The Iowa Sportsman
Fall Iowa Fishing
FALL FISHING One thing is certain about outdoor activities in Iowa: they’re all tied to the weather and how each month transitions into the next. We make our plans based on how cool or hot it will be, whether we’ll see any precipitation, and what times will be best for both our activities and our […]
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EARLY MORNING HYBRID STRIPED BASS
EARLY MORNING HYBRID STRIPED BASS The air was thick, and a heavy fog was hovering above the calm surface of the water. As I pushed the boat off the trailer at the launch, I couldn’t help but wonder what would be lurking just below the surface. The water temperature was high, and there was sure […]
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Mid-Season Crappies
Mid-Season Crappies Basin Basics It’s a pattern perhaps, as old as the species itself. It’s as predictable as a bad sit-com and as dependable as Old Faithful. Once the early ice period ends, crappies will begin to migrate and suspend over basin areas. For the ice angler, it is actually good news. Once you can […]
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The August Advantage: Building Your Buck Inventory Before the Rut
Whitetail 365- The August Advantage: Building Your Buck Inventory Before the Rut By Noel Gandy Recently, a guest of my podcast and I were having a brief conversation before recording about bucks in velvet and the anticipation that summer gives for the coming hunting season. He and I both agreed that you have to be […]
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7 Ways to Make the Most of Camping
7 Ways to Make the Most of Camping Camping in Iowa is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors and take a break from the busy pace of daily life. In a world where we are constantly on the go, and staring a screen, it’s good for the soul to take a break […]
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Fall Walleye Tips & Tricks
Fall Walleye Tips & Tricks In this article, I will explore several proven live bait rig and bottom bouncer trolling tips and tricks that will help you catch more walleyes this year. While these tips are by no means comprehensive, I am hopeful that you will be able to gain some insight from these […]
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Maintaining Iowa Acreages
Maintaining Iowa Acreages Owning your own slice of heaven in Iowa means something different to everyone. For some, it may be a couple of acres on the edge of a small town. For others, it might be an entire mile-by-mile section to manage for wildlife and income. No matter the size, location, or usage, there […]
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Bugs, Bites, and the Great Outdoors: Surviving Iowa’s Summer Pests
Bugs, Bites, and the Great Outdoors: Surviving Iowa’s Summer Pests Summer in Iowa is one of the best times of the year to be outdoors. Anglers are chasing bass and bluegills, campers are filling state parks, and hunters are busy checking trail cameras, improving habitat, and preparing food plots for the fall. Unfortunately, we’re not […]
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Hunting Scrapes and Rublines
Hunting Scrapes and Rublines The first week of October had arrived, bringing cool air and the anticipation of promising deer movement with the cold front. I had spent much of September checking trail cameras and scouting deer movement. One thing kept standing out to me, a series of fresh rubs along a standing cornfield. Every […]
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The Way to a Buck’s Heart Is Through His Stomach
The Way to a Buck’s Heart Is Through His Stomach By Kent Boucher A book every American should read is “A Land So Strange: The Epic Journey of Cabeza de Vaca” by Andrés Reséndez. The book is a telling of the recorded experiences of the famous conquistador Cabeza de Vaca, who wandered the American south […]
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