Iowa Sportsman
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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The Best Locations for Food Plots: Whitetails 365
The Best Locations for Food Plots: Whitetails 365 The first food plot I ever planted was a very small field of corn. I had no equipment; none! I didn’t even know how or where to purchase field corn seed. Fertilizer…no idea? If I recall correctly, I had no idea about herbicides either. But I had […]
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Chasing Nighttime Fish
Chasing Nighttime Fish How’s this for fishing the first night of this past Walleye Opener on West Okoboji? Six walleyes 15-16 inches, another 12 walleyes in the slot from 17-22 inches, 5 walleyes over the slot with the largest at 25 inches. Oh, and a 22.5-inch/7-pound 4-ounce trophy smallmouth! Not a bad night’s work, I’d […]
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Deer Cues to Look For
Deer Cues to Look For Everybody likes a good hint when they need it right? Remember back in your schooldays when the teacher said, “I’ll give you a hint?” When I heard that phrase, I would zero in to what she was going to say next. I did not want to miss anything that might […]
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Tips for Fishing in Hot Temps
Tips for Fishing in Hot Temps The average summertime temperatures in Iowa are between 82°F and 87°F, and mid-day temperatures often touch 90° to 100°F throughout the state. Not to terrible…right? With humidity levels easily reaching over 70 percent, it can make an outdoor enthusiast think twice before heading to the open water. Even worse, […]
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So you Want to go Elk Hunting…
So you Want to go Elk Hunting… In the May issue of Iowa Sportsman I advised readers, “Don’t put off until tomorrow, that which can be done today. Life is short and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Instead of talking about that hunting trip out West or fishing trip up North, set a date […]
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Topwater Baits 101
Topwater Baits 101 The topwater bait is no doubt the most fun way to catch bass. Over the last century topwater baits have probably hooked more anglers than any other kind of fishing lure. When used under the right circumstances these baits can consistently bring bass in all day long. I hope this article will […]
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To Lease or not to Lease
To Lease or not to Lease I had parked at the gate and walked across the picked corn field in the dark. I set up my stand and was ready for first light. This was the first time hunting from this bottleneck and I was hopeful. I was hoping to see deer, but at first […]
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Summer Prep For Fall Hunting: Whitetails 365
Summer Prep For Fall Hunting: Whitetails 365 As a year-round deer hunter, I don’t consider the legal season opener as the start of my hunting season. In fact, there is no start for many whitetail hunters like myself who have never stopped. On the last day of the legal season to hunt, I am already […]
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