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 […]

Read more
Get Ready for Pheasant Season 2025
Get Ready for Pheasant Season 2025

Analyze Past Data  First of all, I like to know a little about the pheasant population before going out. If numbers are strong, I can expect to see some good numbers on public or private land. If numbers are down, I might expect to see fewer pheasants, and I might not be disappointed if I’m headed home empty-handed. One of the ways to get a good feel for the pheasant population is to review the data from the last few Iowa DNR Roadside Studies. Every year during the first part of August, the DNR travels gravel roads and reports on […]

Read more
Mistakes to Avoid while Fly Fishing Trout
Mistakes to Avoid while Fly Fishing Trout

Mistakes to Avoid while Fly Fishing Trout As anglers, we all know how much fun it is to fool a fish into taking an artificial bait. We tease bass, walleye, northern pike, and musky with flashy baits and plastic that mimic their primary forage. When it comes to fly-fishing for trout in a cold-water stream that’s constantly moving, you add a whole new set of challenges. Trout are incredibly finicky at times, and your fly presentation must be spot on, looking as natural as the real bugs they feast on. However, there’s nothing more rewarding than lifting that fly line […]

Read more
My Favorite Smallmouth Bass Techniques
My Favorite Smallmouth Bass Techniques

My Favorite Smallmouth Bass Techniques As a child growing up, my summer vacations were filled with fishing adventures, from the local lakes and creeks to our annual family vacation to Catch’N Fish resort on Big Bass Lake (seriously, that was the name of the place).  Early mornings in the pre-dawn hours, the dads would load up the boats and go after walleyes.  For years, I was “too young” to go out with them and had to wait for the afternoon trip to go out with the family and fish for panfish. In order to occupy myself, I roamed the resort’s […]

Read more
Fall Fishing in Iowa: What to Target, What to Use
Fall Fishing in Iowa: What to Target, What to Use

The cooler fall mornings are always a welcome feeling after a long, hot summer.  This time of year always excites me as the cooler temperatures get a few species fired up.  Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass and walleye love the cooler temperatures and are ready to feed in area lakes and rivers.  Let’s dive into some fall fishing tips, and baits that will fool these fish this time of the year. Water Transitions As the calendar turns to a different month our Iowa waterways are turning into something new as well.  The colder temperatures are changing the environment of the fish […]

Read more

Check Out Our Current Issue!

Aging a Whitetail on the Move

Aging a Whitetail on the Move

Aging a whitetail Sitting in my tree stand on a cold and crisp fall morning, I can hardly contain the anticipation of seeing the first deer of the breaking day. My eyes and ears are at the ready as I eagerly scan the woods around me for the flicker of that white tail or the […]

READ MORE

Getting Started Trapping

Getting Started Trapping The coyote traps went in the ground last year about ten days into November. After seeing lots of sign, and capturing pictures on the trail camera of multiple coyotes traveling through. I finally had a spot that looked promising. A flat set and two dirt hole sets scattered about 40 feet apart […]

READ MORE

Treestand Safety from an Injured Hunter: Whitetails 365

Treestand Safety from an Injured Hunter: Whitetails 365: A Life Changing Fall:  “You’re so young that I don’t really want to do back surgery, but, be prepared to make some adjustments to how you live your life”. These were the words that were uttered to me by a specialist at Southern Bone and Joint in […]

READ MORE

5 Lessons Learned while Hunting

5 Lessons Learned while Hunting Imagine this, you take your five year old daughter on a turkey hunt. You forget hearing protection so you tell her that she will need to plug her ears if you take a shot so it won’t be as loud. A big gobbler steps out in front of the blind […]

READ MORE

Featured Story

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 that in the last 40 years, there has been quite a bit of advancement when it comes to hunting whitetails.  Knowing more about deer behavior, hunting scents, better tree stands, better bows, guns, and so much more.

I fear that somebody desiring to get into hunting in the current culture could be a bit overwhelmed with all the information and tools that are out there on the market.  We must remember that man has been chasing deer for thousands of years.  The art of hunting is not new.  It’s the methods that are ever-changing.

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.