About Douglas
Douglas E. Spale is a writer, hunter, and a dog man rooted in the American heartland. Born and raised in Nebraska, he has called Chicago and Kansas City home — cities that sharpened his pen and deepened his appreciation for the wild places just beyond their edges.
Douglas writes to inspire. His work has appeared in Ducks Unlimited Magazine, Benelli's editorial platform, and Pheasants Forever, where he brings readers into the fields, marshes, and prairies he calls his second home. Whether he's chasing Hungarian partridge through grizzly country in Montana or pursuing waterfowl in the river bottoms of the Great Plains, Douglas tells the stories that remind hunters why it all matters.
At the center of everything are his dogs. Nʉ̠a Kohtopʉ̠ — "my fire" in the Comanche language, Kohtop for short — is his black Labrador, a tireless retriever and constant companion. His English Setter, Stá'ao, carries a name gifted by the Blackfeet Tribe of Browning, Montana, meaning "ghost" — a fitting name for a dog that ghosts through the uplands with quiet precision. And Ista Sapa, named "black eyes" by members of the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota, rounds out the pack.
The naming of his dogs is no accident. Douglas moves through hunting culture with deep respect for the Indigenous peoples whose lands these wild places occupy — seeking out naming ceremonies and building relationships across tribal nations as a meaningful act of acknowledgment and gratitude.
Beyond the field, Douglas has appeared on The Big Honker Podcast, On The Wing by Pheasants Forever, Sporting Dog Talk, Flush Em N Dust Em, and Big Red Hunters Podcast, sharing his perspective as a modern outdoorsman who believes hunting is as much about community and culture as it is about the harvest.
“While I could spend a lifetime seeking proof that our dogs appreciate the majesty of the landscapes we explore, perhaps their metric of beauty is simply measured by moments spent together.”
— Douglas Spale
Nʉ̠a Kohtopʉ̠
This is my Labrador pup named Nʉ̠a Kohtopʉ̠ (pronounced Naw Koo-towp, Kohtop for short). Her name is derived from the beautiful Comanche language meaning “my fire,” – a special thanks to Comanche Nation for assisting in her name selection.
Sta'ao
Our friends at the Blackfeet tribe in Browning, MT hosted us for a naming ceremony. They selected the name Sta'ao for my English Setter pup, which means “ghost” in their beautiful language.
Ista Sapa “Sis”
Named by members of the Spirit Lake Tribe of North Dakota - Ista Sapa means “black eyes”.
Photo credits - a special thanks to the following photographers and their artistry