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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How to Grow Giant Whitetails

How to Grow Giant Whitetails: Unlocking the Power of Minerals

How to Grow Giant Whitetails One of my most memorable hunts was a bowhunt several years ago, it was actually my first year bowhunting. I was in Southern Iowa in November, a combination in itself that is going to be a good day hunting no matter the outcome. The moment I stepped into the timber, […]

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Using Burning to Maximize Grasslands

Using Burning to Maximize Grasslands

Using Burning to Maximize Grasslands If you are a fellow ‘90s kid, or raised kids in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s you probably remember the TV blaring out. “He’s on fire!” When you or your kids were playing the classic video game ‘NBA Jam.’ Hearing that phrase in the context of watching one of […]

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Getting Youth Involved in Turkey Season

Getting Youth Involved in Turkey Season

Getting Youth Involved in Turkey Season Youth turkey season can be such a fun, exciting and rewarding experience.   Here are some tips and tricks for a successful hunt. Get Them Involved Give the youth turkey calls to practice with and invite them to practice calling before season.  A box call or push-button calls are […]

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Equipment for Managing Your Iowa Acreage

Equipment for Managing Your Iowa Acreage

Equipment for Managing Your Iowa Acreage Growing up, many of us dreamed of owning a vast piece of Iowa land—somewhere with a pond, rich habitat, and plenty of wild game. I wanted to be able to hunt as much as possible and own my own piece of ground. These days, with land prices skyrocketing, those […]

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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.