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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Hunting Blind Accessories That Make a Difference 

Hunting Blind Accessories That Make a Difference 

 Hunting Blind Accessories That Make a Difference  There are plenty of reasons to hunt from a blind. Maybe there aren’t any trees suitable for stands, the cover is too sparse, or you need to set up for the right wind. Whatever the case, a blind provides concealment wherever you place it. Once it’s set up, […]

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Early Ice Fishing Tactics

Early Ice Fishing Tactics

Early Ice Fishing Tactics At the time of this writing, Mother Nature had given Iowans a taste of what is to come. Daytime temperatures were peaking in the lower sixties and upper fifties, and northern reaches of the state saw nighttime temps dip to the mid-thirties. Ice anglers began contemplating the coming season.   Safety First […]

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Field Safety For You And Your Dog 

Field Safety For You And Your Dog 

Field Safety For You And Your Dog  Most of us would probably say that safety isn’t necessarily the first thing we think of when we make decisions around our bird dog, ourselves and our hunting experiences. However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t safe. If we were asked to identify some themes that describe how we […]

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Bowhunting Strategies For November

Bowhunting Strategies For November 

Bowhunting Strategies For November  Ah, Sweet November. Outside of the bowhunting community, most folks only find value in the last Thursday of the month and view the rest as a chilly hurdle separating them from the holiday season. To the bowhunter, though, November is the month we have all been counting down for; it’s Christmas […]

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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.