DECEMBER - JANUARY 2018 ISSUE

As wingshooting season continues to unfold from this year into next, we take time to reflect on all this year has given us and the many adventures we were able to join in—From chasing wild Valley quail in wine country to pursing snipe and woodcock in the Scottish Isles.

In this issue we continue our quest for ultimate sporting adventures and travel down south to the Dominican Republic for Casa de Campo’s 30th annual Sugar Shoot tournament. In this story, we learn more about Pepe Fanjul and the Fanjul family, as well as his unlikely sportsman’s playground. We also head to Mexico in search of the black throated quail and enjoy traditional Yucatecan dishes with Chablé chef, Jorge Vallejo.

We also spend time with a few personalities that make our ultimate upland passions come to life. George Hickox, a world-renowned dog trainer whose ability to think outside the box to solve a dog’s problems has owners from around the world attending his schools and workshops, and Clive Tyler, a Plein Air impressionist who depicts landscape and wildlife scenes from the Tetons at dusk and the marshlands of South Carolina to elk and bison in their natural habitats. 

Returning to London for the next installment of our best gun series, we jump ahead in the best gun process to the final steps in creating the gun. In this issue, we explore the proof house and learn about a practice—to prove that all guns are safe for firing—that has been in place in England since the early 1600s. We also visit with the finisher who has spent more than 175 hand-on hours regulating and assembling various parts of the gun. 

Along the way we bring you insights on efforts to save the bobwhite quail in Texas and Florida, a look at California Sparkling, an educated look at understanding cigar wrappers and the confusion behind it, and a love story between Jim Beam White Label and a 21-year-old Fred Minnick.  

We hope you remember that our success is yours, our aspirations are yours, and our spirit is fueled by the enthusiasm you harbor for this lifestyle. Enjoy making and reflecting upon your own ultimate adventures throughout this season and the new year.

Cover image by John Hafner

FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018 ISSUE

Right before your New Year resolutions wear off and just in time for a little R&R after the holiday meals, the newest issue of Covey Rise is here and as always, is packed with the ultimate in the upland lifestyle. For starters, Reid Bryant and Bryan Grossenbacher head to Patagonia in search of Valley quail. In part one of this two-part series, the pair heads south to explore a relatively new and incredibly prolific Valley quail resource in the Andean steppe of central Patagonia. In addition to birds, however, they find legends old and new, and a wide-open landscape that holds its secrets well. 

We set out for Texas to learn about this year’s T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award winner Rick Snipes and his 6,000-acre ranch in the Rolling Plains ecoregion, and familiarize ourselves with the little-known world of pointing Labs. We also take a trip to Gunshow in Atlanta to visit Kevin Gillespie, an avid hunter, and restaurateur, who is putting a new spin on traditional dining experiences.

In this issue, we pause on our best gun series in order to keep pace with the tempo of the gun being made and make sure this process is documented as accurately as possible. We are in the process of acquiring the final elements needed to celebrate the individual contributions of these expert gunmakers. Tune in to the April–May ’18 issue where we head back to London and learn about the pure aesthetics of the gun—engraving—and the treatments of the engraved hardware. 

However, we do head across the pond in this issue, but this time to Italy to learn more about Perazzi, an Italian gunmaker who competition shooters have known for decades, but game shooters are now learning more about. 

Along the way, we hear from our devoted contributors on when and when not to ice, how age affects wine, and why forest policy reforms are critical to upland bird conservation. 

So put down the fork and step away from the table. Pour yourself a glass of the finest bourbon and make sure your pup is tended to because it’s Covey Rise time. We hope you enjoy.

Cover image by Terry Allen

APRIL - MAY 2018 ISSUE

In Patagonia, a man can simultaneously lose and find himself. In the last issue of Covey Rise, we introduced you to Rance Rathie and Travis Smith of Patagonia River Guides. Reid Bryant and photographer Brian Grossenbacher headed south to explore a relatively new and incredibly prolific Valley quail resource in the Andean steppe of central Patagonia. In this issue, they continue their journey in Patagonia to learn more about those souls that come looking for legends, and maybe a bit of the world’s best wild bird hunting as well. In the second part of the two-part series, they explore the region and the remarkable quail resource. Needless to say, they find birds aplenty, untracked open spaces, and a story to last a lifetime in part 2 of “In the Rough Hills North of Trevelin.” 

Also in this issue, writer Miles DeMott and photographer Terry Allen head to Millpond Plantation—a 10,000-acre estate, which took over 20 years to create—in Thomasville, Georgia. They pay a visit to the Sedgwick family to discover stories untold, relive happy memories, and reacquaint with a simpler time. Learn more about Millpond Plantation and the Sedgwick family history on page 52. Our team also heads to Halfway, Oregon, to visit Ira Stutzman and learn more about his handmade fly rods. They also take a few days to pursue chukar partridge in the area. Discover more about this adventure on page 80. And what trip would be complete without a top-notch travel experience for your favorite four-legged companion? Read about the luxuries available for your most loyal hunting partner in “Jet-Setting Bird Dogs.”

We resume the London best gun series to bring focus on the final elements of building the gun. Recently we took a trip back to London to learn more about the pure aesthetics of the gun—engraving—and to gather more resources to document this intricate process. Read more about the steel canvas and the art of engraving on page 62. 

To top off this issue we learn about what and when to mix with whiskey, why cigar boxes are an essential part of the cigar business and discuss how sportsmen and women champion wildlife and public lands in America.

We’ve got a lot in store for and are glad you’re here for the ride. So, you know the drill: put your feet up and pour yourself a drink, because it’s Covey Rise time. 

Cover image by Jerry Imprevento

JUNE - JULY 2018 ISSUE

This lifestyle is about more than just how many birds are bagged. It’s about memories made afield, in faraway places or a field just around the corner, chasing a brace of bird dogs, and toasting a day’s harvest with good spirits and better company. In this issue, we delve into the heart of this lifestyle and bring you stories from experienced sportsmen and women from around the globe.

In this issue, we learn about everyone from Tom Moser, creator of Thos. Moser handcrafted furniture, to Lefty Kreh, a fisherman whose immense admiration for the outdoors and a fly rod culminated his life. Two men, from different walks of life, who ultimately shared a passion for people and the outdoors.

We also learn a little about the world of bluegrass and a lot about Harry Sparks, an architect by trade, a doctor of string instruments by passion, and a gun collector by fascination. We head to Nashville on what turns out to be an unexpected journey full of good music and fine guns. Speaking of fine guns, we also head to London to learn about one of the final steps in finishing the best gun, the color-case-hardening process.

To enjoy a bit of adventure, we travel to Flying B Ranch, on the sidehills of Lawyer Creek Canyon, and find more than just birds. We also head to Thomasville, Georgia, to visit with three ladies who are influencing the food scene at plantations across the South. They even share a few tips and recipes with us. We also get a full rundown on the quirky but loveable Bracco Italianos—a rare breed full of remarkable working dogs.

Along the way, we bring you insights on the state of the Farm Bill and how you can get involved with local and state conservation groups. As always we fill your cup with something refreshing, while we taste the 2015 Bordeaux and discuss why age matters when it comes to spirits. We also hear from our no-nonsense correspondent, Frank, and what getting a new puppy means for an old but reliable dog.

This issue is packed with the ultimate in the sporting lifestyle, and we don’t want you to miss out. So grab a drink, subscribe, then head to your favorite reading spot. It’s Covey Rise time.

Cover image by Lee Thomas Kjos

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE

As we shift our focus from the summer months—which were full of fly fishing, shooting sporting clays, and spending time outdoors with friends and family—to the beginning of hunting season, we reflect on what adventures this new season could bring. Maybe this season, you’ll get the chance to head to Wyoming in search of the elusive chukar partridge, or head to south Texas seeking bobwhite quail. Whatever this season has in store, you’re sure to find more than just birds in your pursuits.

 If you’re lucky enough, this season you just might get to travel to Scotland for what many call the Glorious Twelfth. This day marks the beginning of the 121-day grouse shooting season in Britain. For many, this is the first opportunity to dust off their shotguns, put on their tweeds, bag a few birds, and catch up with friends they haven’t seen since last season. Learn more about the Glorious Twelfth in “Chasing Kings” on page 84.

We cap off our London best series with a final trip back to England and return to the beginning of the gun making process. In this issue, we complete the fitting and selecting of the gun. We learn about the fitter and what dynamic measurements are taken in order to create an exact fit for the shooter and their gun.

As we head back to the states, we visit with Jim Baker and learn more about his life and passions apart from his astounding career as the White House Chief of Staff and United States Secretary of the Treasury. We also make a trip to Houston, Texas, to dine at Rainbow Lodge, a game-heavy restaurant operating out of a 100-year-old log cabin. We feast on rabbit tostada, rainbow trout, and more.
To read the full story and recipes, head to page 70.

We also give you the latest news in conservation and the bourbon world, teach you about the legendary and lovely piece of art wrapped around your smoke and discuss the sizeable differences between wine and food. Frank and Doc Blythe top off this issue with some comic relief and tell stories of friendship and preseason nuances. We hope this issue will bring you as much joy as this new season will. It’s time to beat the heat, head to your favorite reading spot, and pour yourself a drink because it’s Covey Rise time. Cheers!

Cover Photograph by Terry Allen

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2018 ISSUE

Sportsmen share a deep connection with the land upon which they hunt, cultivate, and live. This land provides jobs, clean air, fresh water, sustainable resources, and a wonderful sporting playground to enjoy. We celebrate the land, the hunt, and the upland lifestyle, and in this issue, we learn about different individuals whose passion for the outdoors is evident in how they live their lives.

First, we head down the road to Pursell Farms in Sylacauga, Alabama and visit with David and Ellen Pursell on their 3,200-acre farm, which has been in their family for generations. We learn about all the sporting amenities available, including activities at the Orvis Shooting Grounds, fly-fishing, UTV and horseback riding, and more. Read more about why Pursell Farms is a lauded destination for outdoor and sporting enthusiasts on page 34.

We then head to Georgia to Charlane Plantation and visit the Ramblin’ Man himself, Chuck Leavell. While exploring his time spent touring the world paying the piano, we learn more about his two true passions, music and trees. While in Georgia, we stop by Pine Hill Plantation to enjoy a classic bird hunt and leave with our bellies full of Bacon-wrapped Quail and Jalapeño Cornbread. Find these recipes and more on page 78.

Also in this issue, we explore the world of Hartmann & Weiss guns, learn about the evolution of a bird-dog owner, and head to South Dakota to learn how the North American Grouse Partnership is leading the conservation effort for prairie grouse.

We present recipes for you to create your own bourbon blends, teach you about the different types of cigar tobacco, and discuss what makes wine great. Ben Williams tells of his most intimate moments with nature and shares his favorite places to be alone: the High Plain prairies of Montana and the gentle stream he calls the Oxbow. Frank continues his story and recounts his most recent adventure with Sage the English Cocker, and Doc Blythe closes this issue with his story of struggle and losing a young puppy.

We hope by the time this issue hits your doorstep you are out pursuing birds and spending time outdoors with friends and family. When you get some downtime, head for your favorite reading spot—maybe by a campfire—prop your feet up, have a drink, and subscribe, because it is Covey Rise time.

Cover Photograph by Andy Anderson