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 […]

Check Out Our Current Issue!

 A Guide to Choosing the Best Stand Location How Safe is your Treestand

 A Guide to Choosing the Best Stand Location: Whitetails 365

 A Guide to Choosing the Best Stand Location: Whitetails 365 It’s August, and bowhunters across the state are gearing up for another epic season. The thrill of patterning summer deer and strategizing for the upcoming bow season, youth season, and early muzzleloader season is in the air. Have you considered new stand locations? Now is […]

READ MORE

Hunt without Smelling Like Work

Hunt without Smelling Like Work

Hunt without Smelling Like Work In a past life I worked as a science teacher. There are many things that make teaching a unique working experience- very little peer interaction, your homework is grading homework, your life is run by bell schedules, and the most unique aspect of all- that familiar school smell. Every school […]

READ MORE

Finding the Perfect Hunting Blind

Finding The Perfect Hunting Blind

Finding The Perfect Hunting Blind In the early morning hours, as the sun peeks over the horizon, a hushed anticipation fills the air. I sit in my hunting blind, carefully concealed amidst the heart of deer country. This blind, on my Dad’s property, provides me with a crucial advantage in my pursuit of a trophy […]

READ MORE

Tuning Your Archery Equipment

Tuning Your Archery Equipment Archery is a sport anyone can do, right? So why is it hard to answer questions, one would assume, are basic questions and ought to have an easy response. Find a Trusted Archery Dealer When I tell acquaintances I’m blessed to teach archery for a living, the first question I get […]

READ MORE

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. 

READ FULL STORY

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.