The Art of Persuasion: Deer Scents, Rattles, and Bleats 
The Art of Persuasion: Deer Scents, Rattles, and Bleats 

The Art of Persuasion: Deer Scents, Rattles, and Bleats In the 80’s, my father and grandfather were “entry-level” deer hunters.  They had been invited to begin hunting a timber here in central Iowa that had a steady population of deer.  In their efforts to learn more regarding the tactics to use to fool a wise old whitetail, my grandfather and father would douse their boots with fox urine!  It was an effort to hide human scent when they were in the woods.  It goes without saying that those boots were not allowed in the house, ever! There is no doubt […]

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Twin Rivers Media Appoints Kaid Panek as Brand Ambassador and Multimedia Content Strategists

Twin Rivers Media, LLC Appoints Kaid Panek as Brand Ambassador & Multimedia Content Strategist

Twin Rivers Media, LLC Appoints Kaid Panek as Brand Ambassador & Multimedia Content Strategist Panek to shape brand voice, elevate creator partnerships, and lead cross-platform storytelling Fort Dodge, Iowa — October 31, 2025 — Twin Rivers Media, LLC today announced the hiring of Kaid Panek as Brand Ambassador & Multimedia Content Strategist. In this role, [...] READ MORE
The Irresistible Allure of Devils Lake

The Irresistible Allure of Devils Lake

Hooked on Ice: The Irresistible Allure of Devils Lake The answer to “Why ice fish?” is the same as when asked why do Americans own so many rifles, pistols and guns.  Answer:  Because we can!  It’s in the Constitution (the gun part, not ice fishing), but it’s in the personal constitution of so many diehard […]

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3 Killer Tactics for Iowa’s Gun Seasons 

3 Killer Tactics for Iowa’s Gun Seasons

3 Killer Tactics for Hunting Iowa’s Gun Seasons There is something incredibly exciting about the opening day of Iowa’s gun seasons. Walking into my stand, my anticipation is high, as I’ve been watching deer from afar during Iowa’s bow seasons. Generations of Iowans have lived for this moment, when months of scouting, stories, and anticipation […]

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Raccoon Calling 101

Raccoon Calling 101

Raccoon Calling 101: Sounds, Setups, and Strategies Several years ago, when I was dating my now husband, Nathan, he asked me if I wanted to go raccoon calling with him. We loved being outdoors, and most of our time spent together revolved around fishing, target shooting, and hunting. When he asked about raccoon calling, I […]

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Featured Story

Iowa Public Land Hunting 

Every hunter wants to know where to go to harvest a great deer.  We often assume that there is some “honey hole” spot out there that a person can always go to and harvest a trophy year after year.  While having hope for that, we are always keeping our ears perked for that privileged information on where the best place to hunt would be.   

Now, let me ask you, if somebody had the perfect spot to hunt where they are harvesting trophy deer year after year, do you think that they would share that information with you?  Probably not.  Unless they are VERY gracious and kind.   

In this article, I will not share any “secret spots” with you who are reading.  Frankly, because I don’t have any secret spots to share!  However, I’ve lived in Iowa long enough to steer you to certain areas of our great state that might give you a great chance to fill a tag this fall and winter.  So let’s begin with some regions of the state to key into. 

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The Iowa Sportsman website and magazine are Iowa’s only privately owned media sources catering to hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts here in Iowa. Simply put, we are unlike other Iowa outdoor media sources: All our staff is from Iowa, from our publisher to our writers. We actually follow through on what we advertise; we provide knowledgeable content from people who know the industry or sport discussed.