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In this issue of the Iowa Sportsman October 2025
- 5 Easy Mistakes to Make Fly Fishing for Trout in the Fall
- 10 Beginner Tips for Hunting Iowa Geese
- Deer Scents and Lures
- Early October Hunting Strategies
- Training your Dog to Blood-trail Deer
- Planning a Weeklong Pheasant Trip
- Shooting Optics for the Iowa Hunter
- Top 10 Bowhunting Destinations
- Whitetails 365: Mastering Scent Control
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Taking Your Inventory
Taking Your Inventory The summer lull is happening and if you are an avid whitetail hunter, I am sure you’re feeling the “cabin fever” like I am. So many of the fall and winter months are spent chasing these graceful creatures in the timber during Iowa’s variety of seasons. When the months are gone, right […]
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Tips for Dove Hunting Success
Tips for Dove Hunting Success Are you ready for it? Iowa’s September 1 mourning dove season is right around the corner. It’s hard to believe that Iowa has had a dove hunting season since 2011. The dove season has definitely become popular with Iowa hunters. Since the season was established, on average 104,000 doves have […]
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Mastering Scent Control
Mastering Scent Control In the world of whitetail deer hunting, few factors are as critical to success as scent control. When it comes to mature trophy-class whitetail, they live by their nose, and human scent is the most intrusive smell they encounter. Whitetail deer possess an extraordinary sense of smell, estimated to be many times […]
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Top 10 Public Land Bowhunting Spots in Iowa
Top 10 Public Land Bowhunting Spots in Iowa By far, the best part of living in Iowa is the trophy-class deer hunting we have. Iowa has long been recognized as the top destination for whitetail deer hunting, and every year, Iowans consistently see and shoot world-class trophy bucks. Iowa’s vast public lands offer some good […]
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The Art of Persuasion: Deer Scents, Rattles, and Bleats
In the 80’s, my father and grandfather were “entry-level” deer hunters. They had been invited to begin hunting a timber here in central Iowa that had a steady population of deer. In their efforts to learn more regarding the tactics to use to fool a wise old whitetail, my grandfather and father would douse their boots with fox urine! It was an effort to hide human scent when they were in the woods. It goes without saying that those boots were not allowed in the house, ever!
There is no doubt that in the last 40 years, there has been quite a bit of advancement when it comes to hunting whitetails. Knowing more about deer behavior, hunting scents, better tree stands, better bows, guns, and so much more.
I fear that somebody desiring to get into hunting in the current culture could be a bit overwhelmed with all the information and tools that are out there on the market. We must remember that man has been chasing deer for thousands of years. The art of hunting is not new. It’s the methods that are ever-changing.
Created By Iowans, For Iowans
The Iowa Sportsman website and magazine are Iowa’s only privately owned media sources catering to hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts here in Iowa. Simply put, we are unlike other Iowa outdoor media sources: All our staff is from Iowa, from our publisher to our writers. We actually follow through on what we advertise; we provide knowledgeable content from people who know the industry or sport discussed.