The easy way is not always the best way. In the pages of this issue of Covey Rise, we are advised to slow down, take our time, and go the extra mile to achieve great things. Sometimes a leap of faith or a decision to go with the flow produces better results than we could have hoped for.

 In this issue, the glory of Gleneagles and its storied past unfolds before Matt Soberg’s solo hunting trip turns out to mean just a bit more. Dr. Charles Campbell takes on the challenge of restoring the esteemed Butterfield Plantation and Dave Cruz forges a career path through his love of the outdoor lifestyle. Finally, Thomas Reed reflects on the trials and tribulations of wingshooting and that one bird that never seems to get caught, and Chef Wade Truong helps us get out of our comfort zone when it comes to game.

 The meal after the hunt wouldn’t taste as good if it wasn’t hard earned during a day afield with a shotgun in hand. Sometimes our dogs don’t take off in the direction we’d like them to, but those extra steps make a fallen bird that much more rewarding. Passion and determination take the forefront of this issue, and we hope you ride that wave into your next upland adventure.

Gleneagles: A glorious Scottish secret.

Solo in a Small Town: Alone in the middle of nowhere, but part of a bigger plan.

As Fate Would Have It: Providence returns an esteemed property to family hands.

Dave Cruz, A Portrait: Why the wingshooting tradition appears strong for another century.

Ghost Grouse: A trying terrain, a patient dog, and a phantom bird.

(dis)Comfort Food: The complex simplicity of Elevated Wild.

Cover by John Hafner

The thing about life is that we never know where it’s going to take us, literally and figuratively. Whether it be new destinations, new friends, new job opportunities, or any new experience, it’s practically guaranteed that the journey through life will take some unexpected turns. 

A slew of epicurean possibilities is explored at Brush Creek Ranch before an examination of Richard Kessler’s endeavors in the world of hospitality. Next, go from past to present while imagining the continuing future of Federal Ammunition before journeying into the American West with Chef Giovanni Lanzante. Finally, travel to India and the United Kingdom to discover a shooting car with a storied (and royal!) past and end this upland voyage by indulging in the story of one pup’s passion for birdhunting.

So, pack your bags! In this issue of Covey Rise, we take a trip around the world in 116 pages, and we invite you to join us.

Brush Creek Ranch: Wyoming's corner of possibilities

Richard Kessler: Using dollars and senses to move the needle

Federal Ammunition: A century strong and counting

Giovanni Lanzante Goes West: Finding inspiration and purpose far from his old-world roots

The Patiala Silver Ghost: A Maharaja's magnificent shooting car, restored

Morning Call: Life changes and enduring traditions

Cover by John Hafner

Although life doesn’t always go according to plan, it usually works out in the end. It may not come easy or the way that was expected, but it’s never too late to pursue what you want, even if it means pivoting in a completely new direction or putting yourself out there to try something new. 

In this issue of Covey Rise, we hear the beginning of one man’s journey into the upland world, as well as the story of a pair of brothers who have always been members of the upland world and put a great deal of importance on maintaining it. Scott Cummings details his quest to find the perfect dog food, and Chef Nick Strawhecker searches for ways to continue combining family tradition, food, and upland hunting in his restaurant, Dante. Finally, we learn about all the creative endeavors that led artist Sue Key to her hidden quail, and before going abroad to experience a driven shoot in the French countryside.

No matter how old or young you are, there is always the chance to experience something new, and there is always a reason to continue pursuing your dreams, no matter the trials and tribulations we may endure along the way.  

First, But not Last: Golf, sporting clays, and a desire for many more hunts

Orvis Across Generations: New hands on a great old tiller

Fueling Champions: One hunter's quest to find the perfect dog food

Salt Cod and Hunting: Food, family, and land—ingredients for lasting traditions

Artist Sue Key's Hidden Quail: A fundamental feature hidden in plain sight

The Art of Shooting Artlessly: A driven shoot at Château de Villette

Cover by Sarah Farnsworth

June-July 2023 Edition

In this issue of Covey Rise, we explore stories that read like missions. In each of the feature stories, there are things to be accomplished, quests to embark upon, and meanings to be uncovered. 

We begin in the cold conditions of Montana, where a camp of canvas tents is built up during each hunting season only to be removed at the end, almost as if it were never there at all. A food tent and an outhouse are just hints of the ways Montana Upland Outfitters asks you to give yourself over to nature. Personality Tony Caligiuri finds joy in weaving together sporting good brands to keep high quality and iconic names in the business.

Next, experience a hunt with a team of Irish Peg Dogs, and read about their business-like qualities and reverence for the hunt before returning to the heart of a trip afield with just a man and his dog under the starry skies. Finally, understand that the clear mission of The Laurel Hotel & Spa at Auburn University is to provide world-class hospitality and an epicurean experience before getting to know Jerry Talton and his dedication to Outer Banks tradition and his beautifully carved duck decoys.

When you set out on your next trip, the mission may simply be to bag a few birds and have a good time with your dog. But dig a little deeper, try something different, and don’t be afraid to look for new meaning in your time afield. 

Cover by Lee Kjos

August-September 2023 Edition

You can never be bored when you fill your days exploring new places and trying new things. When we venture out into the world, we bring stories back to the table, along with the bounty of the harvest and the magic that human hands and hearts seem to make of that harvest. Take your pick of boots from OnPoint, our ultimate prep guide to the hunt, and come along on an adventure with us.

In this issue of Covey Rise, we visit Greystone Castle in Mingus, Texas, where the views give the hunting a run for the money. Then, we join a small band of grouse hunters chasing Gordon setters through the hills and dales of Western North Carolina. Next, we celebrate 75 years of business with Fausti Arms, where diamonds are traded for steel. Our senses are heightened by delectable recipes from Chef Dylan Therrien of Brush Creek Ranch and beautiful art by Ryan Kirby that encapsulates all that we love about the upland lifestyle. After that, to explore the limits of the upland walkabout, we venture to Sweden to get a sense of how changing the scenery can bring traditional hunting experiences new life.

We round out the issue with columnist Chuck Holland, who takes a walk down memory lane with a long-forgotten cigar; wine columnist Jordan Mackay leads us through the process of naming wines; and our four-legged friend Frank offers some training techniques in light of bird season approaching quickly. 

Cover by Thomas Harvey

October-November 2023 Edition

Adventure meets nostalgia when the past is incorporated into the future—some of the old into some of the new. It’s important to remember that established upland traditions can be made new again and new adventures make welcome traditions.

In this issue of Covey Rise, we visit with October Kennels, keepers of the Ryman setter’s flame. Then, we travel to Pineridge Grouse Camp, a Northwoods retreat for more than great hunting who has a reputation that precedes it. A splash of history springs off the page when we talk about Ogden Pleissner, an artist of yesteryear who has captured the essence of sporting traditions. We also visit with Griffin & Howe, an established purveyor of fine firearms celebrating the opening of a new facility to much fanfare. And we hear from Chef John Currence, who grew up in a Louisiana duck blind and cooked his way to stardom across the Southeast. In QuietKat, we find a thought experiment about what the future of upland adventures might look like. We also explore natural wine, a controversy fermenting in the spirits world, and consider one example of how quail hunting has changed the world. Along the way, Frank reveals his latest, greatest, and only country music hit that is sure to be a radio sensation if he ever puts paws to paper to finish it.

So let the old be new again, and welcome the new with open eyes and open hearts. It’s hunting season, after all. Let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Cover by Brian Grossenbacher