Jack Hennessy

Jack Hennessy grew up in the South Suburbs of Chicago and didn't start hunting until he attended graduate school in Spokane, Washington, at the age of 26. Hennessy began work in professional kitchens in high school but didn't start writing wild game recipes until he joined the Spokesman-Review in 2014. Since then, his recipes have appeared with Petersen's Hunting, Backcountry Journal, Gun Dog Magazine, among many others. He now lives with his wife, daughter, and Wirehaired Vizsla, Dudley, in Wichita, Kansas.

115 Articles Published | Follow:
a bowl of pheasant pho with chopsticks.
Easy Pheasant Pho

This quick adaptation of the classic Vietnamese soup uses a couple shortcuts to turn the…

Upland game meat and a knife ona cutting board to remove shot from meat
How to Avoid Serving Shot in Your Upland Bird Meals

Use these techniques when hunting, preparing, and cooking your upland game birds to avoid encountering…

Upland meat sticks on a table after dehydrating
Make Upland Bird Meat Sticks for an Easy, Wild Snack

Preserve your upland bird meat into these delicious, easy-to-carry snack strips or sticks This recipe…

Wild turkey meat in a bowl.
Wild Turkey Meat: Nutrition, Cooking, and Handling

Learn the basics of wild turkey meat, the typical flavor profile, and techniques for cooking…

Slow cooked shredded rabbit in lettuce wraps on a plate
Braised Barbecue Cottontail Lettuce Wraps

Cooked low and slow, shredded rabbit meat makes an excellent filling for healthy lettuce wraps…

Quail poppers roasted in a cast iron skillet
Quail Jalapeño Poppers

Love dove poppers? Try this twist on the popular upland bird snack for your next…

Shepherd's Pie, Upland-Style in a cast iron skillet
Shepherd’s Pie, Upland Style

More aptly called Bird Dog’s Pie, this savory dish uses any upland bird meat Despite…

A cell phone on a table setting with fruit
How to Take Better Food Photos with Just Your Phone

Capture your wild game dishes in a way that honors the hunt, the game, and…

Three pulled-pheasant tacos on a colorful plate
Pheasant Thigh Tacos With Mango Salsa

Upland game bird thighs make perfect shredded taco meat when slow-cooked and braised Bird thighs…

Rooster pheasants aging in front of license plates in the background
How and Why You Should Age Your Upland Bird Meat

Aging upland birds tenderizes the meat and concentrates the flavor, taking your wild game cooking…

Mesquite barbecued pheasant on a cutting board
Kansas Mesquite Barbecued Pheasant

True barbecue is done low and slow; try this smoked pheasant recipe to elevate your…

Game bird pieces on a cutting board ready for cooking
How to Butcher an Upland Game Bird

How, when, and why to break down upland game birds for cooking, along with instructions…

Turkey Tikka Masala plated with basmati rice
Wild Turkey Tikka Masala

Tackle turkey legs with a long marinade and a low-and-slow simmer to get a tender,…

Upland Biscuits and Gravy
Upland Biscuits and Gravy

Enjoy this quintessential breakfast classic with wild, upland bird sausage In my opinion, a good…

A chukar roasts on a seltzer can over a fire
Seltzer Can Chukar

Beer can chicken finds new life in this wild game recipe adaptation that uses a…

Canned quail stew in a bowl with a spoon
Preserved or Canned Quail

Preserve this year’s bird count by canning your quail to enjoy the rich flavors throughout…

Rabbit gnocchi with mushroom cream sauce
Braised Rabbit Gnocchi with Mushroom Cream Sauce

Bring some variety into the kitchen with this versatile mushroom cream sauce that pairs well…

Four cranberry glazed quail on a cast iron skillet with a basting brush
Spicy Brandy Cranberry Glazed Quail

Add some spice to your holidays with this celebration of roasted quail paired with seasonal…

An upland burger sits on a table ready to eat.
All-American Upland Burger

Bring this summer cooking tradition into hunting season with this recipe for upland game hamburgers…

Seared pheasant breast with bourbon rosemary glaze
Cast-Iron Pheasant with Bourbon and Rosemary Glaze

Get a perfect, crispy skin on your pheasant with this cast-iron searing technique and finish…

Maple smoked pheasant on a fall-themed plate
Maple-Smoked Pheasant

Demystify the perfect smoked game bird with this easy recipe for smoked whole pheasant I…