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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Puppy Nutrition

Puppy Nutrition: What you need to Know

Puppy Nutrition  Oxford defines nutrition as “the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.” As a dog breeder, I divide puppy nutrition into phases (gestation, milk-only, weaning, and post-weaning). During each phase, a puppy has different nutritional needs and/or nutrition methods.  GESTATION  It might go without saying, but it’s important […]

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Make the most out of Spring Turkey Season

Make the Most of Spring Turkey Season

Make the Most Out of Spring Turkey Season  Turkey season in Iowa is just around the corner, and for hunters, it’s one of the best times of the year. Make sure to make the most of spring turkey season this year. The weather’s warming up, the trees are starting to bloom, and we can see […]

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Iowa Fishing Destinations May 2025 

Iowa Fishing Destinations May 2025 

Iowa Fishing Destinations May 2025  The month of May is right around the corner, anglers from all over the state have been getting out and enjoying the fishing Iowa has to offer.  May offers anglers a fantastic opportunity to catch any species they desire.  Now is the perfect time to plan that next fishing trip, […]

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The Essentials of Food Plots

The Essentials of Food Plots When it comes to hunting, we’ve seen food plots transform the way we hunt today. Few things are as effective at attracting and holding wildlife as a well-planned food plot on your hunting property. Whether you’re trying to grow and hold trophy bucks, increase your turkey population, or support the […]

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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.