Iowa Sportsman
Common Wing Shooting Mistakes
Common Wing Shooting Mistakes Wing Shooting is a fantastic outdoor sport that many of us grew up having the privilege to partake in. For some, myself included, pheasant hunting was what led me to love the sport of hunting, apply hunter’s safety and respect wildlife. Pheasants are definitely a popular choice for wing shooters, although […]
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Cane Pole Crappies
Cane Pole Crappies One of the sought-after fish on our Iowa lakes are slab crappies. When the month of May comes and the temperatures move into the upper 50s, crappies begin to move shallow into their spawning areas. Optimum spawning temperatures are between 68-72 degrees. Kevan Paul, who owns Kevan Pauls Guide Service and guides […]
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A DIY Preseason Game Plan for Gundogs
A DIY Preseason Game Plan for Gundogs In my football playing days the preseason was one of the most intense times of the year. Although the coach’s calendar would say the preseason officially started sometime in early August, in reality it began months earlier during the summer weight lifting and conditioning program. We would spend […]
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Mission Impossible
Mission Impossible Every October and November I scroll through Social Media and think the same thing: “Man, this guy kills a monster every year. He must have it figured out.” My mind may also tend to wander toward the “L” word as well: Luck. We’ve all heard the phrase, “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation […]
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“Daddy I’m big enough to go too”
“Daddy I’m big enough to go too” When you’re 6 years old it’s just plain hard to watch Dad load the truck and then disappear with your puppy for a morning of pheasant hunting without you! That’s especially true when your older brother, who is old enough to hunt himself, sometimes gets to go and […]
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Go-To Lures for Multiple Species while Fishing in Iowa
Tackle Talk: Go-To Lures for Multi-Species Angling How many lures does one angler need? I would venture to guess than many of you reading this have a stockpile of lures for multiple species to choose from and yet each season make repeated pilgrimages to the tackle store to increase personal inventory with new and improved […]
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Top Walleye Spots in Iowa
Top Walleye Spots in Iowa Ask any number of freshwater anglers what one of the most sought after fish for table fare is and you’ll get a resounding response, “walleye”. Sure, crappie and bluegill will come up in that conversation as well, but walleye by far will always be in that list. The common name, […]
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Using Digital Maps to Improve Your Odds
Using Digital Maps to Improve Your Odds It’s nine o’clock on a Tuesday night and the entire family is already in bed. I turn on the television in the living room to give off the impression that I’m watching TV. After I check all the bedrooms to make 100% sure that everyone is really sleeping. […]
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The Treestand Dilemma
The Treestand Dilemma It’s the ever troubling question that all hunters ask themselves as fall approaches and opening dates draw close. “Where should I hang my stand?” I know for me, as I go through the timber I tend to “see” my hunts play out. “If a buck comes down this trail, I should hang […]
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River Catfishing Techniques: Reading the Water
River Catfishing Techniques: Read the Water & Catch More Fish Every riverbank is telling you a story—the question is, are you reading it? What is the best way to find catfish in a river? One of the best river catfishing techniques is reading river geography. Focus on outside bends for deep holes, inside bends for […]
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