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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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10 Tips for Camping Safety
10 Tips for Camping Safety Summer in Iowa means camping. And that means it’s time for you to connect with nature and experience the beauty of our state, even if it’s just for a few days. When it comes to camping and prepping for your trip there are some essential steps you should include to […]
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The Welcome Sign is out at Devils Lake
The Welcome Sign is out at Devils Lake It’s summer. The crops are planted. The kids are out of school. There are no excuses. It’s time to head to Devils Lake, North Dakota and catch some fish. Do it in your boat with your gear. Or, better yet, leave the boat home and hire […]
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Henry Arms Commits to Wisconsin
Henry Repeating Arms Commits to Wisconsin Henry Repeating Arms, one of America’s leading firearm manufacturers, is announcing a firm commitment to establishing 100% of its manufacturing operations in the state of Wisconsin. The commitment includes transferring all of its Bayonne, New Jersey manufacturing operations. Moving them to its newly expanded state-of-the-art headquarters in Rice Lake, […]
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Spring Turkeys’ Thunder
The woods wake up slow but loud on opening morning. First, it’s the hoot owls calling back and forth in the dark, their haunting sounds echoing through the timber. Then, the first streaks of pink and orange stretch across the horizon as the song birds begin to wake up as the landscape takes on […]
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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.