Dac Collins

News Editor

About

Dac Collins is the News Editor at Outdoor Life. He helps tell the latest stories about America’s hunters and anglers while reporting on critical conservation issues, oftentimes with a fly rod or shotgun in hand. He lives in Colorado with his wife and son.

Experience

Collins got started in journalism while writing for his college newspaper, The Sewanee Purple. An obsession with fly fishing and river running led him to the Pacific Northwest, where he guided fishing trips on remote wilderness rivers for several years. An unabashed fish nerd, Collins is drawn to all things water-related. When he’s not covering the conservation beat for Outdoor Life, he’s out exploring his local rivers.

Education

Collins graduated from Sewanee: The University of the South with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in Spanish.

Highlights

A recovering trout bum and steelhead junky, and a disciple of John Gierach, Joe Brooks, and Tom McGuane.
Enjoys thinking and writing about the “why” behind outdoor pursuits, and exploring the deep connection between humans and the natural world.
Previously worked as a freelancer, staff writer, and editor at weekly newspapers and alt-weeklies in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

Notable Works

How a Dam Malfunction on the Madison River Nearly Wrecked a Blue-Ribbon Fishery
Outdoor Life
When Non-Resident Hunters Killed Elk in Populated Areas This Fall, It Turned into a Hunting PR Nightmare
Outdoor Life
Trout Unlimited Lawsuit Is a Win for Salmon, Deals Another Blow to Pebble Mine
Outdoor Life
United By a River, Divided Over Management
Columbia Insight
A Tribute to Wild and Scenic Rivers: The Deschutes, Part 1
Columbia Insight
A Tribute to Wild and Scenic Rivers: The Deschutes, Part 2
Columbia Insight

Words of Wisdom

“Never leave fish to find fish.” – Moses

Dac Collins

About

Experience

Education

Highlights

Notable Works

Words of Wisdom

More from Dac Collins

$1.3 Million Bighorn Sheep Tag Sets Record for Most Expensive Auction Tag Ever $1.3 Million Bighorn Sheep Tag Sets Record for Most Expensive Auction Tag Ever

Wyoming Senators Demand 50 Million Acres of Federal Land. It’s Part of a Coordinated Land-Grab by Western States Wyoming Senators Demand 50 Million Acres of Federal Land. It’s Part of a Coordinated Land-Grab by Western States

After Record Levels of Cancer-Causing Chemicals Were Found in a New Mexico Lake, Hunters Are Urged to Contact Their Doctors After Record Levels of Cancer-Causing Chemicals Were Found in a New Mexico Lake, Hunters Are Urged to Contact Their Doctors

Podcast: How to Wage War on Poaching, According to a Former South African General Podcast: How to Wage War on Poaching, According to a Former South African General

Watch: Fishing Guide Who Rescued Drowning Vultures in the Gulf Says They Must Have Fallen from the Sky Watch: Fishing Guide Who Rescued Drowning Vultures in the Gulf Says They Must Have Fallen from the Sky

As L.A. Wildfires Burn, Fish Rescuers Use Buckets, Backpacks to Save 271 of the Last Remaining Steelhead in SoCal Creek As L.A. Wildfires Burn, Fish Rescuers Use Buckets, Backpacks to Save 271 of the Last Remaining Steelhead in SoCal Creek

Georgia Confirms Its First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease Georgia Confirms Its First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease

Stranded Hunters Survive Freezing Night on the Water by Building a Fire with Duck Decoys in Their Cooler Stranded Hunters Survive Freezing Night on the Water by Building a Fire with Duck Decoys in Their Cooler

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Releases Second Batch of Wolves Amid Threats, Rumors, and Growing Controversy Colorado Parks and Wildlife Releases Second Batch of Wolves Amid Threats, Rumors, and Growing Controversy

Hunting for Poachers Amid South Africa’s Bloody Wildlife War Hunting for Poachers Amid South Africa’s Bloody Wildlife War

Wyoming Lawmakers Want to Quadruple Hunting License Application Fees Wyoming Lawmakers Want to Quadruple Hunting License Application Fees

L.A. Wildfires Torched One of SoCal’s Last Remaining Steelhead Streams L.A. Wildfires Torched One of SoCal’s Last Remaining Steelhead Streams

Grizzly Bears Will Remain on Endangered Species List, Feds Say Grizzly Bears Will Remain on Endangered Species List, Feds Say

Feds’ Expansion of Okefenokee NWR Could Help Prevent a Proposed Mine There — If It Sticks Feds’ Expansion of Okefenokee NWR Could Help Prevent a Proposed Mine There — If It Sticks

Ranchers Submit $582K Bill for Colorado Wolf Damages, Which Could Drain the State’s Depredation Fund Entirely Ranchers Submit $582K Bill for Colorado Wolf Damages, Which Could Drain the State’s Depredation Fund Entirely

Pacific Northwest Angler Earned $164K for Catching Pikeminnow, Shattering the Payout Record Pacific Northwest Angler Earned $164K for Catching Pikeminnow, Shattering the Payout Record

Patriots Hall-of-Famer Caught Turkey Hunting Behind Stadium Says ‘I Hunted that Property Forever’ Patriots Hall-of-Famer Caught Turkey Hunting Behind Stadium Says ‘I Hunted that Property Forever’

Bowhunter with 86 Bulls to His Credit Tags a Pending World-Record Elk Bowhunter with 86 Bulls to His Credit Tags a Pending World-Record Elk

The Biggest Bucks of 2024 The Biggest Bucks of 2024

CJ Alexander to Serve Time, Pay $43K for Poaching Giant Ohio Buck and Trying to Cover It Up CJ Alexander to Serve Time, Pay $43K for Poaching Giant Ohio Buck and Trying to Cover It Up