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 […]

Read more

Check Out Our Current Issue!

Exploring the Iowa Walleye Challenge

Exploring the Iowa Walleye Challenge: In Pursuit of the Prize

Exploring the Iowa Walleye Challenge: In Pursuit of the Prize The previous two spring fishing seasons, anglers across the state of Iowa have participated in a citizen science project known as the Iowa Walleye Challenge. The IWC is a virtual fishing tournament through the MyCatch app. What started as an app to record a diary […]

READ MORE
Essential Tools for the Home Gunshop

Essential Tools for the Home Gunshop

Essential Tools for the Home Gunshop It’s always fun to modify your gun, or add new parts. It’s even more fulfilling when you can do it yourself. Currently, there are some gunsmithing classes which offer a wealth of knowledge for those interested in getting an in-depth knowledge and training on how to work on firearms. […]

READ MORE
The ATA Show 2024

The ATA Show 2024

The ATA Show 2024 Iowa is the state every bowhunter wants to hunt, and for good reasons. The Iowa bowhunter wouldn’t be where we are today without improvements on technology. We have the option to shoot nostalgic equipment, or we can use the fastest crossbows during the late archery season. In this article, we are […]

READ MORE
Decoding Flushing Dogs

Decoding what Makes a Flushing Dog

Decoding what Makes a Flushing Dog Aren’t retrievers, flushers? The simple answer is, yes. They are kind of one in the same, but there are three reasons why these distinct categories of hunting dogs exist. First, some hunting dog breeds are primarily for waterfowl hunting, so they aren’t pointing or flushing anything. Second, retrieving dogs […]

READ MORE

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. 

READ FULL STORY

Created By Iowans, For Iowans

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.