Evan Moak is a Washington-based upland hunter who came to bird hunting later in life and isn’t shy about the steep learning curve that came with it. Living in Puyallup (PEW ALL UP) with his wife Amber, their daughter Martha, and two dogs, Evan’s journey into the uplands truly began with Pete, his American Brittany and first bird dog. What started with preserve birds quickly grew into an obsession with chasing wild ruffed grouse in the thick cover of the Pacific Northwest. Each season has been a mix of hard lessons, struggle, and the kind of small wins that keep a hunter coming back, all shaped by the experience of figuring it out in real time rather than growing up in the tradition.

Evan’s approach to bird hunting blends effort, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the dogs and landscapes that make the pursuit meaningful. He spends the off-season sharpening his wingshooting through shotgun sports, invests in good instruction, and is steadily building a 2021 Ford Bronco into a capable rig for multi-day hunting trips. Photography is becoming part of the journey, too, with a long-term goal of one day ending a hunt by picking up a camera instead of loading another shell. For Evan, bird hunting is less about limits and more about the process — the cover walked, the dog work witnessed, and the lifelong education that only wild birds can provide.

Topics Covered:

• ​Evan's selection of the Brittany breed
• ​Barriers to bird hunting with his dog
• ​The extreme challenge of hunting ruffed grouse in the Pacific Northwest
• ​His recent first ruffed grouse harvest
• ​The secret bird of Texas
• ​Encouragement for new bird dog owners

Connect with Evan:

https://www.instagram.com/upland_evan/?hl=en

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