You ask and we answer!  Here's another recipe that is great for tailgating or any time, compliments of Elizabeth Brown from our Men's Apparel Department.

Stuffed Grilled Peppers

Two-four servings...this one uses Anaheim peppers. Stuff them ahead of time and throw them on the grill just before the game!

4 Anaheim Peppers
3 oz. Cream cheese
3 oz. Crab meat pieces
1 T Fresh chives, finely cut
4-8 slices thick-cut bacon
Chipotle seasoning

Cut a window in the peppers, remove seeds. (Do NOT cut off stems...these help when handling)."
In a mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese, crab meat, and chives.  Stuff the peppers with cream cheese mixture.

Wrap each pepper with bacon, using toothpicks to hold in place. 

(Tip: Begin wrapping at pointed end of peppers.)

Sprinkle each with the chipotle seasoning.

You can refrigerate these for several hours or grill them right away. Grill ove rmedium heat until heated through and bacon begins to crisp. When cheese begins to drip out, they are ready to enjoy.

Elizabeth adds that Spanish rice makes a nice side if you want to make these as a meal.

A Des Moines, Iowa, resident, and Bass Pro Shops Altoona customer recently took honors in the 2012 Federal Duck Stamp contest!

Imagine banquet tables all in a row loaded with over 170 Dutch Oven pots full of everything from breakfast to dessert to out-of-this-world sounding dishes like BBQ brisket with BBQ sauce made with from red wine, beer, molasses and Dijon mustard and a pumpkin dessert with a mascarpone/rum sauce!

In 2014, Iowa will host the National Dutch Oven Gathering, when hundreds of Dutch Oven fans gather to compete in Dutch Oven cooking.  The Iowa Prairie Rose Cookers, a chapter of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society. 

At the recent Iowa Outdoor Expo in Des Moines, we asked Prairie Rose Cooker President Ron Groenendyk to give us the 1-2-3 of getting started in Dutch Oven Cooking!

 It's easy to get started...check out these recipes from the Lone Star Society...and get cookin'!

The National Dutch Oven Gathering (NDOG) was held recently in Canton, Texas, and . The The gathering brings together dutch oven cooks from around the U.S. and other countries to share in good eats made in cast iron cookery. The event brought in over 500 people; with great representation from members of the Iowa Prairie Rose Cookers, many of whom are fans of Bass Pro Shops Altoona!  

Prairie Rose President Ron Groenendyk says the NDOG event is officially three days long, but people start arriving early.

"They started out with 50 people on the first Sunday, and that number grew to 540 by Saturday noon.  Most of the meals (breakfast and dinner) are cooked in Dutch Ovens.  The most people come in on Thursday. Friday for dinner there were 120 Dutch Oven pots on tables, Saturday breakfast had 109, Saturday dinner 177. These people take their cooking seriously."

Codey and Marina Rupprecht (Fremont, Iowa) won the youth division. Mike and Wanda Anderson (Des Moines) won first place in a photo contest, with Rupprecht receiving second and third. Michelle Shock (Cedar Falls) won third place in both the breakfast and desserts. Shock and Prairie Rose President, Ron Groenendyk, were 10th out of 20 cookers for the International Dutch Oven Society cook-off. The Groenendyks made BBQ Brisket with a homemade BBQ sauce of red wine, beer, molasses, and Dijon mustard; Hawaiian Braided Sweet Bread with honey butter, and a pumpkin dessert with a mascarpone/rum sauce.

Groenendyk says Iowa is hosting the 2014 NDOG and they hope to have a good representation of the upper Midwest.

At the recent Iowa Outdoor Expo in Des Moines, we asked Groenendyk, president for some tips on Dutch Oven cooking:

1. There's Lodge cookware and then there's everything else. 

2. Have a pair of good, heavy gloves.

3. When storing your pans, put a paper towel in the bottom of the pan. Then fold another paper towel and put it between the lid and bottom to hold the lid open a bit to keep moisture from accumulating.

4. Don't use cold water on a hot skillet.  It will crack or break the skillet.

5. Use wood or plastic utensils.

6. Your coals should be half and half..if they're all white, then they're past prime.

7. Clean your ovens with a 50-50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. It will get anything off your cast iron, including rust. Just spray it on, let it sit for a bit and then wipe it out or use a rubber scraper. You may have to do it a few times. The vinegar can also act as a disinfectant. 

It's pheasant season, so we wanted to share some favorite recipes from our hunters. Keep in mind, you can always use chicken instead...just don't go hunt them, okay?  Here is Fishing Associate Sonny Satre's recipe for Pheasant Soup...Sonny is retired from MANY years of service with the Iowa DNR and is an avid sportsman!

Pheasant Soup

1 pheasant, boiled until done, cool and deboned
1/2 C chopped onion
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 pkg taco seasoning
2 (14-15 oz.) cans Ro-Tel tomatoes
1 (4 oz.) can green chilies
3 cans fat-free cream of chicken soup
1 can nacho cheese soup
4 C water or broth
1 T chicken soup base or bouillon cube

Saute onion and celery until soft. Add other ingredients, except cheese soup. Simmer 1/2 hour, stirring occasionally. Add cheese soup and simmer until blended. Very spicy dish!

My mouth is watering...need to go make this! 

Thank you, Sonny!

 

Iowa's pheasant season opens this weekend on Saturday, October 27, and runs through January 10, 2013. 

The Iowa DNR reported earlier this fall that their 2012 August Upland Wildlife Roadside Survey is showed a slight increase in the statewide pheasant population over last year.

Last year was the first mild winter in five years. With the 16% increase, the DNR hopes hunters will see a few more pheasants this season.

You can't always win against Mother Nature, but you can be better prepared for battle. To see what the DNR has done, and continues to do, to help increase the pheasant population, read their 2012 August Roadside Survey Report.

Other resources:

Habitat Access Program
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/PlacestoHuntShoot/HabitatAccessProgram.aspx

Effects of Weather and Habitat on Pheasant Survival http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/wildlife/pheasants_2011.pdf

Summary of Recent Weather Trends on Pheasant Population http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/wildlife/pheasant_trends.pdf

The "It's the Great Pumpkin
Halloween Event" Continues

Friday, October 26

5 - 8 p.m.
Free Photo in the Pumpkin Patch with the Peanuts Gang!
Peanuts coloring pages
Trick or Treating

6 - 7 p.m. - Costume Parade - Friday ONLY - Begins promptly at 6:00pm! Each child participating receives a giveaway. $10 gift card for best costume! 

Saturday, October 27

Noon - 5 p.m.
Free Photo in the Pumpkin Patch with the Peanuts Gang!
Peanuts coloring pages 

1 - 3 p.m. Grab An Apple Game - Kids ‘scoop’ for apples out of a metal tub – if they grab an apple with a prize inside they win it!

1 - 4 p.m. - Free Craft (while supplies last) 

Sunday, October 28

Noon - 5 p.m.
Free Photo in the Pumpkin Patch with the Peanuts Gang!
Peanuts coloring pages

1 - 3 p.m. Halloween Scavenger Hunt - Kids hunt for Halloween-related items hidden throughout the store – when they find them all they return their card to get a prize! 

1 - 4 p.m. - Free Craft (while supplies last)

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Boy Scout packs selling popcorn this weekend:

Pack #33 from Runnells
Pack #111 from Grimes

If you're like us, our back patio is our living room in the summer. We are outside, whenever it's bearable, and when it's not bearable we enjoy the view through windows. 

The gardens take on a different look this time of year. Most of the leaves have dropped, except for the brilliant burning bush,
and the giant mums provide some last minute color. Not all birds leave the area, so here's what you can do to help them out.

• Give your feeders a good cleaning. Dump the old seed or suet and clean the feeder.  Put them back out with feed or tuck them away clean for the spring. Just like us, birds like to eat off clean plates! 
• You should have put away your hummingbird feeder by now, or you are taking a risk of having it freeze and crack.  Hummingbirds, like all birds, migrate based on changes in daylight hours. By mid-October you should have your hummingbird feeders pulled, although you can watch them to make sure no one is feeding.  They need they energy for their long trip, so they will appreciate food being available until the last minute. 

If you're going to leave feeders out, remember that different birds appreciate different feeders.  Birds have a pecking order, so small birds like feeders that help keep the big birds out of their "beaks."  Cardinals, and even goldfinches, can be found all year long in town, especially if they have heavy pines or other trees for protection.

• Goldfinches like tube feeders and thistle socks, because the pegs on the tube and the holes in the thistle bags allow them to cling and hang. 
• Cardinals are shy and are most often ground feeders, so they like platform or open tray feeders. 
• Another option for feeding is suet. Birds always need extra help making energy in the winter to keep themselves warm, so the fat in suet is desirable. Bass Pro carries several flavors of suet, including hot pepper suet and blueberry. Here's an interesting fact: Squirrels don't like hot pepper, but birds do.
• The hopper feeder is popular, especially in winter, because of its added protection from the elements. A roof or dome on the feeder provides protection for smaller birds from starlings and other big birds.

Now, about that messy garden. Leave it.  While it's tempting to tidy up the "mess" left by Mother Nature, it's better to leave your garden, as is, until spring. Here's what we do:

• We cut most of the ornamental grasses, but do leave some in place. Birds can use the seeds and the cover.
• I leave the dead/dried zinnias and cosmos in place, again because the seed makes a natural food for them.
• Dump the birdbath and put it away.  If you can't move it, tip it over or at least take the top off of it and turn it over or tip it on it's side, so water doesn't freeze in it.
• Help your kids make some natural bird feeders with pine cones covered in peanut butter and sunflower seeds or thistle.
• Bass Pro Shop's Trim-a-Tree selection features new "edible" bird houses and ornaments from the Mr. Bird line of outdoor bird treats. The Classic Pecan Wreath, the Mr. Bird Birdie Cottage, and the three-pack Mr. Bird Gingerbread Man treats are part of the fun!
• Last, but certainly not least, don't forget a good pair of birding binoculars, so you can get an up-close and personal look. Come in an test drive our new Oculus line of 5.0 binoculars...you won't believe what you've been missing!
   

Bass Pro Shops Altoona and Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill recently received one of three Fan Highlight awards from the Taste of Altoona Event sponsored by the Altoona, Iowa, Chamber of Commerce. The winners were nominated by the over 1200 guests who attended...and from all the comments overheard by those working that night, Uncle Buck's Cream of Chicken with Wild Rice Soup was the winning factor. 

Uncle Buck's General Manager John Benson has been gracious enough to share his recipe for the soup, which is homemade, just like all of the soups of the day offered at the restaurant. So, grab some chicken, a box of wild rice, and veggies, and start cooking!

Cream of Chicken with Wild Rice

One small box wild rice
Olive Oil
1 tsp dried Thyme

2 qt Chicken Stock
2 qt Half-and-Half

1 lb shredded chicken (you can use as much or as little as you like.  John uses one pound)
2 diced onions
1 stalk celery, diced
White Pepper

First, cook the one small box of wild rice. Set aside.

Saute onions and celery in olive oil with 1 tsp dried thyme.
Add chicken stock and bring to a slight boil.
Add chicken and stir.
Add half-and-half and bring to slight boil.
Add the cooked wild rice.

Now it is time to thicken it up, so you will make a roux. For the roux, use equal parts butter and flour. John uses about ¾ pound of butter. Melt then butter on low and then turn the temp to med-high and add flour slowly, constantly stirring with a whisk. You are looking for a thick, cake-like mixture that is lightly browned.

Add roux slowly to the soup, keeping the soup temp at medium-high. Leave it "not so thick," as the rice will expand. Use white pepper to taste.

(John does not add salt due to the salt in the chicken stock.)

Enjoy!

The soup of the day is served with jalapeno cornbread and is only $4!  Check out the full menu at Uncle Buck's Fish Bowl and Grill, including information on the VERY popular Little Guppy Bowling Party package!

So, we are watching the 49ers and Seahawks game Thursday night, cozy on the couch, and my husband says, "Yep, cold weather is here." 

I realize he's patting my feet, which are comfortably encased in my brand new RedHead Lifetime Guarantee socks. I don't know what I'd do without them!

I'm not a hunter, don't wear these with shoes, and have occasionally worn them with my snow boots.  However, these are my "slipper socks," since they are THE BEST socks for keeping your feet warm and cozy, hunter or not! They come in a women's style, but I prefer the men's. I wear mine around the house...as soon as I get home from the store, I am into my nice fuzzy RedHead socks! 

But wait, you say, why am I sporting a new pair, if they have a lifetime guarantee? Because the guarantee is that you can ALWAYS return them, no questions asked, to any Bass Pro Shop if they wear out!  You will get a new pair for FREE. No receipt necessary, no matter how long ago you bought them. 

I'm not normally a wool sock fan, but these are made with 88% merino wool...itch-free against your skin from top to toe. Plus, they're double-reinforced in all the areas that get the most stress...toes, heels and they fit snug around the arch. A small bit of spandex means they easily snap back into place after washing.

So, bring on the snow, the cold winds, and Old Man Winter. I've got my RedHead Lifetime socks to keep me warm. 

When I first heard about grilled pizza, I thought, "No way." How does the dough stay on the grill? 

Then a co-worker said he and his wife often grilled pizza, so between his advice and other research, my husband and I gave it a shot and we are now addicted. If you like a semi-crunchy crust and the flavor of grilled foods in general, then you're going to like grilled pizza...AND you're going to be amazed at how easy it really is!

Tools
Pizza pan, cookie sheet, or pizza stone, tongs, rush for olive oilb
 

• Spray your grill with cooking spray and heat to 450 or more. 
• Sprinkle corn meal on a pizza pan or pizza stone.
• Place your dough ball on the pan/stone and spread it out to the edges. You can also use pizza dough from a can, if you're not in the mood to make your own.
• Slide the dough off the pan/stone and onto the grill. 
• When grill marks show and the crust begins to bubble (about 5 minutes or less), flip the crust over using tongs so the grilled side is on top.
• Immediately brush the crust with olive oil, add your sauce, cheese, and toppings. Close the lid, to let the cheese melt and toppings heat up, baking the pizza until grill marks appear and the cheese melts.
• Add your seasonings of choice and ENJOY!

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER!

• Once you flip the crust, you have to be ready to act with the toppings. You need all your toppings, including olive oil, ready and at your side, before you initially put the crust on the grill.
• Watch your toppings....grilled pizza is not conducive to heavy, "50 kinds of meat" pizza.  Lighter toppings and lighter layers of cheese will heat through and melt more easily.
• Let your toppings get to room temp, which will help in the heating and melting process. 
• You might want to have this be a two-person job the first time around. 

My favorite toppings?

Light layer of Alfredo sauce, light layer of chopped spinach, shredded chicken, and mushrooms. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan, parmigiano reggiano, or very thinly sliced fresh mozzarella.

The number of hunting licenses sold to females has risen nationwide the past few years. In Iowa, the largest increase in sales was to young adult females. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, from 2002-2011, hunting license sales to women rose 51% in the 16-18 year-old age group, followed by a 44% increase among 19-29 year-old women. There was also a 22% increase to those under 15 years of age...the next generation. 

Alicia B. - Forming the Next Generation

Alicia started hunting on her own at the age of 16. Like many women who hunt, she grew up hunting with her father. Her passion has grown each season and this year, at the age of 27, she is expanding her skill into bowhunting, learning from her boyfriend, and passing on her knowledge.

She says her favorite hunting experience would be the first time she shot a buck, during the second shotgun season.

"I was hunting on my own that day and had decided to go out hunting after work, since fresh snow had just fallen. I hadn’t been sitting in my spot for very long when I saw him walk below me at the bottom of the hill. I thought I missed him with the first shot, because he only took a few steps, so I took a second and he ran about fifteen more steps and fell. It was one of the biggest rushes of my life and I was excited because I had done it all on my own. When I went over to him to see where my shots had hit, I realized that both shots had been kill shots and only about half an inch apart."

The kill was her own, but dad still played an important part. Afterwards, Alicia called him to help recover the deer, which was too heavy for her to remove on her own due to its location at the bottom of a hill. Not afraid of using her muscles...she was even a girl wrestler at her high school...Alicia gave it a really good try, but couldn't move him more than a few inches by herself.

For every good experience, there's usually one that is forgettable!  Alicia's involved Iowa's sometimes hazardous winter weather.

"I went out in an ice storm with my dad and it got so bad that the trees around us started losing branches. It got pretty scary hearing so many trees and branches breaking off, so we hurried out of the timber. I put my boot through ice at a creek we crossed, as well, so I was even colder because I had water in my boot. It was also difficult trying to climb the hills with the amount of ice that we had. It was definitely not a good day for a hunting trip."

How about challenges...like a torn ACL. It slowed Alicia down, but didn't stop her. She was on crutches for two months through hunting season and admits it wasn't easy maneuvering through the timber. Not to mention, having someone carry her gun for her and having to sit the whole time in the same spot!

Alicia says her best advice for women contemplating hunting is to just do it.

"Give it a shot...there is nothing like it. I absolutely love hunting! It is so peaceful being outdoors hunting and it is such an amazing and rewarding experience...especially your first kill! Find someone who is passionate about the sport and talk to them about it...you will learn so much valuable knowledge and most people are more than happy to share knowledge of the sport and to help get new hunters, especially women and children, involved."

Alicia practices with her bow every day and is anxiously waiting to take her first archery deer. She's a firm believer in passing on knowledge, helping daughters of friends learn to hunt and sharing her love for the experience. Practicing what she preaches, Alicia enthusiastically shows the way, in the hopes that more youth, girls and boys alike, will follow her lead into the outdoors.

It's the Great Pumpkin Halloween Event!

Begins Friday, October 19, 5 p.m.
Weekdays 5-8pm
Weekends Noon – 5pm

Friday, October 19
 

5 - 8 p.m.
Free Photo in the Pumpkin Patch with the Peanuts Gang!
Peanuts coloring pages
Trick or Treating

6 - 7 p.m. - Costume Parade - Friday ONLY - Begins promptly at 6:00pm! Each child participating receives a giveaway. $10 gift card for best costume!

Saturday, October 20

Noon - 5 p.m.
Free Photo in the Pumpkin Patch with the Peanuts Gang!
Peanuts coloring pages
 

1 - 3 p.m. Grab An Apple Game - Kids ‘scoop’ for apples out of a metal tub – if they grab an apple with a prize inside they win it!
 

1 - 4 p.m. - Free Craft (while supplies last)

Sunday, October 21

Noon - 5 p.m.
Free Photo in the Pumpkin Patch with the Peanuts Gang!
Peanuts coloring pages
 

1 - 3 p.m. Halloween Scavenger Hunt - Kids hunt for Halloween-related items hidden throughout the store – when they find them all they return their card to get a prize!
 

1 - 4 p.m. - Free Craft (while supplies last)

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Scout pack 141 from Woodward-Granger will be selling Boy Scout Popcorn for their annual fundraising efforts.

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Sunday, October 21, 1 p.m. - Jay Green and Scout, Dog Demonstration

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Saturday, October 20, 10 a.m. - Concealed Carry Class.  Contact Equip 2 Conceal to register or for more information at www.equip2conceal.com or (866) 371-6111.

Most people who enjoy outdoor cooking will tell you...time of year doesn't matter. They cook outdoors spring, summer, fall, winter.

Bass Pro Shops Altoona Operations Manager Rod De Reus is one of those who heats up the grill year-round...and his specialty is chicken. He was nice enough to share his favorite techniques and recipes for grilled chicken:

"My favorite main course to cook is chicken or pork, but mostly chicken. Usually I use skinless, boneless breasts either whole, stripped, nuggets or skewered. 

Here are the three methods I use:

For a dry rub:
Chili powder
Cayenne
One packet of powdered Ranch Dressing mix
Some dill
Black pepper.

For a sauté:
Chop eight (8) cloves of garlic, along with melted butter and the ranch packet, and let the butter and garlic cook into the chicken slowly before turning over.

For a marinade:
Mix honey, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and one packet of Ranch Dressing mix
Marinade in the fridge for 12 hours before grilling.

All of these work for pork, too, but tastes better with chicken."

 With the chicken, Rod's other secret specialty is a butter-baked potato.

"Grease the potato in butter then wrap it in foil. It softens the skin and makes it more appetizing. Using seasoning inside the foil also gives your potato a surprising taste…use garlic, garlic powder, chili powder (especially if you’re having a potato bar or night), just about any spice livens up the potato."

He also sautés mushrooms in a garlic and butter sauce if he's not using that particular sauce or marinade with the chicken. He uses a medium-sized wok on the grill.

Rod says his family has recently gotten into asparagus cooked on the grill.

"Put it on the grill on a cookie sheet, spray it with olive oil, then sprinkle garlic powder over it. Cook it on low heat so as to absorb the oil and garlic. I also cook baby carrots with the same additions."

Many people have trouble cooking chicken, often overcooking it. Rod cooks the chicken first for 10 minutes on each side so that it locks in the juices, then on a low flame for 30 minutes.

So, remember - it's never too cold to grill. Might take a little longer, your feet may get a little cold (use Toasti Toes!), but it will taste just as good!

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The ordinary man is involved in action, the hero acts. An immense difference.
Henry Miller

At Bass Pro Shops Altoona, we have many local heroes, those who serve and protect, who shop in our store every day. But one of our associates is also a hero, though he would never admit to it. 

On an early August morning, Bass Pro Shops Altoona Greeter John Lamb was driving down the street when a woman came running out of a house and out into the street carrying a small child. The mother was yelling for help and it was obvious the child was seriously injured. Little two-year-old Aleena had accidentally pulled a large television over on top of herself.

John told someone to call 911 and started CPR with one of the mother's family members until the ambulance came. Doctors had John go to the hospital to make sure he was okay, as the stress, exertion, and realization of what had just happened in the August heat came to light.

John had never done CPR but says he knew he had to do something. The doctors told John that his and the other man's efforts made a huge difference in saving the little girl's life and they did all the right things.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. John adamantly states he's no hero. But we know he is...and so does the family of a now three-year-old girl who is slowly improving.

Local Hero Discount Days are going on now at Bass Pro Shops until October 31. Members of law enforcement, fire fighters, and EMTs receive a 10% discount on regular priced merchandise (some exclusions apply), with proof by identification.

PBR Days Family Event! 

• Stick Bull Riding and Bull Roping for the kids!

• Leather wristband craft!

• "Color Your Kickers" contest sponsored by Ariat!

• “Flint” the Entertainer Face Painting!

• PBR/BPS Logo Bandana giveaway to first 100 customers each day!

Meet a professional bull riding expert - Saturday, October 13, 1-2 p.m.
 
Best Dressed Cowboy or Cowgirl Contest - Sunday, October 14, ONLY
Judging begins at 2:30 with one winner of a $50 gift card!

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Jay and Scout join us again this Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Main Aquarium for another dog obedience demonstration!

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Scout packs selling popcorn this weekend

Saturday - Cub Scout Pack 96 from Urbandale
Sunday - Pack 75 from Des Moines

October - Crimson autumn leaves, blaze orange in the fields, and...50 shades of pink running through streets!

Thanks to over 100,000 volunteers, and 1.6 million participants fighting a good cause in the name of loved ones around the world, pink has become the new color of autumn.  Take a stroll around Bass Pro Shops Altoona and you can't help but notice the ever-increasing shades of pink. From pink camo, pink pepper spray and hot pink Browning t-shirts, to pink Shakespeare fishing poles, rosey Frogg Toggs rainwear, pink gun cases, and even pink MSR accessories, there is a shade for all likes.

Bass Pro Shops Altoona is proud to have Columbia and Under Armour collections that help fund breast cancer research, charities, medical centers, and key breast cancer prevention programs like "Momograms." 

The Under Armour Power In Pink™ line features the "I Fight For..." hat on which you can write in the name of your loved one. The "She's a Fighter" hat delivers the message of the Power In Pink™ collection. There is also black and pink base layer and shirts on which you can fill-in-the-blank with your loved one's name, as modeled here by Hillary from our Ladies' Apparel team. 

Columbia's Tested Tough in Pink collection is offered annually at select retailers.  The line includes "Save the Sweat for the Marathon" shirts and a black jacket with pink ribbon logo, pink Omni-Heat lining and an inside pocket designed specifically to hold the photo of a loved one whom you are "Inspired by" to race, as modeled by Katie from our Ladies' Apparel team.

The Race for the Cure event in Des Moines, Iowa, has been one of the biggest Race for the Cure events. For more information on the Foundation, visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

To find more information on a Race for the Cure in your area of the country, visit Race for the Cure.

According to the US Coast Guard, in 2011, nearly 70% of all fatal recreational boating accident victims died from drowning...and 84% of them were not wearing personal flotation devices.

Through the Life Jacket Loaner Program, boaters and swimmers at over 500 marinas, fuel docks, Army Corp recreation sites (like Saylorville Lake) and other waterfront businesses may borrow kids’ life jackets for the day or weekend if they have a temporary need for one.

Bass Pro Shops Altoona is proud to join the crusade to promote water safety awareness through the donation of life jackets to the Polk County Conservation Office for a Life Jacket Loaner program that will take effect in the spring of 2013 at Easter Lake, in southeast Polk County. The life jackets will be available for swimmers to borrow  if they didn’t bring their own and return it when they are done swimming for the day. The beach is closed for the 2012 season, but will reopen on Memorial Weekend in 2013.

For more information on the Life Jacket Loaner program visit www.boatus.com.

For more information about the Polk County Conservation Office events and activities, visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov.

What's a Geb?  A Geb is Bass Pro Shops Altoona Facilities Manager Chad Gebhart...and this is his method for grilling "freakingly delicious" venison steaks.

Venison Steaks in the World According to Geb

The best deer steaks and loins start with the hunt. We all want to bag a huge buck, but let’s face it, the  big bucks taste like an old Jimmy Piersall glove. Long story short, the younger does and button bucks are the easiest to dress, butcher and eat! So, here is

Using a sharp steak or filet knife (my son prefers plastic sword), butcher rump, loins and hams into palm-sized triangles about 1 - 1 1/2 inches thick. Obviously, if you want roasts then you won’t cut up the rump or hams.

Clean pieces under room temp water.  If you're going to freeze them for a while, then the best way I have found is to package meal-sized units for ease.

1. Line up tight groups of 5-6 steaks
2. Double wrap in clear plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) and be certain to leave no air pockets. Air is what causes freezer burn.
3. Put two or three groups per one gallon freezer bag. Clearly label the bag.
4. Freeze until your mouth waters.

When your mouth waters, thaw a group of 5-6 steaks or more for a bigger family (my family of 3 only requires 1 group).

How to thaw?  Leave the steaks wrapped in the Saran Wrap and run under hot water until pliable and easily separated. A little frost left is okay. It usually takes about an hour at my house.

DO NOT HEAT ON STOVE OR MICROWAVE TO THAW!!!!
(Should I repeat that for you?)

Unwrap the steaks and slice them in half, but not all the way through. This is called "butterflying" by the pros.  

Put the steaks in a gallon-sized zip lock bag, or I’m sure a mixing bowl would work. Cover the steaks with virgin olive oil.

Season to taste.  My taste is a liberal amount of Lowrey’s season salt and about 1/2 to 2/3 as much of a Cajon seasoning like Tony Chachere’s.
(*Liberal to me means:  When the bag is on the counter, cover the steaks with a layer of the season salt. It usually works out well.)

After the Cajon seasoning, add dashes of lemon pepper, celery salt, garlic salt, and sometimes I’ll throw in some cayenne pepper. Knead the bag to mix all of the seasoning and olive oil, covering all of the steaks. Keep the leftover mixture to pour over the steaks on the grill. 

You could let the steaks marinade if you want, but I never do.

Gently place the steaks on a hot grill set as low as possible. I use a gas grill with briquettes.

Do not EVER squish the steaks with your spatula or tongs. NEVER!
(Should I repeat that, too?)

I generally flip them once in the process.

Keep a close eye on the steaks since they don’t take long to cook to perfection. Do not allow flame-ups either. Keep a squirt gun handy to keep the flames off of your venison. 

Keep the meat moist by pouring the leftover juice mixture on them. I have used soy sauce, too, for different flavor! 

I prefer a slight amount of blood to be left in the meat, but that’s up to you. Check by slicing a small corner. A light brown color inside is usually good. Over cooking is detrimental to the flavor and texture, so err on the light side!

(Editor's note - Venison cooks quickly and pink inside is good...otherwise it will be tough. How pink is up to you. It is very easy to over cook them, so like Geb said keep a close eye on them. This is not a "throw them on the grill and go do something else" meat.  You need to stay attentive)

Serve them up to your family and friends and enjoy! I don’t like to brag, but honestly these are the best venison steaks I’ve ever had!

Bass Pro Shops Altoona Associate Steve Staerk is a life-long hunter, but his passion is waterfowl. Staerk shares his essential tips for goose hunting.

• Be ready for weather. In Iowa, you can be hunting in 90 degree temps, swatting at mosquitoes, at the beginning of the season...by the end it can be 20 below. It can also affect migration.
• Likewise, it will be a tough year this year because of weather…less water means more people into fewer spots and higher concentrations of birds in fewer spots.
• When the weather moves in, it’s triggering a big feed response…the birds need fuel (food) for energy. Geese stockpile fat early in the fall for migration. However, these days we see more geese not migrating...but, they still need body fat so they will react to the weather moving in.
• Daylight hours trigger migration…temps can be off, but because of the daylight hours they will migrate.
• You want to make sure to understand the natural elements and the science. Set up your decoys so you are facing downwind, so the geese or ducks are coming into the wind. That provides their natural lift and natural braking.
• Where should you be?  #1 - Try to set up using the wind. #2 - If it's possible, get the sun at your back, if you can coordinate with the wind.
• Obtain permission! Maintain a good landowner-hunter relationship.  It's sometimes easier to get permission for waterfowl hunting.
• Don't forget, you will need to get up early! Half hour before sunrise means you could be getting up at 3 a.m. to be set up an hour ahead of time.

That being said, being up early for waterfowl hunting means not just looking at ducks and geese. It means opening a window to the world. Enjoy the hunt and enjoy witnessing a variety of wildlife activity that you may not see in mid-afternoon. 

For more information on waterfowl hunting seasons and regulations in Iowa, visit http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/migratoryregs.pdf.

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