Pheasant season opens this weekend in Iowa

DES MOINES - Iowa’s annual pheasant and quail seasons open this weekend. The highest pheasant counts were found in counties from NW Iowa angling down to SE Iowa. Quail numbers are the strongest in decades, with the largest population in the southern three tiers of counties.

Here are some last-minute tips and resources:

•Check out IHAP maps and locations, where private landowners open their land to public hunting. Or visit the Iowa Hunting Atlas for all of Iowa’s public hunting areas.

•Blaze orange -- wear at least on of the following with 50 percent or more solid blaze orange: hat, cap, vest, coat, jacket, sweatshirt, shirt or coveralls.

•Purchase your hunting license and habitat fee, online from the DNR’s license sales website, or from any license retailer.

•Have fun and be safe!