Iowa’s Venom, Oil and Toxic Sap
Iowa’s Venom, Oil and Toxic Sap

I once struck up a conversation with a man from Australia and while talking I asked him the question most people want to know about Australians, “how many times have you been bitten by one of your crazy spiders you have down there?” His answer was shocking, “Oh not many, probably less than 20 times.”

I once struck up a conversation with a man from Australia and while talking I asked him the question most people want to know about Australians, “how many times have you been bitten by one of your crazy spiders you have down there?” His answer was shocking, “Oh not many, probably less than 20 times.” My coworker and I laughed in horror and amazement and counted our blessing of living in the relatively venom free state of Iowa.

I once struck up a conversation with a man from Australia and while talking I asked him the question most people want to know about Australians, “how many times have you been bitten by one of your crazy spiders you have down there?” His answer was shocking, “Oh not many, probably less than 20 times.” My coworker and I laughed in horror and amazement and counted our blessing of living in the relatively venom free state of Iowa. But only relatively venom free, within Iowa’s borders there are a handful of flora and fauna that if encountered can leave an unlucky Iowan itchy, burning, swollen, scarred and in the worst of scenarios, permanently incapacitated or dead.

Read more
Dangerous Plants and Animals in Iowa

Check Out Our Current Issue!

Safety Reminders for Iowa Hunting Season Kids First Hunting Trip

Safety Reminders for Iowa Hunting Season

Safety Reminders for a Responsible Iowa Hunting Season Deer hunting is one of the most exciting and rewarding traditions in Iowa, but it also comes with serious responsibilities. Every year, thousands of hunters venture out to pursue whitetails, waterfowl, pheasants, predators, and all sorts of small game too. While success often depends on preparation, knowledge, […]

READ MORE
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 […]

READ MORE
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 […]

READ MORE
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 […]

READ MORE

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.

READ FULL STORY

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.