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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A Season to Remember

A Season to Remember: 2023 Deer Season

A Season to Remember: 2023 Deer Season A cold front was moving in, during the first weekend of Iowa’s bow season, and I was excited to hunt with my Dad overlooking an alfalfa field. I just noticed six does about 150 yards away. About the time I saw them, they bolted right towards my Dad […]

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Essential Competitive Shooting Equipment

Essential Competitive Shooting Equipment

Essential Competitive Shooting Equipment Competitive shooting is a thrilling blend of precision, speed, and mental control where milliseconds matter and nerves of steel prevail. Forget leisurely plinking at bullseyes, where you take you time and focus on breathing. This is a sport where athletes push their limits, master their firearms, and race against the clock […]

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Open Water Fishing in March

Open Water Fishing in March

Open Water Fishing in March The month of March is characterized by rapidly rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing from 41°Fto 56°F over the course of the month, exceeding 72°F or dropping below 26°F only one day in ten. As temps rise throughout the area, ice will begin to lose its grip on […]

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The Versatility of Retrieving Gun Dogs

The Versatility of Retrieving Gun Dogs

The Versatility of Retrieving Gun Dogs Roughly twenty-five years ago, I made a sales pitch to my parents, asking them if I could purchase a Labrador. To my surprise, they gave me the green light with the condition that I: find a trusted breeder, pay for the dog, and take full responsibility for training the […]

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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.