About
Joe Genzel is a contributor at Outdoor Life. Genzel grew up chasing mallards and Canada geese in the Illinois River Valley. But since the only thing left to hunt in Illinois besides whitetails are squirrels, he now spends most of the fall and winter searching for oak and black walnut trees, and walking behind a crazy Russian squirrel dog named Vladimir.
Experience
Genzel started his journalism career as a sports reporter for his hometown newspaper, the Peoria Journal Star in 2002. He moved into outdoor magazines a decade later by becoming an associate editor for Gun Dog, Wildfowl, and Petersen’s Hunting. He also worked in television production during his time at all three titles. Genzel was hired at Outdoor Life in the fall of 2019. He has duck hunted with and learned from some of the best waterfowlers of his generation. Genzel is an avid sporting clays and skeet shooter as well, and considers former Field and Stream shooting editor, Bob Brister, F&S shotgun editor Phil Bourjaily, Outdoor Life shooting editor John B. Snow, and freelance writer John M. Taylor being his foremost influences on shooting technique and shotgun expertise.
Education
Genzel graduated from Illinois State University, majoring in American History with a minor in English.
