Check Out Our Current Issue!
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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Paper Mouths on the Move
Paper Mouths on the Move By Joe Nicholson We troll for walleye; we troll for muskie, heck some of us even troll for channel catfish. But, whoever thinks of trolling for crappie? Trolling for crappies seems a little bit too aggressive to many of us but in fact it can be an extremely productive way […]
READ MOREFishing Lines; Braid, Mono or Fluorop The Critical Lines
Fishing Lines; Braid, Mono or Fluorop The Critical Lines By Nick Johnson Back when I started fishing as a young kid all I knew was monofilament and the brand was either Stren or Trilene for the most part. There were braided lines on the market but they were heavy and I really didn’t have a […]
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Fishing Iowa’s Big Three
Fishing Iowa’s Big Three There’s nothing like taking the boat out on a big body of water and exploring the endless possibilities available to not only anglers but to recreational boaters, skiers, windsurfing, sailing; the list goes on. We’re going to explore exploring the big three here in Iowa, Saylorville Lake, Red Rock Lake, and […]
READ MOREA Day in the Life of a Bass
A Day in the Life of a Bass By Todd Reed I was asked at a professional conference one time, “What animal would you be in today’s world?” My answer was simple, a largemouth bass. I received plenty of odd looks from colleagues around the room, as most said some exotic African animal. Seriously, who […]
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Featured 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.
