Field Notes

The Journal

Stories from the field, gear reviews, and expert advice for the modern sportsman.

Why I Hunt
Stories
March 23, 2026
9 min read

Why I Hunt

An honest answer to the question every hunter eventually faces — not defensive, not apologetic, just the truth about why millions of us choose to step into the woods each fall.

Jake Collier
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Deep Sea Fishing Charter
Tips
March 23, 2026
9 min read

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Deep Sea Fishing Charter

A veteran offshore captain shares the unvarnished truth about what first-timers actually need to know — from seasickness to tipping to what 'trolling' really means.

Capt. Ray Delacroix
30 Gifts Under $100 for the Hunter in Your Life
Gear
March 23, 2026
10 min read

30 Gifts Under $100 for the Hunter in Your Life

From $15 stocking stuffers to premium gear under $100, these are the gifts hunters actually want — vetted by hunters who've spent way too much at the pro shop.

Marcus Chen
30 Gifts Under $100 for the Angler in Your Life
Gear
March 23, 2026
10 min read

30 Gifts Under $100 for the Angler in Your Life

From fly boxes to fish grips, these are the gifts anglers actually want — no novelty singing bass plaques, we promise.

Marcus Chen
10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Bowhunting
Tips
March 23, 2026
9 min read

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting Bowhunting

A lifelong bowhunter and outfitter shares the hard-won lessons that would have saved years of missed opportunities — from draw weight myths to the one skill that matters more than shooting.

Buck Tanner
From Stream to Table: A Complete Guide to Cooking What You Catch
Tips
March 23, 2026
12 min read

From Stream to Table: A Complete Guide to Cooking What You Catch

Jordan Stambaugh breaks down the field-to-fork process for freshwater fish, saltwater catch, and wild game — with handling tips, fillet techniques, and 8 recipes that make wild protein shine.

Jordan Stambaugh
5 AM in a Duck Blind with My Dad: Why Waterfowl Hunting Matters
Stories
March 22, 2026
7 min read

5 AM in a Duck Blind with My Dad: Why Waterfowl Hunting Matters

A third-generation duck hunter reflects on what really happens in the blind before sunrise — and why the traditions we share in cold, dark marshes matter more than limits.

Elena Vasquez
What Fish Actually See: A SCUBA Diver's Perspective on Fishing
Tips
March 22, 2026
9 min read

What Fish Actually See: A SCUBA Diver's Perspective on Fishing

Jordan Stambaugh combines his Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification with 15 years of fishing to reveal what fish actually see, hear, and react to — and how it should change the way you fish.

Jordan Stambaugh
15 Mistakes New Hunters Make That Cost Them Animals
Tips
March 22, 2026
11 min read

15 Mistakes New Hunters Make That Cost Them Animals

A wildlife biologist and 30-year hunting veteran breaks down the most common beginner mistakes — from scent control myths to the shot you should never take.

Hank Mercer
How Hunters Fund Conservation: $1.1 Billion Annually in Pittman-Robertson
Conservation
March 20, 2026
9 min read

How Hunters Fund Conservation: $1.1 Billion Annually in Pittman-Robertson

The numbers behind hunting's $1.1 billion annual conservation contribution through the Pittman-Robertson Act, and how license fees, excise taxes, and duck stamps fund wildlife management across America.

Hank Mercer
12 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Fly Fishing
Tips
March 20, 2026
10 min read

12 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Fly Fishing

A fly fishing instructor shares the hard-won lessons that would have saved years of frustration — from gear mistakes to reading water to the one skill that matters more than casting.

Sarah Whitfield
From Eagle Scout to Outdoorsman: How Wilderness Skills Made Me a Better Angler
Stories
March 20, 2026
7 min read

From Eagle Scout to Outdoorsman: How Wilderness Skills Made Me a Better Angler

Jordan Stambaugh on how earning Eagle Scout and SCUBA certification shaped his approach to fishing, conservation, and understanding the water from both above and below.

Jordan Stambaugh
My First Elk Hunt: Everything That Went Wrong (And Right)
Stories
March 20, 2026
8 min read

My First Elk Hunt: Everything That Went Wrong (And Right)

A founder's honest account of his first guided elk hunt in Colorado — the mistakes, the misery, and the moment that changed everything.

Jake Collier
A Day on the Kenai
Stories
February 20, 2026
5 min read

A Day on the Kenai

Black ice, snow, coffee, and world-renowned rainbow trout — a reflection on what really matters during a day on the Kenai with my brother.

Jake Collier
Coffee With Pete
Stories
February 20, 2026
5 min read

Coffee With Pete

A visit to a remote cabin and a cup of Folgers with a man whose faith, warmth, and boldness left a lasting mark.

Jake Collier
Running Wild
Stories
February 20, 2026
5 min read

Running Wild

A guiding story about a young man finding freedom and healing through his first fly fishing experience in Alaska.

Jake Collier
The Importance of Shooting Practice With Elk Vitals Targets
Gear
February 20, 2026
5 min read

The Importance of Shooting Practice With Elk Vitals Targets

Understanding elk vitals and shot placement is crucial for ethical, successful hunting. Here's why practice matters.

Jake Collier
Two Friends, a Mountain and Some Trout
Stories
February 20, 2026
5 min read

Two Friends, a Mountain and Some Trout

The internet was void of information. After looking at some maps we set off and crossed the thick veil only to be transported to what seemed like another world.

Jake Collier
Fly Fishing New Zealand's South Island: A Backcountry Dream
Stories
February 19, 2026
10 min read

Fly Fishing New Zealand's South Island: A Backcountry Dream

New Zealand's South Island offers some of the most visual, technical, and rewarding fly fishing on the planet. Here's your complete guide.

Jake Collier
Alaska Salmon Fishing: Your Complete Guide to the Last Frontier
Stories
February 19, 2026
11 min read

Alaska Salmon Fishing: Your Complete Guide to the Last Frontier

Five species, thousands of rivers, and a season that runs from May through October. Here's everything you need to plan the Alaska salmon trip of a lifetime.

Jake Collier
Field to Table: Honoring the Harvest with Wild Game Cooking
Conservation
February 19, 2026
11 min read

Field to Table: Honoring the Harvest with Wild Game Cooking

Wild game deserves better than a freezer burial. Learn how to properly handle, age, and cook venison, waterfowl, and upland game for memorable meals.

Jake Collier
How to Choose a Hunting Outfitter You Can Trust
Tips
February 19, 2026
9 min read

How to Choose a Hunting Outfitter You Can Trust

Booking a guided hunt is a significant investment. Here's how to separate world-class outfitters from the ones that will ruin your trip.

Jake Collier
Hunting Africa's Big Five: Species, Seasons & What to Expect
Tips
February 19, 2026
10 min read

Hunting Africa's Big Five: Species, Seasons & What to Expect

A comprehensive look at pursuing Africa's most iconic game animals — the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and Cape buffalo.

Jake Collier
Your First Fly Fishing Trip: What to Know Before You Go
Tips
February 19, 2026
8 min read

Your First Fly Fishing Trip: What to Know Before You Go

Everything first-timers need to plan a successful fly fishing adventure — from gear essentials to casting basics and choosing the right destination.

Jake Collier
The Ethics of Catch and Release: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Conservation
February 19, 2026
8 min read

The Ethics of Catch and Release: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Catch and release isn't just about letting fish go — it's a conservation practice that sustains fisheries for future generations. Here's how to do it right.

Jake Collier
When to Fish Patagonia: A Season-by-Season Guide
Stories
February 19, 2026
9 min read

When to Fish Patagonia: A Season-by-Season Guide

Patagonia's fishing seasons are the inverse of the Northern Hemisphere. Here's exactly when to go for trophy trout, steelhead, and sea-run browns.

Jake Collier
The Essential African Safari Packing List
Tips
February 11, 2026
5 min read

The Essential African Safari Packing List

Heading to the Dark Continent? Here is everything you need to bring, and what you should leave behind.

Jake Collier
Bonefish 101: Chasing Ghosts
Gear
February 11, 2026
6 min read

Bonefish 101: Chasing Ghosts

A beginner guide to spotting and catching the grey ghost of the flats.

Jake Collier
Why The Wild Heals Us
Conservation
February 11, 2026
4 min read

Why The Wild Heals Us

Exploring the science behind nature therapy and why we donate to restoration efforts.

Jake Collier