Legends of the Wild, Episode 11

Inside the Art of the Hunt: Ryan Kirby on Whitetails, Field & Stream, and Legacy
Host: Sam Soholt | Guest: Ryan Kirby
Date: November 5, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sam Soholt sits down with renowned wildlife artist Ryan Kirby to delve into the intersection of hunting, conservation, and art. They discuss Kirby’s role in Field & Stream’s magazine revival, the pivotal moments that shaped his artistic journey, the process behind his celebrated infographics, and the legacy of wildlife art in the outdoor world. Listeners are treated to a candid and inspiring conversation loaded with hunting tales, behind-the-scenes insights, and thoughts on balancing life, family, and creative passion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Balancing Life, Hunting, and Art

• Both Sam and Ryan reflect on the difficulty of finding time for personal passions like hunting while managing work and young families.
  • Sam describes prepping family responsibilities so he can “be present” both at home and at deer camp:
    “I get all of my work stuff done, but also be a good dad and husband ... So that way, when I am out in the field, I’m not like, oh, man, I should have got that done when I was at home.” (01:08–01:57)
  • Ryan shares the struggle of missing a perfect deer hunting day due to work and upcoming travel for hunting:
    “We had a crazy weather cold front come through and last night was perfect ... But I want to go deer hunting in Illinois next week.” (00:49–01:08)

Field & Stream Magazine Revival & Kirby’s Cover Art

• Sam and Ryan discuss the return of Field & Stream to print and Ryan’s artwork featured on its cover.
  • The magazine’s new philosophy: fewer, premium-quality issues with less ad space, emphasizing stories, photos, and art (“It’s more of like a coffee table book than anything because the print quality is super high.” – Sam, 06:04–06:45)
  • Field & Stream bucks modern magazine trends by commissioning original cover art and reprinting classic covers—sacrificing ad revenue for creative value.
    • “For them to forego the advertising revenue for the back cover to do something cool was awesome … So they wanted to pick an old historic cover to run on the back, and then I would paint the front in sort of a modern style.” (05:04–05:59)
  • Ryan reminisces about the legacy of art on outdoor magazine covers:
    “There’s an old school vibe you just can’t get from a photo.” (05:04–05:59)

Ryan Kirby’s Artistic Journey

• Origins: Kirby grew up on a farm in Hamilton, Illinois, drawn to art and wildlife from a young age, strongly influenced by skilled local art teachers and a natural drive for detail.
  • “People think that, like, light shone down from heaven and you were ordained with artistic ability. It’s like, no, dude… I had a really good middle school and high school art teacher that taught the fundamentals.” (08:35–09:16)
• Early Success:
  • Won the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest at 16, catalyzing his career and exposing him to the prospect of being a working artist.
    • “That was a really cool experience because I got to see art as a career and the potential of doing things bigger than small town Midwest.” (11:40–12:36)
  • Local commissions painting hunting dogs and participating in conservation art initiatives
• Professional Arc:
  • Started at the National Wild Turkey Federation as a graphic designer, blending skills in art, illustration, and production (13:41–14:14)
  • Eventually transitioned to full-time freelance—balancing illustration, graphic design, and client/editorial work

Anatomy of Wildlife Art: Reference, Research, and Authenticity

• Creating Realistic Wildlife Art:
  Kirby discusses sourcing reference materials and the challenge of authentically capturing wildlife moments:
  • Uses a mix of his own photos, professional wildlife photographers’ shots, and sometimes stock images.
    • “There’s usually two ways that I get hit with a painting idea: I see a scene and imagine the wildlife in it … Or sometimes I just see a pose of an animal that I think is really cool.” (22:29–25:30)
  • Attention to biological accuracy, especially for hunter audiences:
    “If you don’t authentically know what that scene looks like, you’re not going to be able to paint in the way where it’s believable to a hunter.” (25:35–26:43)
• Common Mistakes in Wildlife Art:
  Critiques examples where biological or behavioral details are off—like paintings of buck, doe, and fawn together in spring, which is impossible:
  • “Bucks are the biggest deadbeat dads you’ve ever met in your life.” – Ryan (26:53–27:00)

The “Infographics” Series: Blending Education and Fine Art

• Origin & Creative Process:
  Kirby's background in graphic design and illustration led to the creation of wildly popular wildlife infographics, including waterfowl flyways, whitetail aging, and more.
  • “As a graphic designer or illustrator or even a fine artist, you are a communicator. You’re trying to convey an emotion or information or … entertain them.” (29:16–30:30)
  • Disciplined production: “With the waterfowl deal, I made myself do three [sketches] a day … one of those could have been done at 10 o’clock at night after we put kids to bed ... but I had to do three a day.” (33:14–33:39)
• Science & Accuracy:
  Collaborates with biologists to ensure that info is “scientifically backed”—navigating challenges in presenting variables (like deer weight and antler size) that differ by geography.
  • “Everything has to be percentages or kind of general rules … what can we accurately say about deer versus what’s backed by science?” (36:09–37:50)
• The Whitetail Anatomy Print:
  Inspired by classical medical illustration—Kirby leans into his interest in physiology and anatomy for detailed cutaway-style deer artwork, blending art and science for educational print:
  • “I always had a really big interest in anatomy and physiology and … field dressing a deer can teach you just as much as anything.” (39:50–41:33)

Legacy, Visibility, and Where Kirby’s Art is Found

• Kirby’s artwork reaches millions without many people knowing his name—featured on Field & Stream, ammunition boxes, and even NASCAR.
  • Sam notes: “If people might not know who you are, but they’ve seen your artwork … that’s the cool thing.” (43:34–43:57)
  • Ryan’s favorite placements:
    • Personal commissions for athletes (e.g., Carlos Rodon of the Yankees)
    • Winchester ammo boxes: “Those are some ways where I can contribute to other people’s experience outdoors, and I think that’s cool.” (45:51)
    • Reflects on legacy: “It’d make me proud if … one of the grandkids wants the Kirby piece. If I can enrich their outdoor lifestyle … that’s my lane to stay in.” (47:18–48:03)

New Projects & Where to Find Ryan Kirby

• Recent launch: Trout infographic print after strong demand from the angling community (48:32–48:48)
• Creative process centers in the summer; busy season (holidays) is dedicated to fulfilling orders and running the business (49:48–50:06)
• Connect with Ryan:
  • Website: ryankirby.com
  • Instagram: @ryankirbyart
  • Other platforms: Facebook, YouTube, TikTok (50:16–50:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Power of Old-School Magazine Art

“There’s an old school vibe that you just can’t get from a photo.”
— Ryan, 05:04

On Authenticity in Wildlife Art

“If you don’t authentically know what that scene looks like, you’re not going to be able to paint in the way where it’s believable to a hunter.”
— Ryan, 25:35

Buck, Doe, and Fawn Together?

“Bucks are the biggest deadbeat dads you’ve ever met in your life. They don’t coach T-ball.”
— Ryan, 26:53

Infographic Workflow

“With the waterfowl deal, I made myself do three a day. No matter what was happening … even if it was at 10 o’clock at night after we put kids to bed, and I’m doing it with a liquor drink, like sketching at night.”
— Ryan, 33:14

On Legacy

“It'd make me proud if, like, you know, when grandpa's hunt camp gets sold, one of the grandkids wants the Kirby piece. If I can contribute to people’s experience and enrich their outdoor lifestyle, that's my lane to stay in.”
— Ryan, 48:03

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02–03:00: Introductions, balancing family and hunting during peak season
• 03:00–07:58: Field & Stream magazine revival; Kirby’s modern/traditional cover art
• 08:22–14:14: Kirby’s upbringing, early artistic influences, and the Junior Duck Stamp contest
• 18:38–21:19: Stories of traveling, live events, and TSA mishaps with art gear
• 22:29–27:00: The process and philosophy behind creating authentic wildlife imagery
• 28:38–33:39: The origin and intense discipline of Kirby’s infographic projects
• 35:29–37:50: Science, collaboration with biologists, and the challenge of visualizing deer age and anatomy
• 43:34–48:03: Reflecting on the reach and legacy of Kirby’s art; notable collaborations and favorite projects
• 48:32–51:03: New projects, business behind the art, and how to connect with Ryan

Find more stories and art from the wild at ryankirby.com and follow @ryankirbyart on Instagram.