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 […]

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Steps for Maintaining Firearms Long-Term 

Steps for Maintaining Firearms Long-Term 

  Steps for Maintaining Firearms Long-Term    As hunters hang up their gear and reflect on the memories of another successful season, it’s essential to turn our attention to the crucial task of caring for our firearms. Cleaning and storing your guns correctly is not just a matter of maintenance; it’s a responsibility that ensures […]

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Walleye Tricks and Tackle Fishing Iowa’s Big Three

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 […]

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Ways to Catch Summer Catfish on the River

Ways to Catch Summer Catfish on the River

Ways to Catch Summer Catfish on the River Catching catfish on the surface looks pretty easy and it is. One of the beautiful things about catfishing in the 21st century is it can be as simple or as difficult as you want it to be. Ways to catch catfish are many. In some states you […]

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10 Killer Big Buck Bow Hunting Ambushes

10 Killer Big Buck Bow Hunting Ambushes

10 Killer Big Buck Bow Hunting Ambushes Why do top notch hunters shoot quality mature deer year after year? Sure they scout, don’t shoot young bucks, maintain their land, pay attention to the wind, plant food plots, are in big buck country, ect. Yes all of those and many more reasons can attribute to better […]

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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. 

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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.