How did you first become interested in hunting and the outdoors?
I grew up in rural Ohio and was very into the outdoors. We had horses and did a ton of trail riding and camping—I loved every second of it. I was always outside adventuring in the woods as a kid. I did not grow up hunting, but it wasn’t a strange thing to me. My first job out of college was with the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and a coworker there took me on my first run and gun turkey hunt and I never looked back.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in your career and how have you overcome them?
There are always challenges in everyone’s career, but it’s the passion and drive I have for journalism, our readership, and bird dogs that keeps me moving forward.
How has your perspective on hunting and the outdoors changed over the years?
I didn’t grow up hunting and didn’t understand the importance of it until I began when I was in my early 20s. I now understand that hunters literally keep wild animals on the mountain. The Pittman Robertson act was initiated by hunters specifically to ensure there are sustainable and healthy populations of animals and habitat for years to come. As hunters, we are at the forefront of conservation.
Finally, what do you hope readers take away from your work?
I hope readers look forward to receiving every issue of Gun Dog and open it immediately to start reading. We work hard to fill the magazine with informative, creative, and engaging content that they can learn something from, and in turn want to share with others.
Balancing a passion for hunting with a commitment to conservation can be challenging. How do you navigate this?
I have a passion for hunting both big game and birds, and protecting those species is of utmost importance to me. I balance that in the field by focusing on only taking what I can eat. Rather than focusing on how many birds I can shoot, I focus on my dogs and working them in the field. If we are lucky enough to have a covey rise, I’ll take one or two birds from the covey and move on. One bird in the bag is a great day to me.
How did you become involved with “Gun Dog” magazine?
I started within the Outdoor Sportsman Group as the Associate Editor of Petersen’s Hunting magazine, then the Managing Editor. My passion for bird hunting began during that time as my first bird dog, Lincoln, and I started hunting wild birds across the country together. I began writing for long-time Gun Dog Editor in Chief, Rick Van Etten, during that time. When Rick retired, it was a natural fit for me to take over the title.
Can you describe your day-to-day responsibilities as the editor?
As Editor, I assign stories to writers that my Associate Editor and I feel are what our readers are looking for. I work closely with our Art Director who designs the pages of Gun Dog. I do a lot of writing myself, copy editing, ensuring we hit our deadlines, creating content for both print and digital, and more.
What advice do you have to aspiring writers who want to work with you?
Write on subjects you are passionate about and be persistent. Take constructive criticism, be humble, and learn all that you can from your mentors and elders.
What do you consider when deciding which articles to include in each issue?
We want articles that are informative and beneficial to our readers. I place myself in their shoes to help with this decision. To our staff, it’s important to offer readers training advice, gear they need, places they want to hunt, and how they can be successful on that hunt. If readers want something more or different, I encourage them to reach out to me!
What makes “Gun Dog” unique compared to other hunting and outdoor magazines?
We are the authority on gun dog training and upland hunting. We have some of the best dog trainers in the world writing for our publication and they are willing to share years of experience and advice with our readers. You’ll learn something new every time you open one of our magazines.
Could you share one of your favorite articles or features from the magazine and why it stands out to you?
Every issue is my favorite! There is always something new to take away from each magazine we publish. I love nothing more than reading new training tips, awesome hunting tales, and heartfelt stories about our beloved bird dogs.
Can you tell us about the show and what you hope readers will take away from the new season?
Wild Upland is about the people, places, and most importantly the dogs we share the uplands with. It’s a show dedicated to passionate wingshooters and their hard-charging bird dogs. We aim to take you on heart-pounding adventures through America’s untamed landscapes in pursuit of staunch points, unbelievable retrieves, and the thunder of a wild covey flush.
I hope readers walk away yearning for the fall season and give their bird dog an extra scratch behind the ear as they tune in.
Check out the Upland Wild.
