Great Opening Week/Weekend!

During the archery season few words bring drool to hunters' mouths like "cold front" or " Canadian High Pressure".

The impacts these weather systems have on wildlife is hard not to notice! The trees near your stand can be dreadfully quiet during those warm early fall days, but when the first surge of cold oozes from the Arctic - the hunting heats up. Well good news Iowa -we've got both in the forecast for opening week!

September was another warm and dry month in Iowa. The drought continued to impact our weather patterns with warm day's cool nights and little rain. Cold fronts that came roaring in with early frosts left quietly after only a few cool days. And now we're back to warm again! This past week was probably the most beautiful and tranquil weather we'll see all Fall. But chilly change is coming!

Well crummy weather for suburban weenies is actually great news for Iowa bowhunters as Iowa's first truly Winter-like airmass blasting into the state later this week. The initial cold front swings through with a quick-hitting barometric pressure change and some showers on Thursday. It will be a blustery day, and the cool wind will duke it out with the partial sunshine.

Northerly winds will continue to drive down the temperature and blast colorful leaves off the trees on Friday (Keep tabs on the wind forecast with the links on the right).  Morning activity will be more prolonged as the chilly air keeps deer from overheating in their fur parkas. Some lows in the state will be well below freezing by Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Friday the clouds will thicken giving the look of an approaching winter storm. When this happens, Whitetails will be hammering the fields and more big deer will be seen in the daylight.

If your time is limited, save your days for the end of the week as temperatures tumble! My pick for the over-all best day is Friday with a light, chilling rain possible in southern Iowa. Saturday will also be good as the heart of the cold settles in.

October is here, hunting season is here and a wide variety of weather will hit the Midwest opening week.

Good luck, enjoy and be safe!