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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Sight In Your Deer Rifle

Sighting In Your Deer Rifle

Sighting In Your Deer Rifle Sighting in a hunting rifle is the bridge between practice range confidence and success in the field; it transforms a rifle from a promising tool to a dependable partner by aligning where your scope or sights indicate the bullet will go with where it actually lands.   Before you load a […]

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A December Pheasant Hunt in Iowa 

A December Pheasant Hunt in Iowa

A December Pheasant Hunt in Iowa The first snow of the season had rolled in overnight, blanketing the rolling hills of north-central Iowa in a clean, white sheet. By sunrise, the thermometer hung just below twenty degrees, making for a December pheasant hunt in Iowa. The crunch of boots on frozen ground echoed through the […]

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Essential Gear for Iowa Ice Fishermen 

Essential Gear for Iowa Ice Fishermen

Essential Gear for Iowa Ice Fishermen Jigs & Bait  When the lakes freeze over in Iowa, ice fishing season begins, and having the right tackle can make the difference between a slow day and a full bucket. One of the most essential pieces of gear is a good selection of jigs. These small lures can […]

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5 Reasons to Ice Fish in Minnesota 

5 Reasons to Ice Fish in Minnesota 

5 Reasons to Ice Fish in Minnesota  What happens when you combine more than 10,000 lakes full of fish with a state that produces consistent below freezing temperatures? You get the recipe for ice fishing of epic proportions. Throw in dozens of full-service resorts, outfitters, and sleeper fish house businesses that cater to ice anglers […]

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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.