About

Hey, I'm Dave.

Hunter, trapper, fisherman, and snowmobiler from Will County, Illinois.

I've been chasing birds, deer, and fur for most of my adult life. These days most of my time outdoors is [placeholder: favorite pursuits, e.g. upland birds with my dogs, bowhunting whitetails, running a trapline].

I started the Faxel Outdoors YouTube channel to share what I'm learning, from setting a 110 Conibear to cooking venison chili to hunting grouse in North Dakota and ducks in Alaska. The newsletter is the next step: a simple weekly email for Midwest hunters who want the useful stuff without digging through ten websites.

I've spent about 20 years in sales and working with people, so I'll keep it plain and honest. If I haven't tried something, I'll tell you.

I hunt with two dogs: Cooper, my Brittany, and Dakota, my Deutsch Drahthaar. My son is starting to get into the outdoors with me too, and passing this on to him is a big part of why I do it.

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Dave with two dogs and a shotgun beside a walk-in conservation area sign, sharp-tailed grouse hanging from the sign
Dave in blaze orange holding a limit of rooster pheasantsDave holding a big musky on a boat at nightDave kneeling in snow with his dog and a Canada goose

More photos in the gallery →

What I'm into

Dave kneeling with his dog and a shotgun, a limit of rooster pheasants in front

Upland & grouse

Pheasants, grouse, and Huns behind the dogs, plus the Grouse Quest.

Dave with his dog and a pile of snow geese among decoys

Waterfowl

Ducks and geese, from flooded timber to snowy fields.

Dave in camo with a big whitetail buck

Deer & big game

Archery and gun seasons in Illinois, plus a western trip when I can.

Dave holding a big musky on a boat at night

Fishing & sleds

Open water, ice, and snowmobile trails when it's cold.

Trapping

Fur season sets, gear, and how-to.