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Overlooked Fishing Destinations in Iowa
Overlooked Fishing Destinations in Iowa By Todd Reed Growing up in Iowa and fishing as much as I could I never took the time to realize how fortunate we are to have the natural resources that we do. Perhaps it is being over four decades old, or perhaps it is the reflective mind that I […]
READ MOREOpen Water Preparations: Rods, Reels and Line
Open Water Preparations: Rods, Reels and Line By Nick Johnson It is with great sadness each Spring that I put away the ice fishing gear for the season. Then, when I begin to dig out my open water gear that sadness fades away slowly and the anticipation for warmer weather fishing takes over. One of […]
READ MORENot just a Man’s Game
Not just a Man’s Game By Ryan Eder Last April I had the opportunity to judge the UGA Nationals in Iowa. It could not have been a more perfect day; with temperatures in the high fifties, a nice crosswind and not a cloud in the sky I watched dogs hunt quail on a gorgeous piece […]
READ MOREWell Done: Tips for Safe and Effective Prescribed Burning
Well Done: Tips for Safe and Effective Prescribed Burning By Joe Herring In my experience, there are two universal truths when it comes to performing a prescribed burn: 1) if you do it long enough, you will have to call in support from the local volunteer fire department at some point, and 2) the fire […]
READ MOREFeatured Story
Introducing Youth to Shooting Sports
I can still remember the day my mom told me we had to watch the next episode of “Buckmasters TV.” Being an oblivious five-year-old, you can only imagine how excited I was to see my picture pop up as their weekly winner of a FREE Buckmasters Daisy Model 840 BB gun. Bubba and Shotgun Red announced my name, and I was the proud new owner of my very first firearm.
I ran to meet the mail carrier every day to check for that long cardboard box. Watching “Buckmasters” with my parents fed my enthusiasm for the outdoors, but I was already obsessed with all things related to shooting at an early age. That BB gun gave me so much more than a tool to shoot targets with. It gave my parents an opportunity to teach me about gun safety. It gave me my first memories of being in the woods, tagging along with my dad and his .22 chasing squirrels and rabbits. It gave me another way to spend time with my younger sisters when they began to learn about gun safety. Most importantly, it sparked a lifelong love for hunting and target shooting.
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.