like these two longbeards were willing to oblige.

Creative tactics fill a 2026 Iowa turkey tag Read More »

Spring combat fishing on Minnesota waters of the Mississippi River

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing /

It was well after 8 a.m. when my buddy Eric and I launched my boat below a lock and dam on the Mississippi River and motored across the channel to target pre-spawn walleyes and saugers.
I usually fish the big river several times a year, but it’d been a long time since I’d fished the pre-spawn. I was excited for a successful trip.

Spring combat fishing on Minnesota waters of the Mississippi River Read More »

Iowa’s driftless region a great place to cast a fly in late winter

Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Iowa, Minnesota, National Fishing /

My strike indicator had just landed at the head of a deep riffle when it jerked suddenly. I set the hook and saw the flash of a trout belly under the clear water as my little 3-weight fly rod bent deeply.
The fish raced into the fast water, heading downstream. I kept my rod tip high as rapid head shakes radiated up the fly rod to my arm. Eventually it slowed, and I guided the 12-inch Iowa brown trout into my son Jason’s waiting net.

Iowa’s driftless region a great place to cast a fly in late winter Read More »

Dead-of-winter archery practice is good for the mind and body

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Iowa, Minnesota, National Hunting /

When my first arrow of the morning center-punched the bull’s-eye, I smiled then quickly took a picture and sent it to my son, Jason. The text wasn’t meant to gloat – rather, I was surprised that I was able to shoot so well. I jokingly told him that I considered stopping while I was ahead.
You see, in the past year, I’ve only shot my 20-year-old Hoyt bow a handful of times, and it felt good to once again be at full draw.

Dead-of-winter archery practice is good for the mind and body Read More »

Cabin fever got you down? February in Minnesota is for squirrel, rabbit hunting

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

Snow crunched under my boots as my son Jason and I hiked across a plowed field toward a wooded valley in southeast Minnesota. Recent subzero temperatures had crusted over the top of the snow, making the walk relatively easy.
The day was somewhat balmy by comparison. A brilliant afternoon sun bore down on us and the thermometer on my truck showed a temperate 3 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cabin fever got you down? February in Minnesota is for squirrel, rabbit hunting Read More »

All it takes is one rooster for an inspired old dog

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Iowa, Minnesota /

When the old rooster flushed from dense brush along the edge of an Iowa public grassland, my brother Dave quickly shouldered his 16 gauge and fired.
From where I stood, it looked like a clean miss as the bird continued flying and settled into a large patch of big bluestem a couple hundred yards away. Dave’s field-bred English cocker, Boz, had worked hard to flush that bird.

All it takes is one rooster for an inspired old dog Read More »

South Dakota doesn’t disappoint for an autumn cast and blast

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Fishing, National Hunting /

Brilliant sunlight illuminated the horizon as I pulled my cell phone out of a jacket pocket to check the time.
“Legal shooting time,” I uttered to my buddy, Mike, lying in a makeshift layout blind nearby. Almost on cue, a flock of mallards buzzed over our decoy spread and banked hard to the left. A frigid blustery northwest wind on their tail feathers propelled them forward at breakneck speed.

South Dakota doesn’t disappoint for an autumn cast and blast Read More »

In Minnesota’s southeast and elsewhere, CWD sampling simply part of the hunting experience

Featured, Features, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

A cool breeze was blowing as I began the long hike in the dark to my deer stand. It was opening morning of the firearms deer season in southeastern Minnesota, and I was looking forward to some treestand time.
From the activity around our small town the past few days, it appeared there was no shortage of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming hunt. And for good reason. The firearms deer season, and the hours leading up to it, brings a lot to the region.

In Minnesota’s southeast and elsewhere, CWD sampling simply part of the hunting experience Read More »

Paddling to your duck spot? Here are ways to be more successful

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting /

A drake wood duck blazed past me as I leaned against an old cottonwood tree that stood alongside a narrow slough in the Mississippi River bottoms of southeastern Minnesota. I shouldered my 12 gauge and swung and shot as it passed by, dropping the bird into the water.
A moment later, a second woodie followed the same path, only to meet a similar fate. With two birds on the water and no dog to do the dirty work for me, I climbed into my kayak and paddled out to retrieve them.

Paddling to your duck spot? Here are ways to be more successful Read More »

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