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Chris Ingram

@chris.ingram802

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🐿️🐶 Feist Fancier
📚Publications Manager: @ukcdogs @american.field
📝📸Writer & Photographer
✝️Following faith, feathers, fur, fins, and dogs.
📍Vermont

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Why is it that hunters and trappers tend to shy away from using their emotional connections and spiritual motiviations to defend their activities. They are quick to turn to using protective buzz words like “science-based wildlife management,” “conservation,” and “tradition” to counter the advancing anti-hunting/anti-trapping movement.

Our opponents are controlling the conversations and influencing legislation fueled on wild emotion and irrational feelings, paying no mind to reason, logic, and sound science. You’ll never convince them otherwise nor even be able to wedge a seed of consideration into their viewpoints. But why is it that hunters and trappers almost apologeticlly use a common and worn out rhetoric to justify their most personal, intimate, and visceral beliefs and lifestyle?

Over the weekend I watched the premiere of the Vermont Trappers Association film, “Trappers, Stewards of the Wild,” at the Yankee Sportsman’s Classic, and while it was full of facts, truth, and evidence to support trapping, it was refreshing and enlighening to see several trappers expressing deep and sincere emotion (shedding tears) for their chosen lifestyle.

Don’t apologize for being a hunter or a trapper, and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and show your emotion. Can we normalize hunters and trappers sharing their feelings, too??

#hunting #hunter #trapping #trapper #conservation #wildlifeconservation #wildlifemanagement #furtakersofamerica #furtaker #furharvest #furbearer #trappingseason by @chris.ingram802

Issue 001 Fall 2026 is available later this month. by @chris.ingram802

Happy Halloween, let’s shake those bones!

#halloween #kennyanddolly #squirreldog by @chris.ingram802

I am pleased to share the exciting news that I recently won a few awards, including a first place Best in Publishing for American Field Fall '25 issue with @aglowoutdoors along with a third place for our Spring '26 issue and a third place in photography. I also was awarded a third place for 'Magazine - Humor' with @owaa_official for 'Grouse Bum Seeks Wingman.'

Huge thank you to these incredible outdoor writers organizations, the judges, our contributors, and my team at @american.field

#outdoorwriter #editor #humorist #huntingmagazine by @chris.ingram802

Today is a very special day for Juni and I, marked by the first squirrel she treed that I shot out to her this morning.

It’s hard to articulate the range of emotions I’m feeling, between the buzz of excitement and smitten admiration and pride for my pup, but there’s also something very bittersweet underlying it all. For over a year we’ve been working toward this moment. I dreamt about it. I prepared tirelessly for it. I tried many times even to manage the outcome of it. I wondered what it would be like and how I would feel when it finally happened. As we finished gun breaking and e-collar conditioning last week, I knew this time was nearing.

After the adrenaline wore off late this morning, I realized something big had shifted. There’s now a hole in the space where this longstanding, collective goal used to live. Something we’ve been working on together for over a year is now in the past, and we can never go back. I can’t help but feel like I am already missing that time spent just trying to arrive here. Juni was there with me every day, ready for whatever I asked, and we seemed to hold each other accountable to ensure we arrived here together.

With this major milestone now checked off, I am also noticing a new form of joy entering my heart. Gratitude and fulfillment sharing a walk in the woods with friends, praise from others for raising such a fine, young pup, mentoring new hunters through squirrel hunting, and exposing our little sphere of influence to the wild and wonderful feist breed. I’m not sure just exactly what’s next for us, but I know without a doubt I’m going to enjoy the journey with Juni at my side.

#squirreldogs #squirrelhunt #treedog #feistdog #treeingfeist by @chris.ingram802

I had the privilege to help coordinate a Vermont goose hunt recently. This was an incredible collaboration between several organizations and individuals coming together for a common good: to mentor some eager young adult hunters. From Vermont Fish & Wildlife and Delta Waterfowl to Middlebury College and UVM to the Underhill Rod & Gun Club and a few good friends who gave up their weekend (and even a hunting lease) to help put eight students on their first-ever hunt, we truly had a weekend for the memory books.

On Saturday we went up to the Underhill club to meet and greet and learn about firearm safety, as the students quickly built confidence breaking clays. If you’re ever in the area, this top-notch facility is well worth the trip. After leaving the range, we enjoyed a quality meal, fellowship, and conversation before catching a few hours of sleep.

Sunday morning was met with nip in the air under a low cloud ceiling with a slight drizzle—ideal weather for ‘fowling. After setting the spread, we hunkered down in standing corn to watch over the decoys. A single goose came in early and prevented the gang from getting skunked. After sharing our excitement and passing around the must-have blind snacks of Chips Ahoy, Zebra Cakes, and the crowd-pleasing Pop Tarts, we had two sizable flocks converge to give us a spectacular show, circling overhead in a choral cacophony before dropping into the decoys. We called the shot and several students gave it their best shot. The dogs got some retrieves as we high-fived and celebrated the incredible display of avian aeronautics we just witnessed. The rain then settled into a steady stream so we packed it up and pitched our pop-up tents for a field-to-table lunch.

Delta staff led the students through processing and cleaning the birds, and proceeded to grind up the meat into the best dang burgers we’ve ever had, complete with carmelized onions, tangy BBQ sauce, and pepperjack cheese packed inside a sweet King’s Hawaiian roll. Life doesn’t get much better than this friends … well, aside from the essential post-hunt, full-belly cat nap!

#mentorship #deltawaterfowl #goosehunting by @chris.ingram802

Another great weekend of mentoring college students through the “Learn To Hunt” program. A few more classroom sessions and a field day before culminating with our annual squirrel hunt!

#huntereducation #huntersafety #mentorship #nextgeneration by @chris.ingram802

✅ Mark Your Calendars!

🪿 Don’t miss the 25th annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day coming up on Saturday, October 3 at the Dead Creek WMA in Addison, VT.

😁 We have a family-friendly, fun-filled day planned for all ages with activities ranging from live critters, wildlife watching, and to working dog demos and a youth duck calling contest, to food, games, and raffles. Come for the day or drop by for an hour.

🔗 See more details and full schedule of events at link in bio.

#deadcreekwma #vermontfall #vermontlife #vermontwildlife by @chris.ingram802

This one hit home because it’s a first byline for our local sporting publication, and it also provides me a new outlet in my pursuit of spinning outdoor yarns.

“That’s What Friends Are For” is a fictional tale about two bird hunting buddies whose competitive friendship is built on sarcasm and trading jabs, and showcases the lengths one hunting partner will go to settle the score once and for all before opening day.

Many thanks to John Pellegrini and the team at Vermont Sporting Journal for the opportunity. Check out the full Sept/Oct issue through the link in bio!

#huntinghumor #outdooryarn #birdhunting #dogtraining #bestfriends by @chris.ingram802

Sometimes what’s more memorable than a banner day are the tough ones when all does not go right, along with lessons learned along the way.

A few recent edits: “Why We Miss” in @ruffedgrousesociety Covers Magazine ‘Shotguns’ department and “Foul Weather Wisdom” feature for @pointingdogjournal

#wingshooting #birdhunting #birddog #uplandhunting #grousehunting by @chris.ingram802

Making progress on the net project…

#handmade #vermontmade #gofishing by @chris.ingram802

Happy gotcha day little Juni. What a year it’s been. You’re only a little bigger now but our hearts have grown tremendously larger to make space for all your sweetness, silliness, and sass.

#gotchaday #gotchadayanniversary #feistdog #squirreldog by @chris.ingram802