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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Creating a Thriving Deer Food Plot in the Timber

Creating A Thriving Deer Food Plot in the Timber: Whitetails 365 

Creating A Thriving Deer Food Plot in the Timber: Whitetails 365  As hunters, some of our favorite stands are in the timber, and most of us would rather be in the timber, right in the middle of a deer’s habitat. The crunchy fall leaves and the scent of acorns falling draw both hunter and deer. […]

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Exploring Iowa's Waterways Overlooked Fishing Destinations in Iowa

Exploring Iowa’s Waterways

Exploring Iowa’s Waterways Iowa, the “land of rolling hills and friendly smiles,” also boasts a hidden gem – a network of water trails waiting to be explored. These marked and maintained routes navigate rivers, lakes, and canals, offering paddlers, canoers, and other boaters a unique perspective on the state’s natural beauty and history. Whether you’re […]

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Habitat for the Birds Comparing Pheasant Hunting Opportunities: South Dakota Public or Iowa Private

Habitat for the Birds

Habitat for the Birds How was your pheasant and quail season? Great, mediocre, disappointing? If you were disappointed, I’m guessing, it’s because you only flushed a few birds or because you should’ve dusted off your wingshooting skills a little better before the season. Practicing with some clays in the offseason is up to you, but […]

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Catching Early Crappies

Catching Early Crappies

Catching Early Crappies The ice is long gone, the grass is turning green, and the birds are singing, all of these are signs for anglers to get out and go fishing. Walleyes, bass, catfish, and pike are fish that really come alive in early spring, but as we flip the calendars to April, panfish, especially […]

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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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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.