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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DIY Iowa Kill Plots 

DIY Iowa Kill Plots 

DIY Iowa Kill Plots  Developing a food plot for deer requires more than a few months of preparation, it’s a year-round process. Some of my best food plot strategies have been born from time spent in the stand, carefully observing how deer move, what they browse on, and where natural edges or clearings create opportunities. […]

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Drought, Deer, and the Looming Threat of EHD 

Deer and the Looming Threat of EHD: Whitetails 365

Deer and the Looming Threat of EHD As we gear up for 2025’s deer season, we’re praying for rain, and hoping the deer we passed to let grow, will make it to another hunting season. With that said, several reliable sources are predicting a continuation of the dry conditions that have plagued our landscape in […]

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How to Target Iowa Muskie

How to Target Iowa Muskie              Early summer is a fantastic time to learn how to target Iowa muskie in the southern part of the Midwest muskie range.  Depending on where you are, places throughout the Midwest have a yearlong season for these fish. Unlike the upper parts of the […]

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Using Dip Baits for Catfishing

Using Dip Baits for Catfishing

Dip Baits for Catfishing Growing up, some of my best memories include using dip baits while catfishing with my dad and my older cousin, Chet. As soon as summer break started, I knew it was time to hit the rivers in search for catfish. I remember one particular June evening, the fog started to settle […]

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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.