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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Long Range Shooting Basics

Long Range Shooting Basics

Long Range Shooting Basics Long-range shooting is a specialized skill that requires a high degree of precision and accuracy. Long-range shooting involves hitting targets accurately at distances beyond 500 yards, and it requires a comprehensive understanding of ballistics, environmental factors, and marksmanship fundamentals. High-Quality Gear The foundation of long-range shooting is the rifle, and it […]

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Choosing A Bass Boat

Choosing A Bass Boat The ability to get out on the water, away from the hustle and bustle is a wonderful thing. As I get older, therapy time in a boat is invaluable. As a youngster, I dreamt of having a bass boat, just like the pros on the Bassmaster tournament trail back in the […]

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Planning a Switchgrass Planting Gathering Summer Intel for Fall Bowhunting

Gathering Summer Intel for Fall Bowhunting

Gathering Summer Intel for Fall Bowhunting By Noel Gandy Is there really an off season? For the diehard bowhunter the answer is likely a resounding “no”! Do things look different during the Spring and Summer months for avid deer hunting enthusiasts? You better believe it. That does not mean, though, that there is not work […]

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Improve your Pond with Native Habitat

Improve your Pond with Native Habitat The northern corners crown our state with their excellent natural fisheries that are unparalleled throughout the vast majority of the rest of the state. In the Northeastern counties we have pristine, cold water trout streams and in the Northwestern counties we have our few and only naturally formed lakes. […]

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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.