Washburn’s Outdoor Journal

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.It’s no secret that most Iowans have had enough of winter snow — have had enough of winter cold.  But spring is on its way.  For one resident bird species, the season has […]

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.k   It’s mid-February and the North Iowa landscape remains in lockdown.  Although today’s skies are clear and sunny, morning temperatures have failed to rise above a finger numbing ten degrees below zero. 

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   After you’ve heard or read the same old stuff for about the millionth time,  there are topics that seem to lose a bit of their original luster.  You know, like the

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   The woman at the opposite end of the phone line was — well, she was hysterical.  Absolutely in a rage, and that’s putting it mildly.  Whenever she’d stop to take a

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   The Iowa deer season ended Friday, January 10.  It was a tough hunt.  During this year’s archery season, I hunted harder but encountered fewer deer in Northern Iowa than I’ve seen

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.      It was something I’d been putting off for way too long.  Last weekend, I finally crossed the bridge.  Finally made the decision to go cold turkey — literally.    

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.   A beautiful sight —  We’re happy tonight — Hawkin’ in a winter wonderland.   What a way to end the year — spectacular below zero morning, beautiful dry powder falling all

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.    Bagging the perfect Christmas goose is a time honored, decade’s long family tradition.  In this instance, the word “perfect” means a bird that is large, white skinned, hog fat and, just

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved.  Today was the last hurrah for Iowa’s [north zone] 2013 duck season.  It was about as cold as a duck hunt can get.  Skies were clear and, depending on which station you

Photography courtesy of Lowell Washburn, all rights reserved. The sound had an immediate and paralyzing effect.  A sound that could be fairly described as a roar, or perhaps a noise more akin to that of a huge and heavy canvas