This guide to being a better hunting partner comes from our friend Kolin Quick, who heads up the Wild Fish & Wild Game Club of Seattle, Washington. To be invited by a friend (new or old) into the great unknown to engage with the wild is a tremendous honor, and should be treated delicately.  Here is Kolin's 10 tips to ensure you get invited back a second time... From the mountain top highs of success to the brambly lows of failure, few experiences push the limits of relationships and friendship than being—and having—an outdoor adventure partner. Outside of marriage, only your hunting partner will see you at your lowest—no sleep, soaking wet, bruised ego, covered in bug bites, warts, and all....

I take one last gasp of air and say goodbye to the world of endless breath. I begin my descent, and use the 17 pounds on my weight belt to my advantage. At roughly 40 feet, I become weightless; I am zeroed out. A rush of tranquility shocks my head and slowly seeps into the rest of my body, ending in my fingertips. For the first time in a long time, I feel at home. While trying to cope with old feelings of freedom again, I begin surrounding myself in a school of baitfish. My goal: try to convince these fish that I too belong in the ocean. Now comfortable and curious, the fish begin to swarm me but it’s...

In any quest there is a moment of uncertainty. With any crazy idea, the question of “are you sure?” finds itself tugging at your core. Fishermen and women are defined by the constant tug-o-war between elation and dismay, feast and famine, curse words and joy-filled laughter. I have a friend who says, “I come into fishing with the very highest expectations, only to have my dreams completely crushed.”  Instagram is really good at making it feel as though everyone is catching fish—except you. The sad truth is that act of fishing has, in many ways, lost its art—and I’m not talking about a Scottish fly fisherman throwing beautiful salmon flies on a foggy morning. Fishing has turned into a grip and grin at arm’s length. An...

I was encouraged by how much fresh sign we were seeing, and pleased to have laid eyes on at least one cow elk so far.  This was Day 4 of my 2020 Idaho Elk hunt. Aaron and I had bumped into a local guy this afternoon who was more than happy to relay stories of his past success, trends he had observed in the behavior of the local herds, and dismay that he didn't draw a cow tag this year and was only able to hunt an over-the-counter bull tag. Charlie—as we learned his name to be—was walking fairly slowly through the woods, but nothing about his presentation made you think "ah, this guy is dialed in as a hunter".  He...

Luke Clark and the Rose Bros (Zach and Matt) took a swing at a Southern California turkey hunt this Spring.  They sent me one photo of a turkey from their time in the field—a hen standing behind a fence about 8 feet away from a "No Hunting" sign. Thanks to Mossy Oak for outfitting the boys with gear—can't blame the lack of turkeys on the equipment.  All photos: Luke ClarkGear: Mossy Oak  For those of you who did fill your turkey tag this season, here's a recipe for Wild Turkey Carnitas from Hank Shaw.

Our amigo, and esteemed member of the Wild Fish & Game Club, Luke Clark worked on this beautiful montage from Rockhouse Motion.  It's a celebration of the wild and the forever path of being a student of its ways. A bit of inspiration and a reminder of the value that wild places bring to each of our lives—whatever our relationship with the wild looks like in this season. Thanks to Luke for sharing this beautiful piece of cinematic work.

March 9, 2020 we held a Wild Fish and Wild Game Dinner, pretty oblivious to all the changes that were to hit life-as-we-know-it over the next 72 hours.  That night, the NBA was still playing to arenas filled with fans, restaurants were still operating, and we were gathering as a group of friends to share a meal of Wild Fish and Wild Game—just as we had each month for the better part of the previous year. In a serendipitous turn of events, Mike Borchard had asked if he could take portraits of the club that night—to capture a moment in time and a moment in the evolution of our club.  Until we are able to gather again, this contact sheet of...

So it’s the middle of February when most of America is in the thick of winter. I will never forget living in Seattle and forgetting what warmth felt like, or vibrant colors deep in winter. Now I live in Southern California and never take for granted those sunny days in the middle of winter. This last Sunday was one of those days. Diving was crystal clear, the sun was out and honestly it could not have felt nicer — I’m not trying to make you jealous but just trying to set the tone for the day. We were excited to dive and scout some potential spots for the up and coming White Sea Bass season. Because a solid kelp presence...

This Fall was the first season that I took a big game animal, field dressed it, and broke it down into kitchen-friendly, freezer-ready pieces.  My two initial takeaways from this process are: A. The meat starts resembling something you have handled hundreds of times in the kitchen more quickly than you would expect.  The word "butchering" harkens some grisly images to mind, but once you remove the offal, it's a minimally bloodless process. B. I basically learned everything I needed to from YouTube, so I am confident that you can too. Confidence in the field is key, and confidence only comes from exposure and experience.  To head afield with a gun or bow in hand is to carry with you a...