Early Spring Trout Fishing
Early Spring Trout Fishing

Early Spring Trout Fishing Spring in Northeast Iowa’s Driftless Region marks the beginning of one of the most rewarding trout fishing seasons in the Midwest. This is one of the prettiest areas in Northern Iowa marked with limestone bluffs, spring-fed creeks, and rolling pastures. The Driftless Region contains a several cold, clear streams that flow steadily year-round. This creates perfect trout habitat, and spring offers fishermen peaceful days on the water. With stable water temperatures, increasing insect activity, and hungry post-winter trout, there’s no better time to explore these legendary streams. Why The Driftless Region? This region is a trout […]

Read more

Check Out Our Current Issue!

Foraging for Iowa Mushrooms – A Hidden Treat

Foraging for Mushrooms – A Hidden Iowa Treat It dawned on me a few years ago that “hunting season” doesn’t have to end on January 10th every year here in Iowa. It’s true! Yes, most of the animals that we pursue as hunters are no longer legal to take, however, your “hunting” tactics can be […]

READ MORE

What Knife is best for you this Season?

Making the Cut: What Knife is best for you this Season? When it comes to hunting, there is no shortage of age-old debates that hunters like to dive into: archery vs. firearms, meat hunter vs. horn hunters, fixed blade vs. expandable broadheads, 6.5 Creedmoor vs. B-52 bomber to name a few. One debate that seems […]

READ MORE

Exploring Iowa’s Water Trails

Exploring Iowa’s Water Trails Iowans are blessed with many rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs that are perfect paddling whether they choose a canoe, kayak or even an inner tube. These waterways will take you through a variety of areas that are significant to our state whether from a historical, cultural, geological, or ecological standpoint. Indeed, […]

READ MORE

What’s In my Pack?

What’s In my Pack? We are finally approaching the days turkey fanatics look forward to every year, the opening days of turkey season. Turkey hunting captivates hunters with exciting and adrenaline-fueled experiences of toms strutting and gobbling all around. It blends the thrill of the chase with the peaceful beauty of the natural world. Whether […]

READ MORE

Featured Story

Big Buck Profile: The 2025 Gandy Buck

Ok, this first big buck profile is a little self-serving in that it is of a buck that I personally took this past deer season. While it is likely not the “biggest” big buck that we will profile this year it is definitely one of my most special deer ever.

Turning a Dream into Reality

As has been noted in several articles since 2023, my family and I finally put together the means to purchase our very own piece of Iowa ground. “The 32,” as we call it, has become a passion project to see if we could take an unassuming piece of real estate and harvest a mature deer from there by giving him all he needs in the way of habitat. This year was the first year that the farm would be huntable in the state in which we intended due to construction projects over the past couple of seasons.

READ FULL STORY

Created By Iowans, For Iowans

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.