Dec. 9, 2004
By Tim Musachio
Staff Writer

For many people hunting is a way of life.  On the St. Ambrose University campus several students use the fall and winter season to facilitate their favorite pastime.

Whether pro animal rights or not, hunting is an interesting sport that is seldom mentioned in the realm of sports. It requires hand-eye coordination, patience, and endurance enough to walk miles a day. Each state has different regulations concerning hunting, but all follow the same basic guidelines.

In Iowa there are two seasons for hunting deer. The shotgun season happens only twice a year, Dec. 4-8 and 11-19. Shotgun selection is based on personal preference ranging from 12 to 20 gauges.

The spring turkey season consists of four different sessions in April and the first couple weeks in May. The fall shotgun season is Oct. 11-Dec. 3 with shooting commencing one half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

The bow season for deer and turkey begins Oct. 1-Dec. 3 and Dec. 20-Jan. 10, 2005. The hunting times for deer and turkey bow season are one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. Both fall turkey sessions are for Iowa residents only.

Bird hunting includes pheasant, quail and duck. These seasons start at the end of Oct. and continue through Jan. Coyote hunting is a continuous open season with no set shooting hours.

Andrew Layer, a freshman from East Moline, Ill. takes time out of his college schedule to make sure he is available for the shotgun deer season. Layer says the rules in Illinois and Iowa are just about the same except for a few different dates.

“We have a place in the country that my family owns where I usually hunt,” Layer said.

With only two short shotgun seasons, Layer tries to take advantage of the time he has. He sets aside the limited weekends to pursue his passion.

“My friends and I will hunt deer at 5:30 a.m. and sit most of the morning,” Layer said. “We’ll come in to eat. Then go back out until dark.”

There are many different devices that hunters use to gain an edge. Grunt calls are popular for imitating the noise of a doe, the female deer. The bucks tend to follow the females. Duck and goose calls are popular for bird hunting. Other hunters try to cover their own scent with “scent-off” to hide their trail from the deer. For Layer it’s just about hunting.

“I usually don’t use any devices,” Layer said. “I just go out there and hunt.”

But hunting isn’t for everyone. Layer has been out many times with his dad before hunting with his friends.

Both Iowa and Ill. are very strict when it comes to who can hunt in their states. Not just anyone can pick up a gun and go hunting. A license is required to hunt game.

According to the Iowa department of Natural Resources “any resident born on or after January 1, 1972 and any nonresident born on or after January 1, 1967 must have completed an approved hunter education program in Iowa or another state to buy a hunting license.”

Hunting can be a fun and adventurous sport when it is done right. Following the state’s rules and regulations will keep you and others out of harm’s way.

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