Iowa’s Venom, Oil and Toxic Sap
Iowa’s Venom, Oil and Toxic Sap

I once struck up a conversation with a man from Australia and while talking I asked him the question most people want to know about Australians, “how many times have you been bitten by one of your crazy spiders you have down there?” His answer was shocking, “Oh not many, probably less than 20 times.”

I once struck up a conversation with a man from Australia and while talking I asked him the question most people want to know about Australians, “how many times have you been bitten by one of your crazy spiders you have down there?” His answer was shocking, “Oh not many, probably less than 20 times.” My coworker and I laughed in horror and amazement and counted our blessing of living in the relatively venom free state of Iowa.

I once struck up a conversation with a man from Australia and while talking I asked him the question most people want to know about Australians, “how many times have you been bitten by one of your crazy spiders you have down there?” His answer was shocking, “Oh not many, probably less than 20 times.” My coworker and I laughed in horror and amazement and counted our blessing of living in the relatively venom free state of Iowa. But only relatively venom free, within Iowa’s borders there are a handful of flora and fauna that if encountered can leave an unlucky Iowan itchy, burning, swollen, scarred and in the worst of scenarios, permanently incapacitated or dead.

Read more
Dangerous Plants and Animals in Iowa

Check Out Our Current Issue!

Fall Fishing in Iowa Finicky Fishing

Finicky Fishing

Finicky Fishing August in Iowa can be quickly summed up in one word…hot! July has come and gone and average temps have been hovering around the mid 80’s, August continues the trend and even throws in a few 90 degree days. By now surface water temperatures on area lakes have reached 75 – 80 degrees […]

READ MORE
Iowa's Hidden Gem: Water Trails

Iowa’s Hidden Gem: Water Trails

Iowa’s Hidden Gem: Water Trails Iowans are blessed with some of the richest and abundant fishing, hunting, hiking, boating and canoeing opportunities in the country. We can cross this state from north to south, east to west in about four hours. Any activity you’d like to participate in is easily accessible in a short drive. […]

READ MORE
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 […]

READ MORE
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 […]

READ MORE

Featured Story

Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill

Spring is in full swing here in Iowa, and what can be more pleasant a reminder than the sound of birds, the sight of flowers blooming, and the feel of a warm afternoon? I can think of at least one more thing…Panfish!

I can remember it like yesterday, our family would all meet up at the lake house. There was work to do. The yard was to be picked up, the cabin cleaned, and the dock had to be put in. But then, after the work was finished, it was time for all of us cousins to fish! We would all go out to the garage to pick out a few old rods and tie on a hook and sinker as best we could.

The next order of business was to hunt for worms. Flipping anything that we could find stuck in the ground in hopes of just finding a few crawlers. Once the bait was secured, we were ready to fish. We would go out on the dock and cast, vertical jig, and even troll along the side of the dock. We usually did pretty well use those tactics, but my all-time favorite was walking along the rocks on shore and dropping the bait down every little crevice, not knowing what was going to come up next.

READ FULL STORY

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.