Iowa Sportsman

What it is like to be a Tournament Bass Angler

What it is like to be a Tournament Bass Angler By Todd Reed Bass tournaments are the ultimate fishing thrill.  The feeling that you get at 5am as you hop in your boat and face your competitors for the day is like no other.  I have been fishing tournaments for twenty-five years and there is […]

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Farm Ponds at their Finest

Farm Ponds at their Finest By Kent Boucher Fishing in Iowa is a diverse experience. Two heavyweight rivers set the borders on the East and West banks where 100 pound flatheads and extraterrestrial looking paddlefish wait for willing anglers. Flowing in stark contrast to those monstrous border waters are the pristine cold water creeks of […]

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Iowa’s 5 Hardest Waterfowl to Decoy

Iowa’s 5 Hardest Waterfowl to Decoy By Nick Johnson In my 20 years hunting waterfowl in Iowa I have experienced the whole gamut of failure to success in a wide range of hunting scenarios. Sometimes it seems as though you have to fight the birds off your spread but those times are rare, at least […]

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10 Reasons to Go Ice Fishing in Minnesota This Winter

10 Reasons to Go Ice Fishing in Minnesota This Winter By Joe Henry Minnesota is literally ice fishing paradise, offering unique advantages that make it a premier destination for anglers during the winter months. From an abundance of lakes to a rich fishing culture, here are the top 10 reasons to ice fish in Minnesota […]

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Three Tips for a Successful Muzzleloader Season

Three Tips for a Successful Muzzleloader Season By Jessica Graham One of the most exciting times to harvest a deer is in the snow, during the late muzzleloader season. It’s during this time that I eagerly grab my muzzleloader and go on a mission to harvest does. These does, will be transformed into a batch […]

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Tips for Party Hunting Iowa’s Gun Seasons

Tips for Party Hunting Iowa’s Gun Seasons By Aaron McKinney The Buzz, of Iowa’s gun hunting season is something else. It’s that time of year when hunters gear up, eager to finally get their hands on their shotguns, muzzleloaders and rifles. It’s more than just a hunt; it’s a tradition. A chance to hang out […]

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Getting Ready for First Ice

Getting Ready for First Ice By Ben Leal As the weather begins to cool and temperatures start dipping to freezing and below, every ice angler out there thinks, “It’s time for some ice fishing!” Before you grab your rod bag and ice shack, pull the ole ice fishing suit out (to see if it still […]

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Waterfowl Strategies – Hunting Pressured Ducks

Waterfowl Strategies – Hunting Pressured Ducks By Nick Johnson Those that spend much time hunting waterfowl in Iowa know that pressure can be a very tough thing to deal with, especially when it comes to hunting public ground. I suppose many places around the U.S. you could say the same. This is especially true when […]

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Stalking the Predator: The Art of Stalking Red Fox and Coyote

Stalking the Predator: The Art of Stalking Red Fox and Coyote By Whiterook Traditional methods of hunting predators in Iowa have revolved around the use of dogs and calling from set stand locations. Predatory animals such as coyotes and fox are cunning and elusive and present a real challenge to any hunter. One method of […]

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No Vacation? No Problem! 5 Tips to Early Season Success

No Vacation? No Problem! 5 Tips to Early Season Success By Ryan Graden Deer season is nearly here! That’s right! Very soon, big bucks will be on the move and you will be in a tree waiting for them. Of course, we all know that the more time you could spend in that tree, the […]

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