Driftwood Outdoors: Midwest outdoor adventures in November

It’s easy to get lost in the wonderment of white-tailed deer during November in the Midwest. Few scenes are more exciting than a heavy horned buck bird-dogging a doe across a field of corn stubble at dawn. When he stops for a moment and you see his warm breath penetrating the frosty morning air, you’re reminded of why you crawled from under the covers of your cozy bed to sit motionless outdoors for hours on end.
Yet deer hunting is far from the only adventure offered to sportsmen and women this month. Many bird seasons come into play, and waterfowl is at its peak in certain states. Fishing is still going strong, too. As northern states begin to enter winter patterns, southern tier Midwest states are still fishing the fall bite.
As the last falling leaves hit the dirt and Old Man Winter begins to appear, Midwest outdoor activities are plentiful enough to draw all sorts of hunters and anglers off the couch and out the door. Take advantage of these last days of fall. It’s going to be really cold soon.

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Indiana – Hoosier National Forest Whitetails  

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Northern Indiana has little public land but is home to a majority of the state’s population. The southern half of the state, however, is flush with state forests, and the 202,814-acre Hoosier National Forest, which is home to some giant whitetails.
“Since Indiana instituted the one-buck rule back in 2002, our state has been producing more and more world class whitetails. You hear a lot about the big cornfield bucks up north, but I hunt exclusively in the hardwoods of Southern Indiana, and come November, there is nowhere I would rather be in pursuit of a big buck,” said longtime Hoosier deer hunter, David Ray.
Indiana’s 2026 firearms season runs Nov. 14-29. Don’t use the excuse there’s nowhere to go. The Hoosier National Forest makes that statement untrue.

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Minnesota – St. Croix River Smallmouth

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The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway lives up to its name in terms of scenic beauty. But more importantly to anglers, the smallmouth fishing can be exceptional during the late fall. The St. Croix is a top destination to don your favorite flannel shirt and get after some lunker bronzebacks.
“Smallmouth fishing is not a numbers game in November, but you can catch some giants over 20-inches. Use big stuff and fish deep. Especially along drop-offs,” said Evan Griggs, a guide at Bob Mitchell’s Fly Shop in St. Paul. “Above Taylors Falls, many of the fish have migrated by now and are hanging out in the Wild River State Park section.”
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Iowa – Pheasant

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When it comes to pheasants, Iowa may not be the Dakotas, but there are still plenty of birds out there to make hunting roosters worth the walk. With a long season running from Oct. through Jan., there’s ample opportunity to put some birds in the ol’ game bag, but why wait. Early November is going to give you first crack at fresh roosters. The daily bag limit for pheasants in Iowa is 3 and the possession limit is 12. Shooting hours are a bit strange, running from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. You need a hunting license and habitat fee, and must wear blaze orange.
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Ohio – Ohio River Catfish

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While hunters are flocking to forests, fields and wetlands throughout the Buckeye State in November, fishermen experience a special kind of solitude with many waters all to themselves. Including, the vast namesake river coursing the entire southern border. Most don’t associate cold weather with catfish, but Captain Dale Broughton, who operates Dale’s Guide Service out of Cincinnati, says November is a fine time for flatheads, blues and channels. Book a trip with him and enjoy the comfort of his boat’s enclosed cabin in between reeling in river monsters.
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Missouri – Public Land Duck Hunting

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Epic duck hunts can be few and far between on public lands and waters, but if you are looking for a great shot at lots of shooting on a public area, then look no further than the 15 Missouri Conservation Areas managed for waterfowl. Columbia Bottom, Grand Pass, Fountain Grove and Ted Shanks being four top destinations. There are different rules at different locations, so be sure to check access opportunities on the Department of Conservation website. Duck season opens in the North Zone on Oct. 31 and the Middle Zones on Nov. 7. You can only hunt the South Zone in Nov. from 26 through 29. Throughout the entire month, you can duck hunt somewhere in Missouri.
See you down the trail…

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