DECEMBER - JANUARY 2021 ISSUE

As the pace of the season slows in a constant countdown to the unfortunate end, the stories in Covey Rise are crucial for us these days. Six times a year, the magazine makes the time stand still for all of us who love the upland lifestyle.

Sitting down and thumbing through the pages takes us to another place, another time, and gives us vision for the future. The stories force us to slow down and enjoy all that the captivating words and spectacular images do for our imagination, hopes, and dreams for future hunts and travels. A celebration is, in itself, reflection upon the good times, and we appreciate this in spades through spirits, cigars, and camaraderie. We honor those who came before us while understanding the need, through hunter recruitment and conservation, to preserve the heritage for the next generation.

In this issue, Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota honors her family values grown from her rural roots to uphold the hunting traditions of the people she represents. From growing up on a ranch to owning a pheasant-hunting business, she understands the connection between hunters and the land, because she has lived this life herself.

The story by Oliver Hartner with photography from Terry Allen about walking into Darlington Gun Works in South Carolina brings shooters back in time to revel in the legacy of classic shotguns. Jim Kelly and his team protect the integrity of gunsmithing’s past with vision for enhancing our firearms’ future.

Reid Bryant and Brian Grossenbacher use an upland key of amazing storytelling and photography to open the door to the potential of hunting California quail in the Baja Desert of Mexico. These birds represent more than just a hunt, but instead bridge lives together for a special group of friends.

Prairie chickens light the upland fire on the pastures of Nebraska in the story “High Plains Heat” featuring a diverse cast of characters who embrace the challenge to find that proverbial upland needle in the haystack. From the birds to the bourbon, this hunt represents the pinnacle example of why we work so hard in the field with the goal to end it with a celebration at dusk each day.

Cover by John Hafner

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2021 ISSUE

This time of year, we reflect upon where we’ve been with vision for where we want to go. Looking forward, there is more reason to be positive for our future—from conservation to access to hunter recruitment—than ever before. If we work collectively, there will be habitat and birds available to perpetuate our traditions for generations to come. And, this issue of Covey Rise helps keep our eyes on the prize.

In “Wild at Heart,” Ryan and Roy Seiders show how their bold entrepreneurial vision made YETI the world-renowned brand that it is today. From the hard-sided coolers to insulated mugs, YETI is more than a name—It’s a lifestyle. The Covey Rise team spent some days with the brothers hunting bobwhite quail on their ranch in Kansas.

Of course we love our fine guns, but do you remember your first shotgun—your grandpa’s pump leaning against the barn door or the old autoloader you used to shoot pigeons in the yard? The feature “Guns We Grew Up With” shines light upon the classic Brownings, Winchesters, and Remingtons that ignited the fire of our lifelong passions for shotguns and wingshooting.

Imagine moving from the busy kitchens of restaurants in the Bronx to cooking wild game under the big sky of Montana. This issue features how Michael Carlucci has embraced this challenge and shares his talents with hunters at the Sharptail Lodge run by PRO Outfitters. Quite the unique experience, visitors can enjoy Michael’s upland cuisine inside a village of yurts on the Montana prairie.

In addition, the hunt heads west to climb for chukar in Idaho with Heaven’s Gate Outfitters. We feature the art of Julie Jeppsen, who paints iconic bird-dog and wildlife scenes that honor the Wild West. Chris Madson eloquently describes the dichotomy of losing a special dog while embracing the high hopes for another. As always, enjoy the constant content of cigars, wine, and whiskey to help us celebrate the upland lifestyle.

Cover by John Hafner

APRIL - MAY 2021 ISSUE

Certain stories written in print and told through the pages of a magazine can capture our attention in an instant and trigger us to reflect upon special memories from days gone by. This issue of Covey Rise does just this, melding together the harmony of the hunt with the melody of our upland traditions to remind us what we behold to protect in our upland lifestyle.

In “Fields of Dreams,” the Covey Rise team visited Grand Slam Pheasant Hunts in South Dakota to learn how Curt and Lorie Korzan built a paradise on the prairie from the ground up. Many years ago, the Korzans bet on pheasants for their livelihood, and their story motivates hard workers and dreamers who are willing to do what it takes to achieve their goals.

The spice of hunting life is the libations we choose and the stories they recall. In “Libations of Legend,” Covey Rise contributors share their favorite recipes and the reasons why these beverages are special to the upland experience. The next time you are celebrating at the tailgate or around the campfire, mix one of these recipes to help you reflect upon your days afield.

Collectors of double guns come with different practices and goals. Some have expansive collections, while are just getting started. Some collect to keep guns pristine in their homes, while others collect shotguns they like to hunt with. The story “A Call to Arms” examines these different types of collectors—Where you on the spectrum of shotgun collecting?

When examining the outdoor experience, upland hunting and fly-fishing are often compared, but why? Both bring with them a romanticism and inherent respect for the quarry. From Burton Spiller to Norman Maclean, classic stories have been told in literature waxing poetic our love for both sports. The story “Philosophy Afield” dives into why upland hunters and fly-fishermen often coexist and what also sets them apart.

Plus: A surprise to many hunters, standard poodles can hold their own on land or in water. If bobwhite quail are the king, then Mearns’s quail are the prince. Learn how to ensure a pleasurable first-cigar experience. Brays Island is conservating habitat and wildlife for the community and the landscape. And last but not least, Doc Blythe tells a vintage story about poachers and cattle rustlers to close out this issue. We hope you enjoy this issue!

Cover by Andy Anderson

JUNE - JULY 2021 ISSUE

The stories printed on the pages of a magazine are eternal. It is this power of the pages that makes Covey Rise critical for the future of publishing and hunting traditions. Pick up the magazine in your hands and notice the distinct look, feel, and smell. Each issue is a book in and of itself. And the ink on the paper preserves the upland stories that need be told now and in the future. For they will ignite the imaginations of the next generation, so hopefully they appreciate the upland lifestyle as we do now.

In “King Ranch,” Miles DeMott dives into the history, lore, and influence of this iconic place. When Captain Richard King set about building his ranch, he was almost certainly confident he could make it succeed. From humble beginnings, he had always worked both hard and smart, and his transition from the steamboat trade to the ranching business would define not only the history of South Texas, but much of the American West as well. King Ranch remains one of the last strongholds for wild quail hunting and conservation in the South. 

Richard Childress is a racing icon. And, the story of his rise to becoming a NASCAR racing legend is one that can only happen in America. Despite his success, he’s also endured serious heartbreak, but he’s persevered through it all by taking the right chances, meeting the right people, and hunting along the way.

As it flows from the North to the South, the Mississippi River might be the most influential travel corridor in American history. Our own Frank A. Dog goes searching for the mouth of the mighty Mississippi during hunting season and shares his uniquely canine perspectives, trials, and tribulations of life while on the hunter’s road.

Westley Richards is a British gunmaker that is synonymous with exquisite perfection. After the death of its leader Simon Clode, all too soon, the company is in good hands going forward, as Anthony (Trigger) Alborough-Tregear, a maverick himself, is taking the reins to preserve the gunmaker’s name and status for future generations.

Cover by Brian Grossenbacher

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSUE

Throughout the year, we live through seasons of change, yearning to live that feeling of opening day once again. There is always something new on the horizon as we do so, and we can never forget that this imminent change can be good for all of us. As we all grow in years, embrace these inevitable transitions from young to old, and pass the baton of upland traditions to the next leg in the race whenever you can.

We respect what has come before us while embracing the inherent change of what comes next. The same can be said about the feature “Sportsman as Writer,” where Reid Bryant describes the life of Thomas McGuane and a day afield they spent together last year in Montana. In terms of iconic outdoor writers of our era, McGuane needs no introduction. The world of outdoor writing needs the next generation to carry to the torch, and in a sense, this story signifies the passing of a baton of storytelling to Reid, too.

A common premise is that you only get one good bird dog in a lifetime, and the best ones never live long enough. The feature “The Book’s Cover” tells the story of such a dog, and one that may look peculiar at first sight but shines brilliantly in the field. At that time, this red setter was a veteran on the downhill slide of his bird-chasing days, but his rugged owner had a young dog waiting in the wings, ready and willing to spend those precious days of October hunting the prairies, too. And, so the upland cycle rolls on.

Chef and author Rachel Hogan remembers spending precious time in the kitchen with her mammaw, learning how love grows through food and how this love transfers to those little hands in the kitchen that help prepare it. Rachel appreciates these special memories and passes them on to other aspiring chefs who want to learn about this flavor of love and the power that food can have on our lives.

Many of you know the impact that Paul Nelson had on the upland-hunting world. He was an icon of the South Dakota prairie who was taken from us way too soon; however, the farm that he built and the heritage that he left will be here forever. In his life, Paul proved that dreamers succeed through hard work and persistence. He knew all along that his family, through his son Erik and daughter-in-law Tami, would continue his dream and perpetuate the legacy of Paul Nelson Farm for future generations.

Plus: David Zumbaugh discusses conserving sage grouse. On Point provides dependable and reliable tools from companies we know and trust to give your shotguns the care and cleaning that they deserve. We discuss the biology of bourbon, baseball and cigars, and last but not least, Doc Blythe tells the story of the most important items of hunting attire.

Cover by: Lee Kjos

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE

Cover by: Terry Allen