(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s game bird populations have seen a bit of resurgence in recent years — but a drop in the number of hunters has kept the harvest numbers moving back to past levels. Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says some of the hunters were lost during the bird population drop. “Some just don’t go out — others move to other things like deer, turkey or waterfowl — they’re more abundant. I think some do go out of state where things sound better. They’ll go to Kansas for quail or South Dakota for pheasants,” Bogenschutz says.

He says another reason for a drop in hunters is the core group is getting older.  “That baby boom generation is tailing off, a lot of the upland hunters are hitting the 60-ish range and aren’t as avid as they used to be. And so we are on that side of that curve,” according to Bogenschutz. “We’ve got all the millennials here — but they are not quite as outdoor oriented as maybe the previous generations.” He says the D-N-R is trying to get younger people to give hunting a try. “Trying to engage them in the outdoors instead of just looking at smartphones and computer screens, ” he says.

Bogenschutz says they follow the three R’s when it comes to hunting — retention of the current hunters; reactivating hunters who haven’t been out in awhile; and recruitment of new hunters into the fold. Trap shooting has become a more popular sport in high schools and he says it is something that can get kids to move into hunting. “Certainly yeah, I think are data shows the we do have some transition there. The archery in the schools program and trap shooting is probably the highest we’ve ever seen it as far as schools go,” Bogenschutz says. “What we’re finding in some of the surveys and stuff — if you don’t come from a hunting family, even if you are exposed to that kind of stuff — you don’t just go do it. They kind of need friend to take them or family member.”

Bogenschutz says they are trying to respond to that survey information by offering more mentor-type programs. “Taking those first time people hunting two or three times in a season, four times. And then they get some comfort level with it and then they’re willing go out on their own or invite a friend,” Bogenschutz says. “So those are showing a lot more.When you give them that kind of environment they are much more likely the next year to buy a license and go out hunting.”

He says there have been plenty of birds out there to support more hunters, and they just need to continue working on increasing the hunter base.

PRESTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man died at a hospital after being injured in an explosion at his home in eastern Iowa. Law-Jones Funeral Home in Preston says 39-year-old Daniel Miller died last week at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. He’d been taken there after the Aug. 16 blast and fire at his home in Preston. He was alone in the home.

The cause of the explosion is still being investigated. Deputies say he told them before being taken from the scene that the last thing he remembered before the explosion was lighting a candle.

A woman from Canton, South Dakota, died during a rollover accident involving her mini-van, Sunday evening, in far northwest Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says 40-year old Barbara Rozeboom was driving a 2012 Honda Odyssey northbound on Lyon County Road A-54B, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle hit a field drive and rolled over before coming to rest on its top on the roadway.

Rozeboom died at the scene. Authorities say she was wearing her seat belt. The accident remains under investigation.

A traffic stop at around 8:40-p.m. Sunday, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a Nebraska man. 25-year old Dakota Smith, of Lincoln, NE., was arrested for Driving While Revoked. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:35 a.m. CDT

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man in Burlington, Iowa. Burlington Police Lt. Adam Schaefer says officers were called shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. They found a 28-year-old man with a gunshot wound when they arrived. The victim was taken to a hospital where he later died.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The 14th Iowa City Zombie March takes place Sept. 21 in downtown Iowa City. Zombies will assemble at College Green Park, and assistance with zombie make-up will be available starting at 4 p.m. The march will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m., when participants will shamble through Iowa City, ending with an after-party. Proceeds from the march will go to support programs to feed the hungry, homeless and at-risk.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s attorney general says his office is joining a multistate investigation to determine whether Facebook has violated any antitrust laws. Attorney General Tom Miller says Facebook’s dominance over communications and information is concerning and warrants the investigation he’s leading along with 8 other attorneys general. Miller says the goal is to determine whether Facebook’s actions “may have endangered user data, reduced the quality of consumers’ choices, or stifled competition.”

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two arrests from the past week. On Friday, 36-year old Luke Allan Mullen, of Carbon, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear on original charges of Trespass resulting in injury or damage greater than $200, and Domestic Abuse Assault by injury or mental illness/1st offense. Mullen was initially held without bond in the Adair County Jail, but following his initial court appearance, his cash or surety bond, which was set at $1,000, was posted Sept. 7th, and he was released.

On Sept. 2nd, 18-year old Malachi Shon Elms, of Greenfield, was arrested on a Felony Bench warrant out of Tulare County, California, for Failure to Appear. He waived extradition, and was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail, pending pick-up by authorities in California.

Red Oak Police, Sunday afternoon, arrested a man and woman on charges associated with the violation of a Protection Order. 22-year old Devon Lee Smith, of Red Oak, was arrested for Violating a Protection Order. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. 19-year old Kammi Shaylee Conrade, of Red Oak, was arrested for Aiding and Abetting a Protection Order, and was also being charged with Violating the Order. Her bond was also set at $300.

The CAM School District Board of Education will hold their regular monthly meeting, Monday evening, in Anita. The meeting takes place in the CAM High School Superintendent’s Office at 6:30-p.m.  On their agenda is: Approval of resignations and contracts; Approval of out-of-state trips for the year; a Preschool Contract, and donation of MacBook computers, along with a Levy-Resolution to consider participation in the Instructional Support (Levy) Progam (ISL).

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer, today (Sunday), reported three arrests took place over the last couple of weeks, and one citation was issued. On Tuesday, Sept. 3rd, 24-year old Joshua Adam Petersen, of Carroll, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and Interference With Official Acts.

On August 31st, 28-year old Mackenzie Jacob Belnap, of Columbus Junction, was arrested on a Failure to Appear Warrant.  And, on August 24th, 38-year old Bobby Lee Stevens, of Audubon, was arrested for Domestic Abuse – 2^nd Offense.

All three individuals were transported to the Audubon County Jail, and held pending an appearance before a magistrate. And, on Sunday, Sept. 8th, 30-year old Barbara Anne Christo, of Audubon, was cited for Allowing Dog to run At Large.  Christo was released on promise to appear in court.

Police in Burlington are investigating an early Sunday morning shooting incident that resulted in the death of a 28-year old male. Police responded at around 1:40-a.m. to a residence in the 800 block of Columbia Street, with regard to multiple shots being fired. When they arrived on the scene, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The man’s name was not immediately released. He was transported to a hospital in West Burlington, were he was pronounced deceased.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is assisting Burlington Police in their ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the incident should contact Burlington Crime Stoppers at 319-753-6835, or the Burlington P-D’s CID (Criminal Investigations Division) at 319-753-8375.

No additional information was being released by authorities at this time.