A.j. DeRosa

New Hampshire

Creative Director and Founder at Project Upland

Founder of Project Upland | New Hampshire Fish & Game Commisioner | Muse @sabspellman

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Articles

The Senate Public Lands Sale - A Breakdown

1 week ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

In this episode, AJ and Gabby take a break from their regular programming to discuss the sale of public lands as part of the federal budget reconciliation bill. They watched the Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing to Examine the President’s Budget Request for the Department of the Interior for Fiscal Year 2026 and break it down in this podcast. Right now, the reconciliation bill is in the Senate.
A 140-year-old Woodcock Exposed an Eco Terrorist

1 month ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

In 1887, Frederick Webster, a taxidermist from Washington, D.C., wrote a short article in a scientific journal. In it, he described dissecting a woodcock from Martha’s Vineyard that had a crop filled entirely with ferns. Why did this woodcock stray from its usual diet of invertebrates? A.J. and Gabby, hosts of the Project Upland Podcast, search for the answer—only to uncover the surprising story of invasive worms in North America.
The Rescission of the BLM's Public Lands Rule Hurts Conservation

1 month ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

As upland hunters, we are no strangers to the public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The opportunity to hunt a wide swath of wild native and even non-native birds on these landscapes represents some of the largest access opportunities in the country. We share BLM land with many of America’s other interests, including energy, livestock grazing, and timber harvesting. For the most part, when done correctly, these activities have minimal impact on the multiple-use landscape.
The Mystery of Grouse Drumming: From Thunder to Artificial Intelligence

1 month ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

In this episode, Gabby and AJ explore the mystery of ruffed grouse drumming—starting in the 1700s, when naturalists first theorized about the sound, and tracing the evolution of human technology that finally unlocked the truth behind this unique behavior. Along the way, they talk to biologist Alaina Roth, Wisconsin’s statewide ruffed grouse specialist, who sheds light on grouse life history, drumming counts, and how technology is transforming wildlife surveys.
S1E4 Are Upland Hunters Hardcore? The Data Says Yes

2 months ago | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa |Gabriela Zaldumbide

In this episode, Gabby and AJ talk about the North American Upland Bird Hunting Survey, which has been conducted annually since 2018. The eighth iteration of this survey explores everything from hunting dogs and shotguns to upland bird species—and just how much and how people hunt them. The 2025 edition includes an expanded opinion section covering current and historical policies, environmental issues, and political leanings.
S1E3: What Caused the Passenger Pigeon Extinction?

Mar 21, 2025 | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa |Gabriela Zaldumbide

In this episode, Gabby and AJ talk to Mark Avery, author of A Message from Martha. As a biologist and conservationist, Mark takes us back in time to reconstruct the biology, habitat, and final era of the Passenger Pigeon. The Passenger Pigeon’s extinction is one of the most dramatic extinction stories of the 20th century, resulting in the loss of the most numerous bird on Earth.
The Designation of National Monuments and Their Impact on Public Lands

Mar 19, 2025 | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa

The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the creation of national monuments are closely linked. The Antiquities Act granted presidents the authority to designate national monuments without Congressional approval. It also established regulations for archaeological investigations on federal lands. This includes permitting, artifact removal, and the requirement that significant objects be preserved in public museums.
S1E2 Cheatgrass, Area Fidelity, and GPS Tracking - Sage Grouse

Mar 9, 2025 | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa |Gabriela Zaldumbide

In this episode, Gabby and AJ talk to Associate Professor and Rangeland Wildlife Extension Specialist at Utah State University, Dave Dahlgren. As a sage grouse researcher and scientist, Dave explores the threat of cheatgrass and fire in the Great Basin to habitat. He also shares his experience with changing technology in radio telemetry and GPS tracking and how his pointing dogs have played a role in his research.
S1E1 Great Basin Sage Grouse - Project Upland Podcast

Mar 1, 2025 | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa |Gabriela Zaldumbide

In this episode, Gabby and AJ talk to Utah-based sage grouse expert Dave Dahlgren. As a sage grouse researcher and biologist, Dave teaches us about huge amounts of habitat sage grouse need to survive and explains human-centric issues impacting their continued existence. This is the first episode of a two-part series about sage grouse in Utah. The Project Upland Podcast PatreonGabby: Aj, have you ever seen a sage grouse before? AJ: I have. I’ve hunted them in Montana.
The German Influence of Hunting Dogs in America

Jan 19, 2025 | projectupland.com | A.j. DeRosa |Craig Koshyk |Jennifer Wapenski

The episode, hosted by Craig Koshyk, a renowned dog historian, explores how early German immigrants, particularly those who settled in Texas, may have introduced hunting dogs before the popularization of breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP).