Early Spring Trout Fishing
Early Spring Trout Fishing

Early Spring Trout Fishing Spring in Northeast Iowa’s Driftless Region marks the beginning of one of the most rewarding trout fishing seasons in the Midwest. This is one of the prettiest areas in Northern Iowa marked with limestone bluffs, spring-fed creeks, and rolling pastures. The Driftless Region contains a several cold, clear streams that flow steadily year-round. This creates perfect trout habitat, and spring offers fishermen peaceful days on the water. With stable water temperatures, increasing insect activity, and hungry post-winter trout, there’s no better time to explore these legendary streams. Why The Driftless Region? This region is a trout […]

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Iowa's Top 5 Multi-Species Lakes

Iowa’s Top 5 Multi-Species Lakes

Iowa’s 5 Top Multi-Species Lakes Have you ever had one of those days fishing where you’re never sure what species you’ll reel in next? Those days where you catch six or seven different species from one lake are truly special and make all those tough days well worth the effort. Of course, in order to […]

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Your Child's Premier Outing

Your Child’s Premier Outing

Your Child’s Premier Outing By Ryan Graden So the time is finally here! You’re thinking the kids are old enough to go on their first hunting or fishing trip. Or so you hope! Just remember, their first experience might make or break any future times in the timber. If it goes well, you can be […]

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Trail Camera Strategies for Big Buck Success Game Camera Strategies

Game Camera Strategies: Whitetails 365

Game Camera Strategies: Whitetails 365 Technology has transformed whitetail hunting. That’s probably an understatement. Go to any deer classic these days and the hunting industry is finding solutions to problems hunters never even knew they had. I laugh at the trinkets and gadgets we hunters will spend our hard-earned money on. With all these laughable […]

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Art of Persuasion

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 […]

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Featured Story

Big Buck Profile: The 2025 Gandy Buck

Ok, this first big buck profile is a little self-serving in that it is of a buck that I personally took this past deer season. While it is likely not the “biggest” big buck that we will profile this year it is definitely one of my most special deer ever.

Turning a Dream into Reality

As has been noted in several articles since 2023, my family and I finally put together the means to purchase our very own piece of Iowa ground. “The 32,” as we call it, has become a passion project to see if we could take an unassuming piece of real estate and harvest a mature deer from there by giving him all he needs in the way of habitat. This year was the first year that the farm would be huntable in the state in which we intended due to construction projects over the past couple of seasons.

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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.