Cover by Terry Allen

With each story, from conception to curation to publication, we continue to learn things about the people, the places, the toys, the policies, and everything in between. We’ll never understand it all, but it sure is fun to try. And every issue offers at least one opportunity to learn something new.

In this issue of Covey Rise, we get to know a little about Drew Holcomb, a singer and songwriter with a quiet demeanor bolted onto an active and curious mind. It seems the music world, while presumably all-consuming, is just a part of what drives him. Then there’s The Teal Club, a duck hunting haven in Northern California. First, there’s the California thing, but Northern California has a vibrant hunting history, which is easy to forget when the state’s political chops are part of the conversation. It’s a reminder that none of us are defined entirely by our choices.

Fred Stivers reminds us of yet another shift in our thinking. His art is extraordinary and cleverly offered on everyday materials like paper bags and old shell boxes. That’s not the revelation to us, though. It’s more the impermanence of art that rings true, the notion that art changes, even in a time when we regard the old masters of art as museum worthy. It should heighten our senses to the artistic characteristics that surround us every day. Speaking of artistic characteristics, Gallyon Gunmakers’ coveted tribute to the land and history of the Holkham Estate has them in spades. Simon Reinhold takes us along on a shoot with the Gallyon team to teach us how they’re bringing Formula One technology to modern British gunmaking.

What better addition to your modern British gun than a modern British hat. Our feature on Hicks & Brown shares how Suffolk sisters Alice Leet-Cook and Rosie Turner started their millinery line after identifing a dearth of functionally fashionable, approachably priced hats for ladies who shoot. Back across the pond, we meet LandTrust.com CEO Nic De Castro— whose online marketplace resembles VRBO, Airbnb, or Uber, connecting buyers and sellers, in his case, of access to prime hunting ground. Technology eases searches, reservations, and payments, assuring a high-quality, do-it-yourself experience for hunters.

We don’t expect your response to necessarily be akin to ours, but we do hope you enjoy the magazine from beginning to end. That’s another benefit of this work. Our stories can take you to unexpected places and realizations, and that’s a bonus. To celebrate our shared passion for the sporting lifestyle is the goal. Thanks for reading.

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A History of The Teal Club: California’s hidden gem

Upland Troubadour: The meter and measure of Drew Holcomb

Gallyon and Holkham: Looking up and looking forward

Making Something Out of Nothing: Frederick Stivers and the art of the moment

By Order of Baker Boys & Fedoras: The sisters brim of Hicks & Brown

The Uber of Land Access: Conservation and capitalism