Cover by Lee Kjos

Tis the season, and the upland sporting lifestyle is the gift that keeps on giving. Now’s the time to celebrate whatever draws you into the conversation—whether it may be the dogs, the travel, the food, or the guns.

In this issue of Covey Rise, we lead with a transition, a changing of the guard, and a vigilant eye on the future at Wildrose Kennels. We take a look at the human force behind the steadiest dogs in the business. Historical perspective also serves us well as we delve into the magic at Landrum Tables, a maker of furniture from salvaged and reclaimed wood from the bones of Charleston. The Stissing House also has a rich history. The Upstate New York dining destination blends that past with a unique offering of today’s favorites in a setting that has seen a lot of familiar faces and heard a lot of great tales over the last century and more. That same time frame has seen a handful of innovations in sporting-arms design, but we take a look at a few of the features we take for granted that have their roots in centuries-old designs and patents. It seems nothing lasts quite like great ideas. Then, to clear your head of all this history, we travel to Argentina and Los Laureles, where shooting and hospitality meet by the fire and weave a great story.

We round out the issue with columnist G. Clay Whittaker, who offers us a fresh perspective on Scotch, including how it’s made and what makes one different from another; cigar columnist Maggie Kimberl, who teaches us about the Ferio Tego Cigar Company, founded by cigar industry luminary Michael Herklots; and wine columnist Jordan Mackay, who challenges us to view boutique brands and corporate consumption from a new lens.

A working knowledge of iambic pentameter is not required to enjoy the stories we’ve assembled for you. We recommend, though, a quiet corner, good lighting, a suitable beverage, and a moment to yourself. We hope you are drawn further into the upland conversation, and we appreciate you spending that moment with us.

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Los Laureles: The treasure of Argentina

Wildrose Revisited: Training, transition, and trust

Timeless Victorian Inventions: History’s hand on today’s sporting guns

Fresh Fare and a Side of History: Hudson Valley’s Stissing House

Perfect Imperfection: Tangible connections to history through artisan furnishings

Unanswered Questions: Bobwhite harvest research in South Texas