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 […]

Read more

Check Out Our Current Issue!

What you Need to Know about CWD

CWD in Iowa: What Hunters Need to Know

The Growing Threat of Chronic Wasting Disease: What you need to know about CWD As the cooler weather settles in and the days shorten, Iowa hunters gear up for one of the most anticipated events of the deer season: gun season. While excitement builds for the season, there’s a pressing issue that no hunter should […]

READ MORE
Tips For January Coyote Calling

Tips for January Coyote Calling

Tips For January Coyote Calling The sun started to peek over the horizon, casting soft, pink light across the field. It was a perfect morning for hunting. I’d set up just off the edge of a field bordered by dense woods. From my vantage point, I had a clear line of sight for a few […]

READ MORE

Plan for Deer Season 2025

Plan for Deer Season 2025   As Iowa’s 2024 hunting season winds down this month, hunters across the state feel a mix of accomplishment and anticipation. For many, the season has been rewarding, with crisp mornings, challenging hunts, and stories to share. Yet, as the final days slip by and the fields quiet down, the […]

READ MORE
Summer Hunter's Checklist Timber Stand Improvement The Wild Past of Iowa

Timber Stand Improvement

Timber Stand Improvement  For Beginners Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) can mean different things to different people. Ultimately, it depends on the goals landowners have for their timber. For some, the goal is to improve timber quality by focusing on higher-value trees to maximize economic return. For others, TSI is aimed at promoting wildlife habitat to […]

READ MORE

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. 

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.