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!
Raising an Outdoors Child
Train Up A Child When I was a child I had my life, and my parents had theirs; they did not try to weave their lives into my life; we were not best friends. I did what was normal for a nine-year-old boy, while my parents worked, mowed the yard, went to church suppers, […]
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Using Decoys to Hunt Coyotes
Decoying Coyotes As I sat and watched the terrain, I couldn’t help but think that if I were a coyote, I’d sure be intrigued by those spinning feathers that whirled around the caller. Heck, I’d even catch myself watching it in moments of boredom while waiting on a customer to show up. The decoy […]
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When and Why to Hire a Fishing Guide
When and Why to Hire a Fishing Guide In today’s fast paced society, time is of the essence and when you do get a chance to go fishing you want to make the most of it. Hiring a fishing guide can be a cost effective and efficient way to make the most of your time […]
READ MOREThe Costs Of Raising A Dog
Knowing The Costs Of Raising A Dog Having a well-trained hunting dog in your life is an extraordinary experience. These furry little friends will provide families with years and years of loyalty. They will aim to please both in family and hunting settings, and give us countless memories to cherish. However there is an actual […]
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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.
