Check Out Our Current Issue!
In the May 2026 Issue of the Iowa Sportsman
- Chase the Bite: Early Season
- Calming A Hyper Gun Dog
- Perfecting Your Turkey Setup
- Summer Work That Pays Off in Bow Season
- Artifact Hunting in Iowa
- Wild Edible Foraging
- Tactics for Late-Season Toms
- Iowa’s Venom, Oil and Toxic Sap
Click Here To View This Issue Now!
Decoding what Makes a Flushing Dog
Decoding what Makes a Flushing Dog Aren’t retrievers, flushers? The simple answer is, yes. They are kind of one in the same, but there are three reasons why these distinct categories of hunting dogs exist. First, some hunting dog breeds are primarily for waterfowl hunting, so they aren’t pointing or flushing anything. Second, retrieving dogs […]
READ MORECalling all Iowa Sportsman!
Calling all Iowa Sportsman! Tired of the same old hunting and fishing stories? Want to get the inside scoop on the latest gear, techniques, and local hotspots? Then, you need to tune in to The Iowa Sportsman Podcast. You can expect up-to-date hunting and fishing reports. Get the lowdown on what’s biting and where to […]
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DIY Water Hole for Deer: Whitetails 365
DIY Water Hole for Deer: Whitetails 365 Having clean water is of utmost importance for deer as it is essential for their survival and overall health, so creating a DIY water hole for deer can greatly improve your property. Having a place with food, cover, and water is vital for any successful hunting property. If […]
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Shed Hunting Secrets from the Experts
Shed Hunting Secrets from the Experts Shed hunting is one of the most magical bonus gifts that nature provides to all of us hopeless outdoor addicts. Sometimes my inner dialogue exclaims “You mean to tell me there are antlers just laying around out there waiting to be picked up?! For free?!?” Yeah, it’s that good. […]
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Featured Story
Springtime Panfish-Perch, Crappie, and Bluegill
Spring is in full swing here in Iowa, and what can be more pleasant a reminder than the sound of birds, the sight of flowers blooming, and the feel of a warm afternoon? I can think of at least one more thing…Panfish!
I can remember it like yesterday, our family would all meet up at the lake house. There was work to do. The yard was to be picked up, the cabin cleaned, and the dock had to be put in. But then, after the work was finished, it was time for all of us cousins to fish! We would all go out to the garage to pick out a few old rods and tie on a hook and sinker as best we could.
The next order of business was to hunt for worms. Flipping anything that we could find stuck in the ground in hopes of just finding a few crawlers. Once the bait was secured, we were ready to fish. We would go out on the dock and cast, vertical jig, and even troll along the side of the dock. We usually did pretty well use those tactics, but my all-time favorite was walking along the rocks on shore and dropping the bait down every little crevice, not knowing what was going to come up next.
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.
