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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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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Treestand Safety

By Jacob Dean September is Treestand Safety Month. If you’re an avid Iowa hunter, chances are high that you hunt out of a treestand. Treestand hunting gives us advantages, but it comes with some risks. Falls from treestands are a leading cause of serious injury and death among hunters. Estimates for fatalities from tree stand […]

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CWD and EHD in Iowa

Challenges posed by CWD and ED As conservationists and hunters, we are deeply invested in the health and sustainability of our wild deer population. Our deer face significant threats from emerging and spreading diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). While directly treating individual wild animals on a large scale isn’t […]

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Protect Crops and Hunt Smarter with Gallagher x Mossy Oak Gamekeepers Deer Fence

Two trusted names in farming and the outdoors come together to protect foodplots, support  wildlife management, and ensure a successful hunting season with foodplot fence.  Kansas City, MO – August 5, 2025, Gallagher, a global leader in electric fencing and land  management innovation, is proud to announce a new partnership with Mossy Oak Gamekeepers, one […]

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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.