Teachings & Tales from a Connected Life



Experience
Chasing Snows
Seen as more of an invading horde than migrating birds, they’re often referred to as sky carp, snow buzzards and even flying fertilizer, suggesting their only value lie in whatever mineral content they might contribute to the American grain stores.
Read MoreLessons Carved from Ice
I can’t count the number of times that I have sworn off winter goat hunting while shivering on the side of a white mountain.
Read MoreThe Big Woods
I am drawn to the allure of the big woods, the mountainous environment in parts of the Appalachians. In the Eastern United States, it’s the closest thing that I’ve found to adventure deep in the wilderness away from lights and sounds.
Read MoreStudent of the Wind
Dark Hollow was uninviting at 5:00 AM on the cold predawn of November 7th. I'd given the neglected pasture that name as it had transformed over two decades into a labyrinth of thorn-infested honey locust and multiflora rose.
Read MoreThe Turkeys Win, Appreciation Grows
I didn’t understand the fanaticism surrounding turkeys until I was in the thick of it.
Read MoreThe Last Punk Rock Thing Left
Mark Healey woke before dawn and broke camp in the Maui upcountry. Somewhere in the near distance was a herd of axis deer, widely considered to be among the most beautiful and best-eating venison on earth.
Read MoreThe Hills Where Lessons Lie
I was young, maybe five years old. I was sitting on the floor of my grandparents house playing with my Lincoln Logs; I had combined multiple sets of logs to create the type of cabin that only a five year old mind can construct.
Read MoreBeyond the Layers
If someone had told me in my early twenties that hunting would lead me to some of my biggest learnings, my most gratifying experiences and give me a profound perspective about the world, I would have laughed them off.
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Timber Stand Improvement for Whitetail Deer
Everyone wants to talk about food plots when it comes to deer management, but that is a small piece of the pie when it comes to improving the land specifically for whitetail deer.
Read MoreSurviving The Hot Prairie
Archery antelope hunting is an opportunity rich environment that accelerates your skills for the upcoming seasons. Antelope have incredible eyesight, making it a challenging spot-and-stalk hunt due to the wide open spaces they call home.
Read MoreBuilding Bowhunting Stamina
In recent years there’s been a much needed emphasis on being better equipped physically as a bowhunter. This is such a critical topic and one that is long overdue in the industry.
Read MoreHow to Reload Ammo with Randy Newberg
An in depth guide to all things reloading with SITKA Ambassador, Randy Newberg. Everything from bullet and powder selection to seating depth to develop the perfect elk load.
Read MoreThe Train to Goat Country
For years, Kiviok Hight has heard the distant echoes of the train whistle from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad engine.
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Bone Broth
Bone broth is an age-old superfood. In addition to being rich in collagen, an anti-inflammatory, and packed with micronutrients, its rich in flavor and will take any soup, stew or roast you’re cooking to the next level.
Read MoreSticky Sweet Whole Braised Neck
I would contend that neck is one of the most under-utilized cuts of meat on most game animals and in my opinion it is one of the best braising cuts there is.
Read MoreTurkey Leg Adobo
As hunters we have to be accepting of the fact that wild game has a lot of variability in flavor. There are many factors at play here, too many to get into for this recipe.
Read MoreDuck Bolognese
As hunters we have to be accepting of the fact that wild game has a lot of variability in flavor. There are many factors at play here, too many to get into for this recipe.
Read MoreMorel Mushroom Pizza
If Mother Nature stays on our side, British Columbia will have an unprecedented morel mushroom bonanza from late May until the end of June. Morel mushrooms are a prized delicacy in restaurants and kitchens worldwide.
Read MoreComfort Food
Wild game is a labor of love. Every year I spend countless hours preparing for the season, in the field and in the pursuit, and hopefully processing my animals to share and enjoy throughout the year.s
Read MoreHow To Render Bear Fat
Where I reside in Montana, winter days are short, menacingly dark, with snow storms frequently followed by rain; weather that is unappealing to most.
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The Innovation No One Saw Coming
To understand the unconventional approach we took in creating our concealment patterns, you have to first understand the unconventional approach we took in creating the gear those patterns would appear on.
Read MoreGORE-TEX vs Windstopper
Choosing the Right Solution for the Situation
Read MoreConstant Evolution — What My Sitka System Looks Like in 2022
Gear selection on expedition-style hunts is make or break and a clothing system is a critical component. My list is under constant scrutiny and dynamic, informed by cumulative lessons learned, sandwiched between the rarely occurring mountainside epiphany.
Read MoreBarklow Systems Thinking - Big Game
Deep in the wilderness is not the time to find out your clothing system doesn't meet your expectations. A technical clothing system for the backcountry hunter must be versatile, lightweight, and capable of keeping you warm and dry.
Read MoreThe Necessities of Comfort: Gear Tips To Improve Your Next Hunt
Comfort can play a vital role in the hunt. Not in the sense that being comfortable makes the hunt easy, more that it allows us to shift focus from the challenges of the hunt to the task at hand.
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