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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Getting Youth Involved in Turkey Hunting

Getting Youth Involved in Turkey Hunting

Getting Youth Involved in Turkey Hunting I remember sitting in the timber, listening to the song birds wake up and the first gobbles begin. At this time, I was a young hunter, and I just was so excited to get to hunt or to tag along with my dad or uncles turkey hunting. Even though […]

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A Practical Plan to Purchasing Iowa Recreational Ground Wingshooting: Improving Success on Tough Shots

A Practical Plan to Purchasing Iowa Recreational Ground

A Practical Plan to Purchasing Iowa Recreational Ground If you’re an Iowa outdoorsman, you have probably dreamed of owning your own land, a piece you can call your own. A place to cast a line, blaze a trail, or just sit under the stars and connect with our creator and nature. We yearn for a […]

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Catching Pre-Spawning & Spawning Fish

Catching Pre-Spawning & Spawning Fish May in Iowa… winter has all but lost its grip, and we’re beginning to enjoy some incredible weather. It also brings with it the spring spawning period for a variety of fish. Temperatures in May will range from highs in the upper 60s to the mid-70s, with lows ranging from […]

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Turkey Taking Tips: From some “Not-so-Pro” Hunters! Reasons why you won't Harvest a Turkey this Year

Reasons why you won’t Harvest a Turkey this Year

Reasons why you won’t Harvest a Turkey this Year I’m already playing the hunt over and over in my mind. Knowing that in a few short months, I will be back in the timbers coaxing a big Iowa Eastern steadily towards me as he continues to thunder his call over and over in response to […]

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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.