Jon,
This is a question that I should be able to answer. I live about 12 miles from Ames and work on campus there every day. Besides myself, Larry Brown is a regional shooter and probably knows more about the shotgun shooting scene than I do. I'm mostly a rifle guy and it's a tough life for that.

Anyway, the Ames Izaak Walton League has a range that is essentially in Ames proper. Every Wednesday evening beginning at 5 pm and going until late (10ish) they shoot both trap and skeet, with lights as needed. It's a decent range for that. when I'm in town, a friend and I shoot two rounds or so early in the evening and then go out for a burger and beer at a local bar. You are certainly welcome to join us if hanging out with a couple of biologists might interest you.

Scattered around the Ames/Des Moines area are many other trap and skeet ranges. Indian Creek (Thursdays I believe), Boone, Ankeny and others all have ranges and some shooting, but I don't know the details. Also, there is at least one or two traveling sporting clays get ups that may be around. They visit some of the regional gun ranges at different times during the summer and you may catch one by luck or planning.

Dog breeders are abundant, but our last 4 have come from Kentucky, Oregon, Montana, and New York.. I know of no particularly good ones for the breeds that interest myself or my wife. I'm a field golden guy, and they are really hard to find anywhere in the nation, never mind Iowa.

For shooters, gunshops are sparse and boring. Gun shows similar (google Iowa Gunshows for a listing, the "best" are in Des Moines, but NOT Altoona and Cedar Rapids (2 hrs out)).

However, Iowa is home to Brownells. They recently built a huge store along I-80, east of Des Moines. Probably about 2 hrs from Ames. Coming from Kentucky you won't miss them if you drive here. I have yet to go there. They also have a pretty cool shooting range - but I haven't been there either. If you are interested in rifle shooting, especially more vintage rifles, there is a little of that, but very little now, where Schuetzen once was big. New Braunfeld Texas and Davenport Iowa argue about who has the oldest Schuetzen club. Davenport is over on East Coast and that's not an uninteresting stretch of Iowa, but about 3-3.5 hrs from Ames. I do some shooting with those guys in Steamboat Rock - maybe my favorite Iowa rifle range. Strike the maybe - it is.

What else? Dang, it's pretty boring here. I shoot a lot but I don't shoot much in Iowa. So far this year, I've been to Kansas and Tennessee once each. Weather permitting, I'll be back in KS this weekend, and I also shoot in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico regularly and a few others from time to time. All of this is with blackpowder cartridge rifles.

Other than that, you are welcome to come out to my place and split some firewood and drink a beer or three.

Squirrel hunting commences on Sept 1, pheasants on the last Saturday in October. Some folks shoot doves, but I don't, so I don't know the seasons. Maybe I should find out.

Miscellaneous other things, every county has a fair, every small town has their own "small town days" celebration. These are sort of interesting for 15 minutes or so... You can see, I am reaching for small change now.

So, those are the quick answers to your question. I'd be interested to know what Larry has to say and any of the other Story County lurkers that might chime in.

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BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan)
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