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In this issue of the Iowa Sportsman October 2025
- 5 Easy Mistakes to Make Fly Fishing for Trout in the Fall
- 10 Beginner Tips for Hunting Iowa Geese
- Deer Scents and Lures
- Early October Hunting Strategies
- Training your Dog to Blood-trail Deer
- Planning a Weeklong Pheasant Trip
- Shooting Optics for the Iowa Hunter
- Top 10 Bowhunting Destinations
- Whitetails 365: Mastering Scent Control
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Herbicides Now and Next Year’s Tree Plantings: Whitetails 365
Herbicides Now, and Planning for Next Year’s Tree Plantings: Whitetails 365: A Second Spraying, or the First Weeds are the death of many food plots. Weeds can completely take over a plot of clover or alfalfa, lower yields or kill off soybeans altogether, and can make a corn stand look like CRP ground getting out […]
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The Ins and Outs of ATV Ownership
The Ins and Outs of ATV Ownership As a kid, I was fortunate enough to be able to ride a 4 wheeler all over my family’s acreage. My father had found a hot deal on a “retired” racing quad. This ATV was purchased with the idea of a do-all type of vehicle, mostly used to […]
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Overlooked Fishing Destinations in Iowa
Overlooked Fishing Destinations in Iowa Growing up in Iowa and fishing as much as I could I never took the time to realize how fortunate we are to have the natural resources that we do. Perhaps it is being over four decades old, or perhaps it is the reflective mind that I am diving into. […]
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Berkley Shares the Science of Fishing Lures
Berkley Shares the Science of Fishing Lures Ever wonder what the process is for manufacturers to bring a bait from the concept stage to the fishing market? I recently had the opportunity to learn more about this at a fishing seminar put on by the Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club at its annual spring get […]
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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 that in the last 40 years, there has been quite a bit of advancement when it comes to hunting whitetails. Knowing more about deer behavior, hunting scents, better tree stands, better bows, guns, and so much more.
I fear that somebody desiring to get into hunting in the current culture could be a bit overwhelmed with all the information and tools that are out there on the market. We must remember that man has been chasing deer for thousands of years. The art of hunting is not new. It’s the methods that are ever-changing.
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.