2025: A Year in Conservation Film and Photography Work

2025 Field Work and Film Projects

This year took me from the Gulf Coast to the Arizona desert, into the mountains of Oregon, across the Texas Hill Country, and down to the South Padre Island flats. I spent the year documenting conservation work, hunting opportunities, fisheries, and events that highlight the people who keep wildlife conservation moving forward. Below is a detailed look at the major projects I covered in 2025.

Desert Bighorn Sheep Guzzler in the Harcuvar Mountains

In Arizona’s Harcuvar Mountains, I documented the construction of a seventeen thousand gallon water catchment system funded and supported by the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Arizona Game and Fish, and private landowners.

The site required significant groundwork. Crews had to carve a stable pad out of old mining cuts, move heavy rock, and deal with rugged access roads that limited vehicle support. Helicopters were brought in to transport materials to the upper slopes. The apron panels, measuring seventy-two by thirty-six feet, can capture over sixteen hundred gallons from a single inch of rain.

This project strengthens a ten mile corridor between existing herds and demonstrates how coordinated efforts between private and public partners can expand habitat for desert bighorn sheep.

It was an amazing experience cowboy camping under the stars with the volunteers in the middle of the Arizona desert and waking up to the moon casting the shadows of cactus down onto my face as the coyotes howled off in the distance. I will never forget going to bed cold in my sleeping bag and conversely drinking an entire case of water and gatorade and somehow still getting dehydrated as the daytime temperatures rose well over 100 degrees.

Women Hunt 2025 Group Photo

Women Hunt Field to Fork at FTW Ranch

I filmed, photographed, and handled social media for the 2025 Women Hunt Field to Fork program at FTW Ranch. Participants received in-depth instruction through the SAAM shooting curriculum, which covered positional shooting, accuracy under field conditions, and decision-making.

The course continued into the field, where hunters applied what they learned and then completed the full processing of their harvested animals. The footage shows the entire progression and highlights the value of properly structured hunter education.

This trip re-awoke my passion for hunting. Watching these women all take their first deer on a hunt reminded my why I got into hunting and conservation in the first place. I have to admit I got burned out on the politics of it all and I really needed this experience to help me reignite my passion for hunting and conservation.

Oregon California Bighorn Sheep Hunt

In Oregon, I documented a California bighorn sheep hunt for the Wild Sheep Foundation. It was arranged through a cooperative effort involving the Wild Sheep Foundation, state wildlife managers, outfitters, and landowners. The hunt was created to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a young hunter undergoing cancer treatment.

Oregon Sheep Hunt

The team spent long days glassing in steep country with rain and shifting visibility. When two rams were located moving across a slope, everyone repositioned quickly, working against time and terrain. The hunter pushed through physical challenges to get into position and made a clean, effective shot.

The film records the teamwork, preparation, and support that made the hunt possible, as well as the significance of the moment for the family involved. It stands as a strong example of how hunting can create meaningful experiences during difficult times.

This was one of the most technically difficult filming opportunities of the year. Capturing wildlife in steep and unforgiving terrain while also filming an active hunt is tough, but it is what I live for. Pushing my physical and filming limits is always invigorating. The kid who participated in the hunt is such an inspiration. Never once did he complain even while we sat in the cold and rain for hours on end waiting for an opportunity to take a shot. I will never forget this trip and I often think back on it to remind myself to be grateful.

Great White Sharks in the Gulf

For Gulf Great White Sharks The Return of an Icon, produced with Chester Moore, we pulled together interviews with scientists, charter captains, and coastal residents, as well as historical accounts and modern tracking data provided by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

A tagged white shark named Lee Beth provided key insight after traveling from the Carolinas into the Gulf, pinging off Louisiana and Texas before moving into Mexican waters. Her track showed a level of westward movement no tagged white shark had documented before.

Interviews with world renowned researchers such as Dr. Megan Winton and Dr. Greg Skomal helped explain how modern technology is redefining what we know about white shark migrations, depth profiles, and international management challenges. Charter captains provided firsthand encounters that matched the scientific data. The film brings all of this together to show an accurate picture of white shark activity in the Gulf.

I’ll never forget hanging off the front of a boat with my camera and seeing the iconic Great White Shark a few feet under me. What an amazing experience I will forever be grateful for.

guide Trae Pena and Captain Scooby of Mudfish Adventures

South Padre Island Redfish Project for Mudfish Adventures

For Mudfish Adventures, I filmed a fly fishing trip targeting redfish on the flats around South Padre Island. The footage supports a marketing campaign for their custom fly rod line.

We worked shallow grass and sand pockets, where casts had to be accurate and fast. Changing wind and light required constant adjustments. Several fish followed flies close enough to show rod performance during quick presentations and sudden runs. The goal was to capture how the rods handle real fishing situations, not staged scenarios.

I am so gracious to be able to catch a redfish on this trip! It has been on my bucket list and I want to thank Captain Scooby and Trae Pena for making this happen for me. Get yourself a custom Mudfish Adventures fly rod!

Hunt Fish Podcast Summit

In March 2025, I provided photography, video coverage, and social media management for the Hunt Fish Podcast Summit. The event brought together podcasters, conservation groups, and industry representatives to record conversations focused on wildlife, habitat, fisheries, hunting, funding, and community involvement.

My role was to document interviews, interactions, and behind-the-scenes work and to ensure that each day of the event received consistent online coverage. The resulting content helped expand the reach of the summit and gave viewers a clear look at the conservation topics discussed.

Hunt Fish Podcast Summit 2025

I’ve been working with Derek York since the inception of the Hunt Fish Podcast Summit over five years ago and it is always an honor to be involved.

Closing Thoughts

Every project this year depended on people committed to wildlife, habitat, and access. The Wild Sheep Foundation, Women Hunt, researchers, instructors, volunteers, guides, anglers, and families all played critical roles in making these efforts possible.

I am grateful for the trust placed in me to document these projects and honored to work with organizations and individuals who take conservation seriously. The opportunities I had in 2025 mean a great deal, and I look forward to continuing this work wherever it leads next! Thank you to everyone who hired me this year!