Piercing blue skies and more than 12 inches of ice greeted the 175 ice fishing derby participants during Zearing s eighth annual catch-and-release event.
Sara Jordan-Heintz
Contributing writer
Regardless of age, ability or interest, Boone and Story counties offer a wide selection of outdoor recreation.
“Hiking dominates our recreation at the park, and what’s cool about hiking in the winter is you can see quite a bit further with no leaves on the trees,” Ledges State Park Manager Andy Bartlett said.
In addition to hiking, its trails are ideal for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and bird watching. Bald eagles can be spotted along the Des Moines River. Red-tailed hawks, Cooper’s hawks, blue jays, cardinals, red-headed woodpeckers, black-capped chickadees and nuthatches are some popular types of birds commonly seen this time of year at Ledges. Lost Lake has recently been used for ice skating. Visitors should check ice thickness before venturing out.
Naturally Speaking
Hunting seasons are winding down, but are far from over. Second shotgun deer season began on Dec. 12, and runs through the 20th. Hunters will be orange clad, and anyone using public hunting areas or areas near public hunting ought to have on some orange, too. Red and brown clothing can look very deer-like especially in dim early morning or evening light. The brown color of many coverall types of outerwear is an almost perfect match for deer. Avoid it and don’t be mistaken for a deer! Muzzle-loader and archery deer seasons reopen through Jan. 10 after shotgun season closes. Some deer hunters will still be out, but not as many.