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In this issue of the Iowa Sportsman October 2025
- 5 Easy Mistakes to Make Fly Fishing for Trout in the Fall
- 10 Beginner Tips for Hunting Iowa Geese
- Deer Scents and Lures
- Early October Hunting Strategies
- Training your Dog to Blood-trail Deer
- Planning a Weeklong Pheasant Trip
- Shooting Optics for the Iowa Hunter
- Top 10 Bowhunting Destinations
- Whitetails 365: Mastering Scent Control
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There is No Need To Decoy, Rattle, or Lure in Bucks During The Rut
There is No Need To Decoy, Rattle, or Lure in Bucks During The Rut By Patrick McKinney Tips on Shooting a Buck Without all the Extra Gear I have rattled in bucks during the rut, I have decoyed bucks during the rut, and I have used scents and lures to bring bucks in close during […]
READ MOREThese are a few of my favorite streams…..
These are a few of my favorite streams….. By Rod Woten While they’re not raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, there are definitely a few of Iowa’s fabled coldwater spring streams that have become my favorites for chasing angry brown trout, elusive brook trout or flashy rainbow trout. Some of them are my favorite […]
READ MORE5 Generations and Still Going
5 Generations and Still Going By Ryan Graden Hunting is in my blood! I know that’s a bold statement to make, but I’ve always felt like that was a true statement when I was growing up. Anytime that I ventured out into the woods with my father, grandfather, or uncles I felt just as comfortable […]
READ MOREYour New Puppy Part 3
Your New Puppy Part 3 By Ryan Eder In the third article of this series we will continue to focus on basic obedience but also build upon our bird and gun introduction that we discussed in part 2. At this point we have a dog crate trained, well socialized, well started on basic obedience (here, […]
READ MOREFeatured Story
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 that in the last 40 years, there has been quite a bit of advancement when it comes to hunting whitetails. Knowing more about deer behavior, hunting scents, better tree stands, better bows, guns, and so much more.
I fear that somebody desiring to get into hunting in the current culture could be a bit overwhelmed with all the information and tools that are out there on the market. We must remember that man has been chasing deer for thousands of years. The art of hunting is not new. It’s the methods that are ever-changing.
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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.