Ryan Lisson

Ryan Lisson is a biologist and regular content contributor to several outdoor manufacturers, hunting shows, publications, and blogs. He is an avid small game, turkey, and whitetail hunter from northern Minnesota and loves managing habitat almost as much as hunting. Ryan is also passionate about helping other adults experience the outdoors for their first time, which spurred him to launch Zero to Hunt, a website devoted to mentoring new hunters.

66 Articles Published | Follow:
A sharp-tailed grouse dances on lek in Wisconsin
Modernizing Sharp-Tailed Grouse Lek Survey Methods

Spying on sharp-tailed grouse with trail cameras in Wisconsin About a year ago, I attended…

Passenger pigeon vintage bird lithograph - James De Kay, Zoology of NY
The Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon

Learning about bird species extinction from the passenger pigeon Unless you’re pretty conservation-minded, you may…

A Merriam’s Wild Turkey strutting
Life History of the Merriam’s Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami)

Pursuing the beautiful mountain bird — the Merriam’s Wild Turkey Just as the Eastern wild turkey is known for…

A ruffed grouse sitting in a tree
Can We Stop the Decline of the Ruffed Grouse?

The future of ruffed grouse and the health of North American forests are at a…

Close up of an Eastern cottontail rabbit.
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit – History, Hunting, and Biology

Learn About Eastern Cottontail Rabbits and How to Hunt Them Whether you live in a…

A sage grouse flying to new cover
The Impact of Conifers in Sage Grouse Habitat

Combating the spread of conifer trees to save sage grouse Most people assume that more…

A grouse takes flight on a prairie
What Defines the Grouse Family?

Similarities and differences within the grouse family of North America, part of the Galliformes order…

A bird hunter loads his shotgun with lead shot.
The Science Behind Lead Shot and the Effects on Upland Birds

Looking at both sides of the lead shot debate and its effects on the environment…

A biologist hunting bobwhite quail on native quail habitat.
How Native Prairies Can Help Save Bobwhite Quail

A recent study in Missouri suggests quail management may have to change to account for…

Pheasant flush out of habitat in the Midwest
How to Identify Pheasant Habitat

Understanding pheasant habitat and how to look for it throughout its range will make you…

A Rio Grande turkey strutting in a field
Rio Grande Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia)

The Rio Grande wild turkey is more than just a Texas bird  The Rio Grande subspecies…

A mountain quail in a mountain meadow.
Mountain Quail: An Upland Game Bird Profile

The remote mountain bird that makes you work for it The Mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus)…

A Eurasian Collared-Dove sits on a branch
Eurasian Collared-Dove – A Migratory Game Bird Profile

Extra dove hunting opportunities for this non-native species the Eurasian Collared Dove As you might…

A Snowshoe hair standing the snow.
Snowshoe Hare – A Small Game Species Profile

Learn about the snowshoe hare, its habitat and how to hunt the aptly-named small game…

A gould's wild turkey walking in an opening in New Mexico. .
Gould’s Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana) – A Wild Turkey Profile

The story of America’s largest and rarest turkey subspecies The Gould’s turkey (Meleagris gallopavo mexicana)…

An Eastern gray squirrel runs along a tree limb.
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) – A Small Game Species Profile

Tree rats, bushy tails, and squirrels – great no matter what you call them We…

A white winged dove standing on a branch
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) – A Migratory Game Bird Profile

How to hunt this flashy and early-migrating species known as the white-winged dove The white-winged…

A group of sharp-tailed grouse feed in a tree during cold weather.
How Climate Change is Affecting Sharp-tailed Grouse

A look into the factual science of sharp-tailed grouse and their future I grew up…

A scaled quail walking in their native habitat.
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) – Life History of the Blue Quail

Chasing the desert quail of the arid southwest The scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) is a…

A White-tailed Ptarmigan sits on a rock and blends in with its surroundings.
White-Tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) – Biology and Life History

Learning about the smallest member of the grouse family the ptarmigan Ptarmigan are some of…

An American crow sitting on a branch.
American Crow – A Game Bird Species Profile

Would you hunt (and eat) crows? Ready for an unusual one? The American crow (Corvus…