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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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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Spring Whitetail Prep

What Now?

What Now? The old saying, ”Time flies when you’re having fun,” is certainly true when it goes to the Iowa whitetail season. Hunters who were once budding with anticipation for the October 1st opener are now left asking themselves, “Where did the time go?” For the passionate deer hunter there can be an empty feeling […]

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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.