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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Unlocking the Secrets of Extended-Range Accuracy 

Unlocking the Secrets of Extended-Range Accuracy 

Unlocking the Secrets of Extended-Range Accuracy  Shooting long distances is a really tough but incredibly satisfying skill that takes your shooting abilities to a whole new level. It takes time, practice, and a lot of focus to get good at it, but man, does it feel good when you start hitting those far-off targets. If […]

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Dove Opener Countdown

Dove Opener Countdown

Dove Opener Countdown  If you’re looking for something fun to do with your dog before the upland and/or waterfowl seasons open, you should consider dove hunting. Forty-one of the lower forty-eight states have a dove season.  Pursuing doves creates high demands for our dogs. The hunts are action-packed, especially if you’re in a hot field. […]

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Fall Fishing in Iowa Finicky Fishing

Fall Fishing in Iowa

Fall Fishing in Iowa  Iowa, nature begins to transition from summer to fall. As the water temperatures drop, fish know that colder weather and winter are not far off. The coming chill will have most predatory fish on the prowl, fattening up before Mother Nature slows things down for them.   Weather Like all of Iowa’s […]

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5 Hacks for Bass Fishing with Plastics

5 Hacks for Bass Fishing with Plastics

5 Low Tech Hacks for Soft Plastics and Bass ‘Hacks’ nowadays are defined as a clever solution to a problem.  In an era of high-tech gadgetry and complex rigging options here are five decidedly low-tech ideas to consider when fishing soft plastic lures for Largemouth Bass (and other species as well).  I have gathered these […]

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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.