How I Stumbled onto my Cougar Harvest

When I ventured out on my first big game hunt in Washington state, I was pursuing mule deer, not predators. At the advice of a hunting mentor prior to season, I had purchased black bear and cougar tags on the off chance I stumbled across one. Never in a million years did I anticipate spotting…

Tarpon in Puerto Rico

A light, tropical breeze rustled the leaves of palm trees lining the dock as I strolled towards a smiling man in waders perched on the bow of his boat. The sun had just started to peek over the horizon, casting a golden glow across the rows of white fishing vessels. “Good Morning!” the grinning man…

To Spring Bear Hunt Or Not?

As the 2018-19 waterfowl season comes to an end, we start gearing up for the next season ahead. In some areas of the country, the focus shifts to coyote, hog, or rabbit hunting. As the saying goes, something is “always in season”. More feather-focused hunters opt to wait for the start of turkey season in…

Public vs. Private Land Duck Hunting

I’ve had the fortune and pleasure to experience two distinct forms of waterfowl hunting. The difference lies in the type of land we as hunters have access to: private and public. Here’s a glimpse into my experiences on both. Private Hunting Lease – Texas (2015) – One of my first hunting seasons Three successive shotgun…

Chasing Chrome – Steelheading in Western Washington

Washington’s western peninsula is characterized by evergreen canopies that sprawl across the terrain, extending from the coastal shores through the Olympic mountain range. Beneath the canopy, a forest of old growth, flora and fungi flourish. The peninsula is home to glacier-fed river systems that originate in the heart of the Olympic National Park and empty…

‘One Shot Passion’ – My First Hunt

The guide called up to my perch on the game platform, “We’ll keep moving and try to circle around on him.” As he reached down to start the ignition, I continued glassing the field where the brown and white form had disappeared. Two horns popped up over a patch of tall, dead grass on the…