Early Spring Trout Fishing
Early Spring Trout Fishing

Early Spring Trout Fishing Spring in Northeast Iowa’s Driftless Region marks the beginning of one of the most rewarding trout fishing seasons in the Midwest. This is one of the prettiest areas in Northern Iowa marked with limestone bluffs, spring-fed creeks, and rolling pastures. The Driftless Region contains a several cold, clear streams that flow steadily year-round. This creates perfect trout habitat, and spring offers fishermen peaceful days on the water. With stable water temperatures, increasing insect activity, and hungry post-winter trout, there’s no better time to explore these legendary streams. Why The Driftless Region? This region is a trout […]

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Choosing Ammo for Iowa Deer Season

Choosing Ammo for Iowa Deer Season

Choosing Ammo for Iowa Deer Season We are approaching one of our favorite times of the year – deer season! The anticipation and preparation for deer seasons can be as much fun as the hunt itself. Be aware of your state’s regulations pertaining to legal firearms and ammunition. As you know, several of our Midwestern […]

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Prepare for the First Day of Ice Fishing

Prepare for the First Day of Ice Fishing

Prepare for the First Day of Ice Fishing As the temperatures drop and frost begins to decorate the landscape, it’s that time of year again – ice fishing season is just around the corner! Soon enough, our favorite frozen playgrounds will transform into angler’s paradises, offering the thrill of reeling in those elusive underwater treasures. […]

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Upland Hunter's Checklist

Upland Hunter’s Checklist

Upland Hunter’s Checklist “Hold my beer. Watch this!”, isn’t something any of us want to hear when we are hunting. If this is a statement we hear from our hunting group, we probably need to find new hunting buddies. All kidding aside, field safety isn’t a joke. Some of you are probably going to roll […]

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Top 15 Big Buck Counties

15 Big Buck Counties in Iowa

15 Big Buck Counties in Iowa When it comes to deer hunting, few animals captivate the attention of hunters quite like the Boone & Crockett qualifying deer. These giants, known for their impressive antlers, scoring at least 160 net inches of antler, have become every hunter’s dream. Iowa is known for its giant trophy deer. […]

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Featured Story

Big Buck Profile: The 2025 Gandy Buck

Ok, this first big buck profile is a little self-serving in that it is of a buck that I personally took this past deer season. While it is likely not the “biggest” big buck that we will profile this year it is definitely one of my most special deer ever.

Turning a Dream into Reality

As has been noted in several articles since 2023, my family and I finally put together the means to purchase our very own piece of Iowa ground. “The 32,” as we call it, has become a passion project to see if we could take an unassuming piece of real estate and harvest a mature deer from there by giving him all he needs in the way of habitat. This year was the first year that the farm would be huntable in the state in which we intended due to construction projects over the past couple of seasons.

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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.