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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Tricks Turkeys Fall For

Tricks Turkeys “Fall” For: How to Bust That Fall Thunder Chicken

Tricks Turkeys Fall For: How to Bust that Fall Thunder Chicken Iowa has three seasons: Spring Turkey, Summer Fishing, and Deer Season. Each season has its unique pull on our heart strings, however only one offers the chance at a mixed game bag. Deer season carries the added benefit of overlapping with a less popular […]

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5 Easy Mistakes to Make Fly Fishing for Trout in the Fall  4 Keys To Being A Good River Angler

4 Keys To Being A Good River Angler

4 Keys To Being A Good River Angler Fishing rivers is a different kind of fishing. Some anglers don’t like it yet others love and prefer it. Many river anglers are hard core, hence the term “river rats”. With that distinction questions must be asked, what makes rivers so special and how does one become […]

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How to Maximize Success with a Plan of Attack Taking Your Inventory

Taking Your Inventory

Taking Your Inventory The summer lull is happening and if you are an avid whitetail hunter, I am sure you’re feeling the “cabin fever” like I am. So many of the fall and winter months are spent chasing these graceful creatures in the timber during Iowa’s variety of seasons. When the months are gone, right […]

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Tips for Dove Hunting Success

Tips for Dove Hunting Success

Tips for Dove Hunting Success Are you ready for it? Iowa’s September 1 mourning dove season is right around the corner. It’s hard to believe that Iowa has had a dove hunting season since 2011. The dove season has definitely become popular with Iowa hunters. Since the season was established, on average 104,000 doves have […]

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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.