Iowa Sportsman

Raccoon Calling 101

Raccoon Calling 101: Sounds, Setups, and Strategies Several years ago, when I was dating my now husband, Nathan, he asked me if I wanted to go raccoon calling with him. We loved being outdoors, and most of our time spent together revolved around fishing, target shooting, and hunting. When he asked about raccoon calling, I […]

Patience, Precision, and Powder

Patience, Precision, and Powder Muzzleloaders have a special place in my heart. My first gun was an Iowa-made .45 caliber Knight Rifle. I loved that thing so much, from loading the powder and sabot down the barrel, to thoroughly cleaning and caring for my gun, it was fun for the teenage version of myself. With […]

Must-Have Equipment for Iowa Acreages

Must-Have Equipment for Iowa Acreages As a child, I had what I would consider very typical childhood goals and aspirations. Grow up, have a family, work as a professional athlete, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or a missionary, or a firefighter, or anything else that tickled my fancy for the day. After all, we’re […]

Safety Reminders for Iowa Hunting Season

Safety Reminders for a Responsible Iowa Hunting Season Deer hunting is one of the most exciting and rewarding traditions in Iowa, but it also comes with serious responsibilities. Every year, thousands of hunters venture out to pursue whitetails, waterfowl, pheasants, predators, and all sorts of small game too. While success often depends on preparation, knowledge, […]

Sighting In Your Deer Rifle

Sighting In Your Deer Rifle Sighting in a hunting rifle is the bridge between practice range confidence and success in the field; it transforms a rifle from a promising tool to a dependable partner by aligning where your scope or sights indicate the bullet will go with where it actually lands. Before you load a […]

A December Pheasant Hunt in Iowa

A December Pheasant Hunt in Iowa The first snow of the season had rolled in overnight, blanketing the rolling hills of north-central Iowa in a clean, white sheet. By sunrise, the thermometer hung just below twenty degrees, making for a December pheasant hunt in Iowa. The crunch of boots on frozen ground echoed through the […]

Essential Gear for Iowa Ice Fishermen

Essential Gear for Iowa Ice Fishermen Jigs & Bait When the lakes freeze over in Iowa, ice fishing season begins, and having the right tackle can make the difference between a slow day and a full bucket. One of the most essential pieces of gear is a good selection of jigs. These small lures can […]

5 Reasons to Ice Fish in Minnesota

5 Reasons to Ice Fish in Minnesota What happens when you combine more than 10,000 lakes full of fish with a state that produces consistent below freezing temperatures? You get the recipe for ice fishing of epic proportions. Throw in dozens of full-service resorts, outfitters, and sleeper fish house businesses that cater to ice anglers […]

Iowa CWD & EHD Update 2025

Iowa CWD & EHD Update There is nothing better than Iowa’s outdoors. When it comes to deer hunting, I’ve asked, “What’s the biggest threat to our deer herd?” While lots of options come to mind: coyotes, predators, anti-hunters and more. One of the biggest threats is actually the local health of our deer. For those […]

Providing Hope Through the Outdoors

Providing Hope Through the Outdoors The roosted gobbler startled Josh Herman; it was the first gobble of the morning, and Josh had never heard such a sound. He came to full alert as his guide and friend made the first call of the morning. Josh was experiencing his first turkey hunt while bound to his […]

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