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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Combat Cabin Fever with Outdoor Activities

Combat Cabin Fever with Outdoor Activities

Combat Cabin Fever with Outdoor Activities The winter lull has hit and those of us who love the outdoors sit there wondering, “Now what do I do?” The hunting season has closed, spring Turkey season doesn’t open for a few months, and you are itching to do something outside but you just don’t know what […]

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Fishing Late Season Ice

Fishing Late Season Ice

Fishing Late Season Ice February is the time of year when, in Iowa, most outdoor sports and recreation shows are taking place, giving reason for the thoughts of open water. Reality soon sets in as you peer out the window and see a blanket of snow covering much of the ground and fishing boats remain […]

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Future of Wild Turkeys

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Wild turkeys have inhabited North America for thousands of years, and the DNA of the bird has been shaped by the landscape. Multiple wild turkey subspecies express their genetic characteristics differently. Some have large bodies and bright, white-tipped tail fans of the Gould’s subspecies. While some have the long beards and chestnut-tipped […]

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Natural Disaster Recovery Efforts

Clearfield, UT – March 28, 2025 – The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) strongly supports the newly introduced bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), which seeks to enhance and expedite emergency watershed recovery efforts. In the wake of natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and other catastrophic events. These […]

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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.