His Rifles and Cartridges column has run in Bugle for twenty-two years. He has authored fourteen books on hunting, shooting, and history, and in 1996 was named Shooting Sports Writer of the Year by the Outdoor Writers Association of America. He has taught English and forestry at Utah State University, where he earned a doctorate in wildlife policy. He started and runs High Country Adventures, a program that introduces women to the field sports. A professional member of the Boone and Crockett Club, van Zwoll's enthusiasm for deer rifles and hunting remains keen after more than forty years.