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 […]

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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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Patience Precision and Powder

Patience, Precision, and Powder

Patience, Precision, and Powder Muzzleloaders have a special place in my heart. My first gun was an Iowa-made .45 caliber Knight Rifle. I loved that thing so much, from loading the powder and sabot down the barrel, to thoroughly cleaning and caring for my gun, it was fun for the teenage version of myself. With […]

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Must-Have Equipment for Iowa Acreages

Must-Have Equipment for Iowa Acreages

Must-Have Equipment for Iowa Acreages As a child, I had what I would consider very typical childhood goals and aspirations. Grow up, have a family, work as a professional athlete, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or a missionary, or a firefighter, or anything else that tickled my fancy for the day. After all, we’re […]

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Safety Reminders for Iowa Hunting Season Kids First Hunting Trip

Safety Reminders for Iowa Hunting Season

Safety Reminders for a Responsible Iowa Hunting Season Deer hunting is one of the most exciting and rewarding traditions in Iowa, but it also comes with serious responsibilities. Every year, thousands of hunters venture out to pursue whitetails, waterfowl, pheasants, predators, and all sorts of small game too. While success often depends on preparation, knowledge, […]

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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.

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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.