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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Introducing Youth to Shooting Sports

Introducing Youth to Shooting Sports

Introducing Youth to Shooting Sports  I can still remember the day my mom told me we had to watch the next episode of “Buckmasters TV.” Being an oblivious five-year-old, you can only imagine how excited I was to see my picture pop up as their weekly winner of a FREE Buckmasters Daisy Model 840 BB […]

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Mastering Summer Catfish 

Mastering Summer Catfish 

Mastering Summer Catfish  When I first ventured into the world of catfish years ago, like any novice, I faced my share of frustrations. During those sweltering summer months, hooking a catfish was often a rare event, and landing a sizeable one felt like a true anomaly. I consistently found myself employing the same tired tactics […]

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IOWA’S WINERIES & BREWERIES 

IOWA’S WINERIES & BREWERIES 

IOWA’S WINERIES & BREWERIES  If you are a wine aficionado, you probably have a good idea of where Iowa’s wineries are. My wife and I have traveled throughout central Iowa and the northeast part of the state, visiting and sampling some of the best wines Iowa has to offer.    IOWA’S WINERIES  In 2000, Iowa only […]

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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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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.