The Rod & Gun Club, Everglades City

The isolated location and the private trappings of the club’s reputation have led the rich and famous to seek it out over the years. Five presidents, from Harry Truman to...

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British Millerain & the History of Waxed Canvas

Mariners endure some of the most inhospitable conditions imaginable, facing gale-force winds, driving rain, and crashing waves. The need for weather protection at sea spurred innovations leading to British Millerain’s...

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Cardboard Canvases: Artist Frederick Stivers

There is a quiet disarray that surrounds most of Fredrick Stivers artwork. It reminds one of the ripples left on the surface of a stream right after some trout has...

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Filson Life: Mush

In Alaska’s North Slope, professional dog musher Lauro Eklund and team set out to hunt the migrating porcupine caribou for winter sustenance.

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Grit: Marc Warnke's Pack Goats

Goats are one of the earliest animals domesticated by humans. While they’ve been utilized for countless purposes, it’s still oddly uncommon in America to use them as pack animals, but...

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How To's

How to Make a Pole Spear

Just under the surface of the frigid ocean is a bounty of saltwater fish to be foraged. Many an outdoors person would agree that, in a survival scenario, the ocean...

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Western Wolves Swept Up In Culture Wars

Many animals kill for a living, but wolves compete with Homo sapiens in that they eat elk, deer, moose, and sometimes livestock. The debates about wolves are in part about...

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Six Crucial Pieces of Upland Hunting Gear

On a hunt for Gambel’s Quail in the Arizona desert, having the right gear makes all the difference. While traversing dusty arroyos, keeping hydrated, and avoiding cactus needles, Edgar Castillo...

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DOGS WITH JOBS: Labrador Retrievers

Blessed with a perpetual grin and soft floppy ears, Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular breed of dogs in America since 1991. A virtual Swiss Army knife of a...

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How To's

DIY 3 Legged Camp Stool

One of the best items to have on any outdoor excursion is a good seat. A seat can help keep you dry in wet weather, provide a spot to rest...

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Seth Kantner: Tracking the Herd

The day is gray and snowy on the tundra—visibility low. In the new drifts, I spot a line of tracks. For a moment my mind refuses to register caribou. The...

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Honoring Your Call: Durrell Smith

Durrell Smith—artist, teacher, hunter, dog trainer, creator of Minority Outdoor Alliance, and founder of Gun Dog Notebook. His path in life and honoring his true calling. We caught up with...

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Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Pheasant with Tarragon-Lemon Carrots

“A whole roasted pheasant takes time to pull off correctly. Rush the process and you’ll end up with a dry, lackluster-tasting bird that will make you wonder why you didn't...

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Ski Hunting the Alaskan Arctic

For untold millennia humans have been strapping skis to their feet and heading out to hunt prey. In the Altai Mountains of western China, 10,000-year-old rock art depicts paleohunters engaging...

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How To's

Winter Upland Hunting Guide + 5 Game Birds

Many game-bird seasons in the Northwest, Midwest, and Northeast extend well into winter— those cold, even icy days can be great times to hunt. Upland birds often fall into fairly...

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Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Chukars & Sagebrush Recipe

There may be no greater way to enjoy a meal than by going into the bush and cooking your harvest in the field from where it came. Although not native...

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Rainy Pass Lodge

At age 17, Steve Perrins paid $1 to watch a home movie that rearranged his brain. It was March 1974. The 16mm reel, screened at a New Hampshire high school,...

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A 2020 Field Report from BHA

Backcountry hunters and anglers is an organization dedicated to the stewardship of our public lands. Here, john gale of BHA offers a look at their mission, some of the year's...

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Beginner's Guide to Upland Hunting in Washington

Upland bird hunting is wonderful way to get some great exercise and interact with the outdoors at a high level. A common picture that comes to our minds about bird...

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One Common Goal: 
Farming & Hunting for conservation

Across the Great Plains region stretches a vast network of protected grasslands and wetlands, from the never-ending grain fields of Kansas and Nebraska to the dusty prairie pothole regions of...

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Jen Judge: Becoming an independent Outdoorswoman

For me, becoming an independent woman in the outdoors has been about mitigating fears. After all, the backcountry is full of potentially scary things. There are wild and unpredictable creatures,...

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Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Spicy Duck Wontons

One of the common misconceptions about hunting is that every time a hunter goes out into the bush or the blind, they come home with food for the table. Although...

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Ruffed Grouse Hunting Basics

The ruffed grouse is affectionately called the king of game birds by those who enjoy hunting them on crisp autumn days. As their nickname hints, the ruffed grouse is challenging...

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Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Black Bear Currywurst Sausage Recipe

Most people may not know that bear meat is not only edible but also delicious. The meat is similar to beef in appearance and makes amazing stews and sausages. Although...

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How to Camouflage a Canoe for Duck Hunting

Seasoned outdoorsman T. Edward Nickens gives us his well-proven-play-by-play to camouflage a canoe and get up close with waterfowl before flushing them and taking the shot.

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Tips to Elevate Your Blind

We’ve asked a handful of successful waterfowl hunters from around the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the continent for their tips on building your blind the right way so...

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Who is Ducks Unlimited?

For more than 80 years, DU’s mission of waterfowl habitat conservation has resulted in work across the continent to restore and protect the habitats that make possible the abundance of...

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Trail running in uncertain times with Justin Helvik

Justin Helvick is an asst. high school principle, avid outdoorsman, mountaineer, and trail runner. We reached out to him to find out how his time outdoors makes him a better...

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How To's, Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Roasted Pheasant Jalapeño Poppers with Bourbon Red Pepper Jelly

A version of this recipe can most likely be found in every single hunter’s recipe rolodex from the Florida Panhandle to the Olympic Peninsula and everywhere in between. It is...

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Signature Materials

Signature Materials: Technical Rainwear Pt. 1

When you’re outdoors and can’t escape wet weather, staying dry is a very real need. Quality rain gear not only keeps you more comfortable—in cold temperatures, it can prevent life-threatening...

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Signature Materials

Signature Materials: Technical Rainwear Pt. 2

When looking at pictures of rain jackets on a web page, they all kind of look the same. How does one choose? Simple: honestly prioritize your needs as a user...

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How To's

Filson Food: Squirrel Carnitas

Hunting squirrels is no easy task. However, if you are lucky enough to catch one of these elusive creatures, these carnitas will prove that it’s well worth the effort. This...

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How To's, Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Duck Cassoulet

Some of the best things in life require the most time and effort to do them right. This recipe is one of those things.

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University of Georgia Deer Lab Boosts Our Knowledge of America's No. 1 Game Animal

For about 50 years, students and faculty at the University of Georgia’s famous Deer Research Laboratory have conducted far-reaching studies across the country and beyond to improve our understanding of...

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Wild Goose Jack

At the turn of the 20th century, sportsman John (Jack) Miner found himself amidst an unregulated commercial market, and local grassroots hunting. In the small town of Kingsville, Ontario, along...

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Duck Banding: Hunter-Backed Conservation Work Helps Waterfowl Thrive

Banding has been used for centuries. In 218 B.C., besieged Roman soldiers reportedly used thread to tie a message on a crow’s leg and then released the bird. John James...

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North America’s Flyways and Ducks Unlimited

Twice a year waterfowl and bird species make the long journey from south to north and back again along the Pacific Flyway, stopping at reservoirs, wetlands, and shallow lakes along...

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Train Like a Wildland Firefighter, Workout 1: "FRIDLEY"

First responders and wildland firefighters don't have the option to work from home. They need to be in top physical and mental shape or else lives could be lost. If...

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History of the Shotgun for Upland Hunting

The earliest shotguns, or “Haile Shotte peics,” as they were called, date back to the 16th century in England, where they were used for hunting by the aristocracy, chief among...

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How To's

How to Process an Upland Bird

Steven Joyce of Reds Hunting, a renowned hunting and fly-fishing guide outfit in Eastern Washington, joined us at Filson’s annual Sportsman’s Expo to demonstrate how to harvest the meat from...

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Signature Materials

Filson x Danner Grouse Bottomland Boot

When two Pacific Northwest brands team up to create a hunting boot, the result is a rugged piece of craftsmanship. Constructed from full-grain leather and oil-finish Tin Cloth, the Grouse...

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Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Smoked Garlic Venison Shanks

Ask a dozen hunters what their favorite cut of meat is on wild deer and you will likely get a handful who tell you it is shanks. The shank is...

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Signature Materials

Upland Essentials

What gear does an upland hunter need? That question covers an enormous variety of habitat, weather, birds, and preferences. While gear requirements vary for hunting quail in Texas, grouse in...

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How To's

Guest Blog: Peter Patenaude's Maine Bird Hunting Tips

Peter Patenaude, a registered Maine guide, has been a Filson advocate for over six years. His blog Boot & Canoe, focuses on traditional skills and Maine’s outdoor heritage. Peter shares...

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Scott Linden: Water, water everywhere … but what about birds?

Scott Linden of Wingshooting USA is a dear friend of Filson who has taught us many shooting tips and lessons in the field over the years. Scott helps us find...

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Gearing Up For Turkey Season with Ben Smith

Ben Smith of Arizona Wanderings is gearing up for the opening of Arizona Turkey season on April 27th. It's much more than packing up the truck and the buddies and...

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GUEST BLOG: Dennis Lynch, The Kentucky Trifecta

One form of “exotic “ wagering at the racetrack is the Trifecta. This is where you have to pic the top 3 finishers in a race in the order in...

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George Hickox on Raising Outstanding Bird Dogs

George Hickox has a passion for developing bird dogs and has trained and campaigned National High Point Champions, numerous Field Champions, and has garnered over 100 field trial placements. He...

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Terry Wieland, Clothes for Backcountry Hunting

Terry Wieland serves as the Shooting Editor of Gray’s Sporting Journal and over the years has taken his expertise everywhere from the Alaskan Rockies to the mountainous rainforest of Admiralty...

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How To's

Shed Hunting Tips for Bone-Heads!

Oh, the excitement that deer season brings with it each and every year, isn’t it great? Peter Fiduccia of Woods N’ Water Press knows it all too well, and do...

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GUEST BLOG: Laura Schara, A Dad and His Daughters' Pheasant Hunt

As a child, Laura Schara loved to join her father on his pheasant hunts and the memories she made on these adventures still serve as a few of her fondest...

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GUEST BLOG: Ben Smith, The top expert quail hunting tips

Filson guest blogger Ben Smith, of Arizona Wanderings, takes us on one of his Gambel's quail hunts and leaves behind some of his expert tips. Read this and you will...

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GUEST BLOG: Grayson Schaffer, Ten lessons from the pheasant camp that is actually a dog camp

Always Bet on the UnderdogTen lessons from the pheasant camp that is actually a dog campSome people have Burning Man. For the last two years, I’ve cleared my schedule and...

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Guest Blog, Peter Fiduccia, Dressed to Kill

Peter Fiduccia, aka the Deer Doctor, is truly an expert in the field when it comes to hunting. In his first blog with Filson Life, Peter explains a vital aspect...

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GUEST BLOG: Tommy Ellis, Traditions Born

 It’s finally here! The opening of Dove Season and who better to celebrate with than Filson Life guest blogger, Tommy Ellis, who has grown up celebrating the first day of...

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Off the Grid with Brett Watts

Brett Watts is a flight mechanic with the U.S. Coast guard, currently stationed in Kodiak, AK.

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How To's

How to Make a European Mount

If you’re fortunate enough to harvest an antlered animal for the freezer this fall, a European mount is a tasteful way to display the antlers in your home or garage....

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Jessie Allen: More Than Miss Wyoming

Gathering around a campfire, fifteen women join for dinner. We spent the day riding horses to a secluded, high-alpine lake where we practiced yoga, fly fished and hiked to a...

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Duck Band: Friendship, Music, and Hunting

Friendships tend to be tribal in their origins - shared interests, hobbies, and lifestyles attract and keep folks together. For this group of friends, their love of music and duck...

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Mossy Oak Gamekeeper Kennels

Words are wasted on trying to describe the relationship between bird dog and owner. From the euphoria of lifting a mallard out of your retriever’s trained mouth for the first...

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The Democracy of The Wild with Jim Posewitz

In August of 1953, 18-year-old Jim Posewitz stepped off an overnight train onto the platform in Bozeman, Montana. He’d come west for the first time on a scholarship to play...

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Robertson Stykbow: Traditional Archery with Dick Robertson

Dick Robertson is the owner and founder of Robertson Stykbow in Forest Grove, MT. Dick has been designing and crafting some of the most beautiful and high-performance traditional bows for...

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Traditional Bowhunting Q and A with Hunter Rung

Hunter Rung is a hunting guide and traditional bowhunter from Montana. We caught up with him before he got into the mountains for fall hunting season to ask him about...

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Searching for Connection: Learning to Hunt with Erin Kiley

Erin Kiley is a grazier and grassland manager. For years she has found her connection to land and food through her work with cattle.

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Wilderness, a River, and My Old Man

Peter Hall and his father set out on a Yukon Moose hunt, by way of canoe, into the remote reaches of the Alaskan wilderness. The time they shared on the...

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A Fool's Errand

At times, shed hunting can seem a fool's errand. It can make you wonder why in the hell you’d ever thought it was a reasonable idea. Other times it is...

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Shed Hunting: Tips and Tactics

Last week we shared a beginner's perspective on springtime shed hunting and what you might encounter when heading into the hills for your first time in search of antlers. This...

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How To's

Sheds, Snow, and Steeps: A First-Timer's Notes on Shed Hunting

I grew up in the hardwood forests of the southeastern U.S. hunting whitetail deer with my grandfather. Much of what I consider valuable I learned from him, about life and...

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Knocking on Doors to Find Ducks in Idaho

In Idaho, some things are still done the old way. Hunting in this state is a rite of passage, an important part of conservation and land management in the region,...

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Alaska Chronicles Part 1: North of Wild

Brothers John and James were born and raised in Alaska. Both now in their 30s, John and James are now teachers of the great Alaskan pioneer tradition to their young...

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How To's, Food & Recipes

Filson Food: Game Meat Start to Finish

While it’s not for everyone to harvest an animal, it certainly opens your eyes to what goes into a respectful hunt, the emotions and efforts that go into being an...

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Season Reflection: The Winter Hunt

Nashville-based photographer Yve Assad and writer Will Fulford reflect on the past seasons hunt in anticipation for the next.

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