Check Out Our Current Issue!
In the April 2026 Issue of the Iowa Sportsman
- Best Places for Early Season Open Water
- Building a Foundation for the Field
- Range Safety Tips
- Building a Farm Pond to Hold More Wildlife
- Shed Antlers: Do they really tell us anything?
- What Makes a Great Food Plot
- Keeping Kids Engaged in Turkey Hunting
- Pre-Spawn Bass
- Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill
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Ideal Seeds for Food Plots
Quality Seed for Quality Food Plots Spring is quickly approaching. For Iowa hunters, that means they will be busy planning spring and fall food plots for wildlife. Food plots can seem overwhelming at times but one of the most important steps to ensuring a successful food plot is purchasing quality seed and choosing food plot […]
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The Legend of Sloof Lirpa
“The Legend of Sloof Lirpa” One of the best aspects of being born and raised in the great State of Iowa are the endless opportunities afforded to experience Mother Nature and her infinite offerings. First placing foot to ground in 1951, in the community of Grinnell, gave me the best of times to be a […]
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Turkey Hunting Question & Answer
Turkey Hunting Question & Answer Time for some Q&A on Turkey Hunting and we are putting our turkey hunting freelance writers on the hot seat. We compiled a list of 10 turkey hunting questions that come up pretty regularly when hunting these wily birds. Keep reading to see what each writers take is on the […]
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Whitetails 365: Chainsaw Habitat
Whitetails 365: Chainsaw Habitat When it comes to whitetail deer hunting, most hunters will spend an enormous amount of time and resources on their hunting gear. Whether it’s the time they spend planning their new equipment, or the money they budget and save for that big ticket item. Open any fall archery or hunting catalog […]
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Featured Story
Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill
Spring is in full swing here in Iowa, and what can be more pleasant a reminder than the sound of birds, the sight of flowers blooming, and the feel of a warm afternoon? I can think of at least one more thing…Panfish!
I can remember it like yesterday, our family would all meet up at the lake house. There was work to do. The yard was to be picked up, the cabin cleaned, and the dock had to be put in. But then, after the work was finished, it was time for all of us cousins to fish! We would all go out to the garage to pick out a few old rods and tie on a hook and sinker as best we could.
The next order of business was to hunt for worms. Flipping anything that we could find stuck in the ground in hopes of just finding a few crawlers. Once the bait was secured, we were ready to fish. We would go out on the dock and cast, vertical jig, and even troll along the side of the dock. We usually did pretty well use those tactics, but my all-time favorite was walking along the rocks on shore and dropping the bait down every little crevice, not knowing what was going to come up next.
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.
