Writer & Editor
I began guiding hunts, professionally, in Arizona and New Mexico in the late 90s. My experiences, coupled with my education, provided a natural path to become a freelance writer. My first article detailed the experiences of an archery elk hunt I guided in Northern Arizona in the early 2000s.
After becoming a POMA member, I was offered my first paid assignment by the editor of Rocky Mountain Game & Fish magazine. That assignment opened the door for more work with the magazine and was a catalyst for acquiring assignments with other outlets, both print and digital.
Eventually, I wanted a piece of the pie and founded a digital magazine, Western Whitetail. As the editor, I worked with several established outdoor writers. Reviewing their work made me a better writer and introduced me to the editing world. Over time, my career morphed from academia to the outdoors.
EXPERIENCES
Digital Editorial Director
Outdoor Sportsman Group
2022 – Present
Editor In Chief
Grand View Outdoors
2018 – 2020
Bowhunting World
Website: www.bowhuntingworld.com
Digital: www.bowhuntingworld-digital.com
Predator Xtreme
Website: www.predatorxtreme.com
Digital: www.predatorxtreme-digital.com
Whitetail Journal
Website: www.whitetailjournal.com
Digital: https://www.whitetailjournal-digital.com
Archery Business
Website: www.archerybusiness.com
Digital: www.archerybusiness-digitalmag.com
Hunting Retailer
Website: www.huntingretailer.com
FOUNDER
Western Whitetail
2011
Website: www.westernwhitetail.com
Author: www.westernwhitetail.com/author/darren-choate/
FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
“Custom Confidence” Precision Hunter, Spring 2024
“The Best New Long-Range Rifles for Precision-Minded Hunters” Petersen’s Hunting (Digital), January 2023
“5 Awesome Muzzleloader Tips for Ultimate Success in High Winds” North American Whitetail (Digital), December 2022
“The Ever Evolving Compound Bow” Born Hunting, July 2022
“2022’s Top 6 Hunting Bows” Born Hunting, April 2022
“Finding Nemo” The Guidefitter Journal, Spring 2021
“Bow Report: Prime Nexus 2” Archery Business, May/June 2021
“6 Multi-tools for Hunters” Western Hunter, May/June 2018
“Speed for the Little Guy” Western Whitetail, October 2017
“Treestands for Coues: Safety & Comfort” Western Whitetail, Hunting Annual 2015
“The Coues Whitetail” Western Whitetail, Early Season 2014
“Hunt Coconino Elk” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, November 2014
“Backcountry Rifle” Western Whitetail, Winter 2013
“Coues Super Sets” Western Whitetail, Fall 2013
“Prepare Now For Fall Success” Western Whitetail, Summer 2013
“Bucket List Whitetails” Western Whitetail, Spring 2013
“High Country Coues” Western Whitetail, Fall 2012
“10 Tips For Coues” Western Whitetail, Summer 2012
“The Game Plan” Western Whitetail, Spring 2012
“The Grey Ghost” Quality Whitetails, August/September 2011
“New Mexico Mule Deer Through the Seasons Muleys” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, July/August 2012
“Go Early for Coues Whitetail” Western Whitetail, October 2011
“Rocky Mountain Elk Forecast” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, September 2011
“Hide & Seek Elk Scouting” Fur-Fish-Game, August 2011
“Elk Tracks, A Legend, and Me” Your National Forests, Summer/Fall 2011
“Just A Dream Coues Hunt” Western Whitetail, July 2011
“Warm Up To A Winter Deer Hunt” Cabela’s Outfitter Journal, December 2010
“Bottom Line Bears” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, October 2010
“Backcountry Coues Deer” Hunting Fitness Magazine, September-October 2010
“2010 Arizona-New Mexico Deer Hunting Outlook” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, September 2010
“Get In Shape for Your DIY Elk Hunt Today” Hunting Fitness Magazine, July-August 2010
“Fitness Vs. Finesse” Cabela’s Outfitter Journal, August 2010
“Arizona’s Other Mule Deer” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, November 2009
“Arizona Coues & Mule Deer Outlook” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, September 2009
“The Kaibab: North Vs. South” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, July/August 2009
“Your Year For A Trophy Coues Deer?” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, November 2008
“New Mexico’s Deer Season Outlook” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, October 2008
“Southwestern Bulls In 2008” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, August 2008
“What’s Your 20?” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, July 2008
“Elk Triangles Of The Rocky Mountains” Rocky Mountain Game & Fish, December 2007
“My First Trip to Texas: A guide for the non-resident hunter” Real Guns, 2007