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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What to use Fall Fishing in Iowa

Fall Fishing in Iowa: What to Target, What to Use

The cooler fall mornings are always a welcome feeling after a long, hot summer.  This time of year always excites me as the cooler temperatures get a few species fired up.  Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye love the cooler temperatures and are ready to feed in area lakes and rivers.  Let’s dive into some […]

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The Early Season Advantage: Whitetails 365

For Iowa bow hunters, early autumn marks the anticipated start of the opening day. It’s time to go hunting, and the excitement is at an all-time high! We can finally return to the timber or food plots as the official start of the season is finally here. Getting ready for a successful bow season, especially […]

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Dominate the Field with Premier Gundog Gear

Dominating the Field with Premier Gundog Gear

Whether you’re an avid pheasant hunter or just getting started with the sport, I bet you’re like me: when you get ready to head to the field, you want gear that will keep you safe and comfortable, right? If we are safe and comfortable when we chase birds, our dogs should be too. After all, […]

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Waterfowl Hunting Iowa

Waterfowl Hunting Iowa

Opening day of Iowa’s waterfowl season is more than just a date; it’s a revered tradition for hunters. It embodies the exhilaration of the pursuit and, of course, feeding our families from the wild. Yet, no one seeks to spend a crisp morning gazing at an empty expanse of sky. Success hinges on meticulous planning […]

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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.