How to Catch Pacific Rockfish

There is no form of fishing I am better at than bottom fishing in the ocean. And here in the West, that means rockfish (rock cod) and lingcod. Here's how to catch more, from gear to technique, to little tricks and tips that have helped me over the years.

Hunt Gather Talk 12: On Scouting

In this episode of Hunt Gather Talk, I talk about scouting. Yep, scouting for wild game, for places to fish, or to forage plants, sea creatures or mushrooms. It's all about the spot. I have my spots, you have yours. How did we get them? By putting in miles.

Thrift, Equilibrium and a Full Freezer

Finding your equilibrium is a natural part of any endeavor, and hunting and fishing is no different. We all have that urge to fill the freezer, but what do you do once that freezer is full? My thoughts on finding balance in this pursuit of ours.

One Photo, Two Images

Images of hunters or anglers holding up their quarry evoke strong reactions in those who don't hunt or fish. And while hunters have been making these images since long before photos, the advent of social media has put them in front of non-hunters like never before.

On Variability in Wild Foods

Cooking wild game is an exercise in dealing with variability. Every animal is different, and to bring out the best in your wild game you must come to terms with it.

Chasing Big Blue

No other small game animal has evaded me like the blue grouse of the Western High Country. But persistence, and a healthy bit of luck, can pay off -- even at 8500 feet.

A Garden(er)’s Middle Age

July in a garden's high water mark. It is also time to contemplate the autumn to come. This year, it is time to do the same in my own life's garden.

Loving the Unloved: Pukekos

Pukeko. Such a cool bird, yet so unloved by the New Zealanders. We hunted and cooked a bunch of this cross between a pheasant and a coot on our trip to Kiwi Country, and learned to love this fascinating game bird.

A Loss in Springtime

My cat has gone missing. We have not seen her in more than a week, and I feel dead inside because of it. I try to stay positive, or at least stoic, and busy myself with the green renewal that is my garden. My garden. Where my cat and I first met each other, years ago.

On Trichinosis in Wild Game

Trichinosis is a rare - but real - issue when you are working with wild game, especially bear meat and wild pork. Here's a rundown of the science and data on trichinae parasites in game, as well as how you can minimize the risk.

The Inches in Our Lives are All Around Us

It is Super Bowl Sunday. Every year before the Big Game, I watch the movie "Any Given Sunday," which has the greatest motivational speech I've ever heard. It's about the inches between success and failure, between being great and failing. Those inches matter in all things, not just football.

Fat. Glorious, Precious Fat

Fat is not the enemy. We treat it as so because as humans, we so crave it that we've spent millennia making it more and more accessible to us. In so doing we've lost sight on just how precious and wondrous fat is in the wild world. Only with a diet hinging on game and fish does this come into focus