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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Check Out Our Current Issue!

Gun Dog Health and Nutrition

Gun Dog Health and Nutrition

Gun Dog Health and Nutrition This past Fall I set a personal goal to upland hunt with any one of my dogs, at least one day a week. Even though I pretty much hit my goal, my upland season revealed some issues I allowed to develop. Likewise, if we fail to focus on our dog’s […]

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The Value of Archery and Gun Ranges

The Value of Archery and Gun Ranges

The Value of Archery and Gun Ranges If you’re like me, most of your shooting is done in the great outdoors. I learned to shoot a BB gun by steading it on a post and shooting at a paper target about 15 yards away. When I was in my 20s before I set foot in […]

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Visit Boone County Iowa Tips for Better Trolling Success

Visit Boone County Iowa

Visit Boone County Iowa Fishing has been a huge part of my life from a very early age. I can remember begging my dad to take me fishing on the weekends. He worked six days a week, church on Sunday mornings, but I just knew a father of seven kids wanted to take us fishing […]

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Go-to May Lures

Go-To May Lures

Go-To May Lures May marks the peak of bass and crappie activity in Iowa as they enter their spawning season. Crappie are a favorite for Iowans, and they are one of the best tasting fish you can catch in our lakes. Targeting these fish requires specific tactics and lures. Put in some time on the […]

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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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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.