Reflections on a Lifetime Spent Hunting the Desert Southwest for Quail. As I relax in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness waiting for an elk bugle to break the silence, the wind flows through the tall ponderosa pines as the damn cawing mountain jays expose my location. Although I’m trying to call an elk into bow range, my thoughts are on my pointing dogs and upland bird hunting. It’s been a long, hot, and dry summer in southwestern New Mexico, but fall in the Gila Wilderness brings relief when welcomed afternoon monsoons cool down the earth. It’s out here where I refresh my soul. There’s just somethin ..read more

This easy pheasant piccata recipe is a simple, savory dish that allows you to converse with guests while impressing their taste buds. In April 2021, my wife, Dara, and I headed to Oakley, Kansas, to meet up with Jim Millensifer, president of the Kansas Ringneck Classic and our guide for watching lesser prairie chickens dance. Generally, these lek-side blind experiences require four clients. Ranch owners use these admission fees to further conservation practices on their land. Thankfully, Jim was able to make an exception for my wife and me because, technically, there were three of us; Dara was ..read more

Explore the quail species that constitute the quail slam in the United States through the unplanned journey of a quail biologist. There are six quail species that comprise the quail slam in the United States. They belong to the Odontophoridae family and are sometimes referred to as New World quail. The six huntable species are the bobwhite, mountain, California (valley), scaled (blue), Mearns (Montezuma), and Gambel’s quail. They represent a broad swath of the United States; however, except for the bobwhite quail, they are all found exclusively in the Western United States. Listen to more art ..read more

This open letter originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of Project Upland Magazine and has been released digitally to reach a wider audience. Inside a multi-million dollar mansion, I took a seat around a large wooden table in such pristine condition that I was afraid to touch it. A glass of water sat in front of each occupied seat, giving the space the air of a boardroom. The year was 2017, and my unfamiliar surroundings gave me the sense that I was struggling to translate my idea of what Project Upland Magazine should be. Listen to more articles on Apple | Google |&nb ..read more

Savor the traditional flavors of Italy with this Hungarian Partridge Arrosto Morto recipe. Expertly pan-roasted to perfection, our step-by-step guide ensures a deliciously memorable meal. Hungarian partridge, or Huns for short, are an amazing bird to chase. In Ontario, Canada, where I reside, there isn’t a huntable population, so every Fall since 2013 I have taken a week off from the hustle-bustle and headed west to the prairies of southern Alberta to chase these incredible gamebirds. Huns can be a difficult bird allow you to get close. They flush wild easily, sometimes as far as 60 to 70 yard ..read more

Explore the intricacies of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s hunting regulations. Learn about the rules, processes, and guidelines for hunting on National Wildlife Refuges across the United States. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published new proposed regulations on June 23, 2023, on the Federal Register for public comment. Among other proposed laws is a regulation that would explicitly ban the use of lead ammunition when hunting any game species in the following National Wildlife Refuges: Listen to more articles on Apple | Google | Spotify | Audible B ..read more

Handling, reading, and trusting your dog go a long way in improving your odds during this season when hunting pheasants. Each fall, pheasants draw attention from hunters across the country. Their parrot-like colors strike awe in any bird hunter. Thousands of these beautiful birds are harvested during the first few days of the season. Most birds packed out during opening weekend are young birds born months before the orange army started marching.  Listen to more articles on Apple | Google | Spotify | Audible There are two reasons young birds represent th ..read more

Experience the rich blend of Mediterranean spices and herbs, perfectly grilled wild turkey for a succulent feast, complemented by a refreshing yogurt-mint sauce. This is one of the best recipes I’ve done with wild turkey. These juicy turkey skewers are boldly spiced with punchy Mediterranean seasonings. You can’t beat them off a charcoal or wood grill; there’s a time and place for gas, but this isn’t one of them.  Serve turkey souvlaki sandwiched in warm pita bread with generous amounts of yogurt-mint sauce, sliced onion and tomato. Other side suggestions include lemon-butter orzo, Greek ..read more

Unlock the secrets of tidal creek duck hunting with expert advice on the best times, tactics, and reasons to target these dynamic waterways. Sometimes, hunting tidal creek marshes becomes more about fighting the terrain than it does shooting ducks. My earliest memory of losing a fight to the marsh came when I was only ten years old. I nearly drowned in a bottomless tidal pool, and if it hadn’t been for my dad plucking by my coat hood, it would’ve been my last hunt ever. Then, there was that time in high school when the current swept away my favorite pair of mallard decoys. They became the firs ..read more

Letting go of that quest for perfection in a wide selection of dog breeds. *This article originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of Project Upland Magazine. To support our small business and enjoy more content like this, subscribe to Project Upland’s print magazine. Listen to more articles on Apple | Google | Spotify | Audible The art of choosing a bird dog is the subject of countless words—printed and spoken—including good-natured banter among friends. We bird dog owners dissect the subject with surgical precision, all based on the premise that there is ..read more