Hunting

Train Your Dog for Waterfowl Season, Iowa Sportsman , Gundog training, Dog training, waterfowl, duck, retrieve

Train Your Dog for Waterfowl Season

Train Your Dog for Waterfowl Season Just to be clear, I am not a waterfowl hunter. That’s my reality for two reasons: time and connections – I choose to pursue different game during waterfowl seasons, and none of my buddies are avid waterfowlers. Since we’re clearing the air, I’d like to make a couple of […]

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hunting optics, scopes for hunting, iowa deer scopes, budget scopes, best scope

Budget VS Premium Hunting Scopes

Budget VS Premium Hunting Scopes There is a common trend I run into when advising people on rifle setup, whether for hunting, tactical, or other purposes. I have no problem getting folks to spend money on rifles. But when I tell them to spend as much or more on optics, I seem to lose them. […]

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hunting iowa, iowa hunting, bow hunting, october hunting iowa

Hunting Iowa in October

Hunting Iowa in October There’s a certain feeling that settles in as summer starts to fade and we approach the deer seasons. Acorns start to fall and your mind drifts to the woods even when you’re nowhere near them. Long before the leaves turn, the anticipation begins. You think about the first cool morning and […]

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CWD and EHD in Iowa, The Iowa Sportsman, EHD, CWD, Hunting in Iowa, deer population in iowa, Iowas deer hunting 2026

Understanding CWD and EHD in Iowa: What Hunters Should Know for 2026

noUnderstanding CWD and EHD in Iowa: What Hunters Should Know for 2026 I remember the drought of 2012. It barely rained, grass turned brown, ponds dried up, ag yields were catastrophic across the state, and then deer began to die. This was the first time I remember chatter from Iowa deer hunters getting really concerned […]

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dove hunting, the iowa sportsman, iowa's dove season

Gearing Up for Dove Season

Gearing Up for Dove Season Dove season around Iowa is kind of the first kick-off for hunting season. It opens up around September 1st, near the Labor Day holiday, so what better way to celebrate than to go hunting? Dove hunting is hard, you’ll watch groups of men, excellent shooters, miss the doves as they […]

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hunting rubs and scrapes, deer sign,

Hunting Rubs & Scrapes

Unlocking the Secrets of Rubs & Scrapes This fall, many hunters will come across fresh rubs and scrapes to and from their hunting locations. Learning how to read these signs can greatly improve a hunter’s odds of filling a tag on a mature buck. Oftentimes, these signs are more than a single signpost and instead […]

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Hunting Iowa's early seasons, Warm Weather, Big Bucks,Iowa Youth Hunting, Iowa Hunting, Where to hunt in Iowa,

Warm Weather, Big Bucks: Hunting Iowa’s Early Seasons

Warm Weather, Big Bucks: Hunting Iowa’s Early Seasons Rest easy, faithful deer hunters. For the next four months, you will have an opportunity to take to the field and chase whitetails because deer season is here! Well, sort of. September 19th marks the opening of youth seasons and a special season for hunters who might […]

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The Iowa Sportsman, Trail Cam, Scouting Cam, camera, wildlife camera, stealthcam, cuddeback, wildgame innovation, moultrie, spypoint, cell trail camera

The August Advantage: Building Your Buck Inventory Before the Rut

Whitetail 365- The August Advantage: Building Your Buck Inventory Before the Rut By Noel Gandy Recently, a guest of my podcast and I were having a brief conversation before recording about bucks in velvet and the anticipation that summer gives for the coming hunting season. He and I both agreed that you have to be […]

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The Early Season Advantage: October Bow Hunting in Iowa

October Bow Hunting in Iowa

The Early Season Advantage: Getting Ready for Bow Season There is something special about the time right before bow season in Iowa. Summer is still hanging on, but every hunter knows fall is close. The days are getting shorter, the woods are starting to feel different, and thoughts turn to that first sit in a […]

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Iowa acreages, equipment,

Maintaining Iowa Acreages

Maintaining Iowa Acreages Owning your own slice of heaven in Iowa means something different to everyone. For some, it may be a couple of acres on the edge of a small town. For others, it might be an entire mile-by-mile section to manage for wildlife and income. No matter the size, location, or usage, there […]

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