Avery Pro-Staff
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Born and raised in a small town in North Central Iowa, Jeremy was struck with the waterfowl bug at an early age. Jeremy's first hunts began when he was 7 years old in an old 10 ft boat on a small public lake with his father and older brother. Despite sinking the boat during a tornado that year, he never let that dash his spirit of chasing them birds. There was no doubting what he asked for Christmas from that point on. I guess his parents knew he was in it for the long haul when he was caught on several occasions on his moped with decoys strapped to his back heading to the local lake or river when he should have been in school. After high school he attended Iowa Central Community College to study Law Enforcement and play baseball. After a couple years of college ball and his education, he was in search of a job. As he was looking for a position that would allow him time for waterfowling, he realized law enforcement was the wrong direction. Jeremy is currently employed with Winnebago Industries Inc, the Forest City Iowa based motor home manufacturer where in a supervisor position, is in charge of a laminating division. Whether during the season, or in the off-season there is nothing Jeremy thinks about more than the aspects of waterfowling. He is known in his area for his involvements with waterfowl hunting, Team Honker Down hunting group, Ducks unlimited committee member, volunteer help with the local DNR with waterfowl production, also guides pheasant hunters at Pheasant Haven gun club in Kanawha Iowa. In his spare time he likes to custom paint decoys and has picked up the hobby of taxidermy. He also enjoys training and running dogs. During the seasons you can find Jeremy starting the journey in Saskatchewan Canada and heading Southward attempting to get set on the "X" any chance that he gets. Jeremy enjoys hunts close to home as well, "it's hard to beat shooting greenheads and longnecks from a ground blind in the cornfields of Iowa". He currently resides on acreage near Kanawha Iowa with his very understanding wife Sara, and his two boys Tanner and Reed. You have to understand what she puts up with; he was nearly late for the doctor's appointment on the day their youngest child was born due to a good flight day, and a handful of greenheads. Jeremy believes that the dedication and devotion to the sport of waterfowling one puts forth will create memories for a lifetime. Jeremy has hunted all over and has met some of the nicest people while doing so; he hopes to someday work in the waterfowling industry like Avery to fulfill a lifetime dream, as he feels his experience and knowledge would be beneficial. I believe the education and understanding of this sport needs to be correctly taught to our youngsters, and in doing so will provide them the same fire that burns in all of us.
Kevin resides in Barto, Pennsylvania with his wife Jennifer and their two children, Shane and Morgan. Kevin is an IT network engineer for a wireless phone provider. At an early age, Kevin developed his passion for hunting. He accompanied his father every opportunity he got. Kevin grew up near the Delaware River in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and spent his childhood fishing and hunting every chance he could. Kevin hunts turkeys, Whitetails & Sika deer every year, but his true passion is waterfowl hunting especially goose hunting. Kevin states, "There is nothing like trying to make a flock of geese come out of the sky and land on you. It's the challenge of the hunt." Every day is different and trying to adapt to the changes and be successful keeps Kevin fired up about hunting. Kevin brings a lot of field time to Avery and enjoys capturing hunts on video or digital pictures so others can share the experience of the hunt. In the off-season he can be found traveling the east coast fishing bass tournaments or on the golf course.
Bryan was born in Madisonville, Kentucky and started fishing at an early age with his father and grandfather around the famed Kentucky and Barkley lakes region of Western Kentucky. His love of fishing eventually led him to other outdoor pursuits as a young boy, mainly squirrel and rabbit hunting with school friends around the coalfields of Western Kentucky. He was introduced to duck hunting by his brother, Avery Pro-Staff Flyway Manager, Frank Bacon and from then on he was hooked. Since that time, nearly 25 years ago, Bryan has duck and goose hunted extensively from Louisiana to Missouri as well as taken turkeys and large bucks from around his home state of Kentucky. His love of the outdoors led him to attend Murray State University in Murray, Ky. where he earned his Masters Degree. Bryan's choice of schools had as much to do with its proximity to Kentucky and Barkley Lakes as it did anything. While most of his counterparts were pursuing normal college recreation activities, Bryan could be seen sneaking of campus with shotgun or rod and reel to head to the lakes. Bryan works in Juvenile Corrections field for the State of Kentucky and is also a Major in the Unites States Army Reserve. He has four children, Hillary, Marshall, Avery, and Ella. His boys hunt with him as much as possible (not as much as they would like) and Bryan was proud that his son Marshall was with him this year when he harvested his largest buck ever, a 14 point brute with a 19 _ inside spread from the lease he shares with his brother in Western Kentucky.
Frank Bacon was born and raised in the game and fish rich region of Western Kentucky. Being raised in an outdoor oriented family, he was exposed at an early age to the pursuits he now calls his passions. While in his teens he developed a strong interest in calling and hunting waterfowl, this interest eventually turned into a full-blown addiction to duck and goose hunting. To extend his love for waterfowling, Frank began participating in numerous competitive duck, goose and turkey calling events throughout the 1990's and is a two-time winner of both the Kentucky State Duck and the Kentucky State Goose Calling Championships. Although he does not compete anymore, some of Frank's closest friendships were made through his participation in these events, and he still enjoys attending as well as judging several contests each year. In addition to his tireless pursuit of waterfowl and turkeys, Frank is also an avid angler. In the fall, he can be found guiding waterfowl hunters throughout Kentucky and Southern Illinois while spring has him busy running turkey hunts in Kentucky. Frank chases gobblers in 4-5 states each spring, and he looks forward to his annual fall waterfowl hunting "buddy trip" to Canada. Frank also enjoys representing Avery at shows and store openings in his region of the country. As Frank says, "There is no a better place to meet people who share the same interests as you than at an outdoor show". He enjoys spending time with his family and loves packing his nieces and nephews on hunting and fishing trips along with his brother and favorite two hunting and fishing buddies, Bryan and Claude. Frank attended college in the commonwealth and is presently employed with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet where he serves as a District Permit Engineer overseeing all aspects of construction in his district.
Troy Bailey lives in HIckman, NE with his wife Melanie and two children, daughter Taylor and son Trevor. Having lived his entire life in Nebraska has given him the opportunity to hunt many kinds of game, from deer to varmints to upland birds and waterfowl. Though he still enjoys all types of hunting, waterfowl has come to the forefront many years ago. Whether it is in the cornfields of eastern Nebraska, the Rainwater Basins of central Nebraska or along the central and western Platte River regions, Troy can be found chasing waterfowl from early goose season in September through the conservation snow goose season is April. Through his love for waterfowl hunting he became involved in contest goose calling, capturing his first championship in 2005 - the Nebraska State Open, to go along with fifteen other top five finishes. Along with his place as the Central Flyway and Team Cabelas Flyway Manager with Avery Outdoors he also serves as a part of Zink Calls Z-Unit. Troy enjoys attending events and giving seminars as a part of the Avery and Zink teams, exchanging hunting experiences and knowledge with hunters from all over the country. Troy works as a Deputy Sheriff and has served over seventeen years in law enforcement. He spends his spare time coaching his childrens youth sports teams, helping with local DU committees and youth mentor hunts, training his two labrador retrievers - Cass and Tank.
At a very young age, Cody was introduced to the world of hunting. With a father who hunts and older brothers hunting, he was exposed to hunting at birth. Cody first hunt at the age of eleven was a Mule deer hunt with his father in the mountains in southern Idaho. His dad shot a nice 4x4 buck and then and there Cody knew he would hunt for the rest of his life. Cody went on his first waterfowl hunt when he was 13, and realized that this would be his passion. Cody says, "There is nothing greater than the sight of ducks and geese dropping into your decoys on a cold fall morning. That's what makes me want to be in the field every day". Cody primarily hunts waterfowl in southern Idaho and turkeys in the spring on the South Fork of the Snake River. He grew up hunting with his brothers and now is happy to have the opportunity to go hunting with his own son in the future. Cody and his wife, Alyson, have a baby boy, Drayke Eric. Cody is excited to be a part of the Avery Pro-Staff. "I have looked up to many of the senior Pro-Staffers for years," says Cody. "Being part of such a great team is a true honor, and I look forward to representing a product line that I am 100% confident in. I can say from my own personal experiences that Avery builds products that can take the harshest weather environments and hunting situations, and that's why I have always used them." Pro-Staffers like Cody are what the Avery team is all about he is a true die-hard hunter who loves the sting of cold rain in his face.
Mike was raised in Upstate New York, a region offering a variety of outdoor activities. His father and grandfather began taking him hunting at the age of 12 and he was immediately hooked on everything about it. His first duck was a wood duck harvested over a small farm pond in Jordan, NY. Mike spent the majority of his teenage years enjoying the hunting and fishing opportunities that Central New York offers. Mike served eight years, as an officer, in the New York State Army National Guard's 1/108th Infantry Battalion. He attended Syracuse University's Maxwell School earning his Masters Degree in Public Administration. The diversity of hunting styles used to chase waterfowl, as well as, the assortment of waterfowl found in North America are what really captured Mike's interest in the sport. It wasn't until his early twenties that waterfowling became his passion, but since then he has devoted himself to it, spending every free moment, hunting, servicing gear, scouting, learning, and talking to other waterfowlers. Mike now resides in Jordan, NY with his very understanding wife, Christina, and their three children, Ella, Zachary and Jacquelyn. While Mike has had opportunities to hunt in several states in the Northeast and everything from wood ducks to eider, he prefers to hunt the Finger Lakes region of New York, with late December through the season's end his most favorite time of the year. With that said though, Mike never misses an opportunity to spend a day on the water or laying in a field waiting for the quacks and honks of incoming ducks and geese.
Ryan was introduced to the outdoors when he started going with his dad on pheasant hunting trips at about the age of 5. He was always tagging along with whoever was hunting, whether it was his dad, grandpa, or great grandpa; Ryan had to go with them. Hunting has and always will be a tradition in the Barthel family. Ryan grew up on a farm so there was never a shortage of places to hunt. He shot his first goose when he was 10 years old, and the feeling of excitement and accomplishment that he felt that day, is the same feelings he carries into the field on each new trip today. Ryan mainly hunt waterfowl in Minnesota, but he also hunts in surrounding states as well as traveling to Canada to catch the birds on their southerly migration. Ryan has added outdoor photography to his list of interests and likes the similarities between it and waterfowl hunting. Ryan knows that some may consider him young but he has a willingness to learn and in turn to pass on that knowledge to others. Those attributes coupled with his insights gained from countless hours in the field are what make him a welcome addition to Avery's Pro-Staff.
Chad grew up in Reno, Nevada hunting, fishing and participating in every sport that could fit into his schedule. After graduating from high school, he played baseball at UNLV, and graduated with a degree in Public Communication and a minor in Business. Chad is the Avery Outdoors West Coast Promotions and Media Relations Manager as well as the Owner/Operator of two businesses: Sierra Restroom Solutions & Sweep Nevada. In addition to his full work schedule Chad gives lessons on duck, goose and predator calling to both adults and children. Chad was introduced to waterfowl hunting in 1996, and quickly became obsessed. He now hunts ducks and geese every day of the season from Washington to California and into Nevada. He also makes yearly excursions to Texas, Arkansas and Missouri. Chad loves every aspect of the hunt including scouting, calling, working dogs and cooking and eating the birds. Most of all, he cherishes the friendships and memories he has made through his experiences. Chad picked up his first call in 1998, and began taking it seriously in 1999. The same year he won the Nevada State Goose Calling Championship, and followed with another win in 2000. Since then, he has traveled tom many contests around the country, and has experienced some good success. Chad qualified for, and competed in the World Duck Calling Championship in 2001, and had the time of his life. Competing gives Chad the opportunity to retain the competitive edge he developed during his college baseball career, but most of all, it gives him the opportunity to meet the best callers in the world and learn from them. Chad currently Pro-Staffs for Avery Outdoors, Inc., Zink Calls, Go-Devil Motors, and Waterfowl Haven Outfitters. In addition to calling competitions, Chad enjoys traveling to outdoor shows in his area to represent the companies that he works with. This travel allows him the opportunity to meet other waterfowlers and hear their reasons why waterfowling is such a big part of their lives.
Clay was born and grew up in Reno, Nevada. Having been involved with sports and hunting his entire life, Clay received a baseball scholarship to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. Currently Clay works as a Private Investigator, and he builds houses when time allows. Clay's father introduced him to the outdoors and big game hunting at a very young age. In 1997, however, he discovered waterfowling, and that passion has grown ever since. Clay hunts in Nevada, California and Colorado, but he is looks forward to hunting all around the country in the future. One constant that Clay has found in hunting is that true friendships are always found in the outdoors, and his hunting buddies are his closest friends. Clay's constant companion in the outdoors is his yellow lab, Drake. Being a part of the Avery Pro-Staff has opened many doors for Clay in the outdoor industry, and he truly enjoys the opportunity to teach as well as learn from other hunters, young and old, at hunting venues around the country. One of Clay's favorite things to do is to introduce a youngster to the outdoors. He and his brother Chad, a fellow Avery Pro-Staffer, have shared many memories in the field and work side by side representing Avery in the western United States.
Paul cut his teeth hunting red squirrels and cottontails with his father and grandfather in the shelterbelts of their home state, Nebraska. Fast-forward 8 years and Paul was cut loose in the foothills of Northern California chasing all manners of game. Waterfowling became a passion one rainy morning when his father received a call from a local friend that said the birds are migrating, NOW! That sky filled with waterfowl is as vivid to him now as it was 30 years ago. His passion for waterfowling has landed him in Willows, California: the heart of the Pacific Flyway. Being a Registered Nurse allows Paul to work a flexible schedule, stay on top of the migration and seasonally work as a guide for Northern California's premier snow goose outfitter Blake's Guide Service. Waterfowling takes a second seat only to his family. With two young waterfowlers in the making, Seth and William, Paul is eager to pass on his knowledge, respect and passion for the outdoors to them. Between trips to Canada and the northeast region of California, as well as the youth programs, Paul is able to spend well over one hundred days per year in the field. He thanks his wife Amber for her support and extra understanding of his way of life. She gives him a very long leash. His life spent in and out of the waterfowl trenches and guiding brings vast outdoor experience to the Avery Pro Staff. "I have spent a lot of time and money over the years on clothing and equipment, searching for the best equipment at any price. I have ended that search with Avery."
Tim Bouchard was born and raised in New Hampshire. Tim was introduced at an earlier age into hunting with his father and uncle's guidance. He had bagged his first ruffed grouse at age 8. His hunting obsession did not truly start until later at age 15 when his uncle took him out for his first duck hunt. From there Tim moved to northern New York for four years, where he hunted ducks, geese, turkey and whitetail, everyday possible. After completing college Tim moved to the last frontier, Alaska. After four years in Alaska Tim has hunted ducks and geese from the arctic slope to the coastal waters. Working as a fishing guide during the summers and waterfowl guide into the fall and winter, logging over 150 days on the water a year, from the north slope rivers to the ocean waters. While not on the water Tim likes to work at the outdoor shows throughout Alaska because he gets to meet new people and share stories of times in the field. Tim brings both his knowledge of waterfowling and photography to the Avery Pro-Staff. With his harsh use of Avery products in some of the most ruthless climates Tim has knowledge and confidence in Avery products to help promote those products to the end users. Also with Tim's knowledge of photography he can help promote Avery through the images of their products in the field.
Born and raised on the Mississippi River in Illinois, Brian grew up in the middle of some of the best hunting the United States has to offer. He went on his first whitetail hunt with his dad when he was only 7 years old, and that day was the start of his "24/7" hunting obsession that has never ended. Every free minute out of school was spent chasing mallards in the Mississippi River bottoms, whitetails from tree stands and pheasants in midwestern cornfields. At age 20, Brian's job moved him to Washington State where he was able to experience nine great years of duck and goose hunting in the famous Columbia River Basin. As fate would have it, Brian moved back to the Midwest in 1999 to pursue a career in sales in Cincinnati, Ohio. During the waterfowl season, Brian spends most afternoons scouting for ducks and geese in the agricultural fields of southwest Ohio because he knows that scouting is the most critical element to successful hunting for any game. A valuable Pro-Staffer for Zink Calls, Brian also spends as much time as possible with the Zink Calls video team as they pursue waterfowl throughout Canada and the United States. A serious big game hunter, Brian has hunted in Iowa, Idaho, Wyoming and Alaska as well as his home state of Ohio. Now having moved back to Washington State pursuing his career job in aviation, Brian once again is in the waterfowl rich area where he honed his early skills. In the off-season, you can usually find Brian either training his lab Caffey or representing Avery and Zink Calls at various waterfowl shows around the country. According to Brian, "Working at retail shows has been a great experience for me because of the fantastic people I meet from around the country. It is great meeting people who share the same passion for hunting that I do!"
Born and raised in Marion, Ohio, Greg grew up less than a mile from one of the states largest wildlife areas. His father introduced him to hunting at an early age, and after a couple of years of carrying a BB gun to learn safety, he was allowed to purchase his first hunting license. Those early days have led to a life-long pursuit of all things "waterfowl" and Greg is now happy to share that passion with his son. The two of them can usually be found hunting Canada Geese in fields throughout the North Central part of Ohio. On occasion, they are also joined by Greg's wife, Jill who also enjoys hunting and the outdoors. The challenge of constantly learning, and teaching others is what keeps Greg interested in the outdoors. Additionally Greg's nearly 30 yrs. of outdoor experience, his wildlife management education, a desire to teach others and see them succeed, are strong credentials for his involvement on the Avery Pro-Staff
Lamar's father introduced him to the outdoors at the age of about six. He went on my first duck hunt at that time and has been going ever since. Lamar loves hunting ducks and the challenge that it presents each day. He will hunt ducks in any setting, but flooded cypress will always be his preference. He is extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to hunt Beaver Dam Lake each day and by Lamar's own admission, he thinks it is by far the best place imaginable to hunt a duck. He also enjoys hunting deer from time to time, but only when it doesn't interfere with the ducks. Anything outdoors is just fine with Lamar as long as he can have a good time and stay away from the house for a while. Lamar has a great family that has helped him throughout the years and he says he owes everything he knows about the outdoors, and life for that matter, to his dad. "I was one of the lucky ones who grew up with a father that had a huge passion for hunting and I was even luckier to have gotten that same passion." Lamar feels a lot of his experience and knowledge from hunting ducks will allow me to educate others and hopefully, he can help them have passion for hunting equal to his own. "I simply want to help others that aren't as fortunate as I am. Growing up with Beaver Dam Lake in my back yard has allowed me a great opportunity to hunt a special place laden with history and stories of mythical proportions. I feel that having had this opportunity I can help others to share this same love for the outdoors."
From the day he shot his first squirrel while hunting with his grandfather at the tender young age of 8, Dallas has been obsessed with hunting and the outdoors. Dallas is an avid bowhunter for deer. He also hunts turkey and waterfowl. He has over 20 years of experience pursuing waterfowl. During that time, he has learned what works and what doesn't, which products are best and which to not waste money on. Dallas is currently developing a waterfowl guide service to be launched in the near future. He enjoys introducing newcomers to the outdoors and guiding friends and family toward successful hunts. "There is so much to be learned from nature and wildlife," he says. This is why he gets such a kick out of watching others explore and experience the great outdoors and hunting. Dallas was born and raised in northern Oklahoma. His home since 1994 is Dallas, Texas. He is an architect for an international architectural design firm. He travels the globe designing everything from high-rise office buildings to shopping malls to houses. He is learning to create some personal time in his business travels to experience hunting in these global locales. He always works for a balance in his life of successful business, personal growth and personal passions (hunting being at the top of that list!). With his background as an architect and designer, as well as his many years of experience, Dallas frequently designs and field tests his own product prototypes improving on an existing product design or inventing something new to make life in the outdoors easier and hunting more successful. He has very definite opinions about what works best in a given situation while always being open to learning something new to improve his hunting game. Dallas hunts in both Oklahoma and Texas. His love for the outdoors shows in the work he has performed at his ranch in Oklahoma. His efforts with various conservation organizations over the past 8 years have resulted in measurably larger, and better quality, herds of deer, turkey, quail and waterfowl. Dallas is also active with Delta Waterfowl volunteering his time for the important work they do as a committee member. His passion for waterfowl hunting and conservation has expanded greatly since he began training his hunting dogs, "Alex" and "Denali," some 12 years ago. He realized how much joy and pride came from watching his dogs work while bird hunting. He took this passion a step further when he and his wife, Suzanne, also an architect, became volunteer Puppy Raisers for Southeastern Guide Dogs - teaching obedience and socializing dogs-in-training to be guide-dogs for the blind. They took a gift they had for training dogs to give back to society for all the blessings in their lives. In the off season, Dallas enjoys working his dogs, fishing, honing his hunting skills and testing products in preparation for his next season. When he's not doing it, he's thinking about it (hunting, that is)!
Mark was introduced to the outdoors as a toddler when he began tagging along with his dad on trout fishing trips. Next came the afternoon hunting trips where, while struggling to keep up with his elders, he learned to hunt rabbits, squirrels and grouse . As he grew older, pheasants and whitetails were added to Mark's targeted game list, and he eventually evolved into bow hunting as well as competing in 3-D archery tournaments. Waterfowl hunting in Mark's home area of Wisconsin was not popular when he was young because migratory bird numbers were down making places to hunt very hard to come by. One Canada goose hunt on Wisconsin's famous Horicon Marsh, however, hooked Mark on goose hunting for life. At one point in his hunting career, the pursuit of whitetails dominated Mark's time, but several hunts where Mark was able to see some great dogs work to the scent of upland birds or retrieve downed ducks and geese changed all of that. Mark's grandfather raised and trained coon hounds, and he always had dogs as a kid growing up. Hunting over them and seeing what a good dog was capable of doing was awe inspiring to him. Mark's "real job" is a county correctional officer, and he also teaches defensive tactics, spontaneous knife defense, chemical munitions and use of force for his county as well as other counties and organizations around the state. Mark's love of teaching combined with his wealth of hunting knowledge provides a valuable addition to the Avery Pro-Staff. Mark states, "I love getting out and meeting people, putting faces with the names of the sportsmen I meet on the Internet and learning from them just as much as they are learning from me".
Ben Cade was born and raised in central Minnesota. He began waterfowling by hunting ducks on one of Minnesota's 10,000+ lakes right in his front yard. As a teenager, the first years of the September resident Canada goose season sparked his passion for hunting honkers. Now, Ben operates his own website which focuses on geese. On occasion, he also guides part time for Goose Busters Guide Service. After spending his college years hunting nearly every county in North Dakota, Ben now resides in Howard Lake, MN with his wife Tara and daughter Tayah. Also part of the family is his female chocolate lab Bella. Besides waterfowling, Ben also enjoys tournament Bass fishing, ice fishing, pheasant hunting, decoying pigeons, and the occasional late night coyote hunt. The strong Canada goose population in Minnesota has provided Ben with some amazing hunting experiences over the years and will always provide enough challenge to keep him interested in the sport. With his experiences from the field and knowledge gained from others in the industry, along with his unique background in software engineering, Ben is a great addition to Avery's Pro-Staff. Also, with his season long use of Avery products in even the harshest of Minnesota weather makes him an expert when promoting those products to buyers.
Nate grew up and still lives on the wildlife rich front range of Colorado. As early as he can remember, he and his father were running the roads in the U.S. and Canada either fishing for walleyes or hunting ducks. After high school, Nate attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins and majored in Fisheries Biology to compliment his passion for the outdoors. After graduating, Nate took a position with a private fish hatchery in Northern Colorado, and his job required that he attend several outdoor sports shows each winter. These shows offered Nate the ability to network within the outdoors industry as well as pursue other outdoor related opportunities such as competitive calling and waterfowl guiding. Nate and his wife Heather make their home in Greeley, Colorado where Nate is the owner/operator of his own landscaping business as well as a full-time guide for Waterfowl Haven Outfitters. Waterfowl hunting has become an obsession with Nate, and many of his summer days are spent practicing for calling contests and honing his skills for the coming season. Being a part of the Avery Pro-Staff has allowed Nate to share his passion for the outdoors with a broad spectrum of people; and, whether in the field, at a retail event or a calling competition, you will almost certainly find him spreading his waterfowl hunting knowledge and his excitement for the outdoors.
Jason grew up in Southwest Louisiana, "The Sportsman's Paradise". His father started taking him hunting and fishing at an early age. Jason grew up duck hunting in the brackish marshes of South West Louisiana and goose hunting in the many rice fields in the South Louisiana rice belt. A gifted saxophone player in school, duck and goose calling came naturally to him. Jason started guiding commercially in college and continued to do so after graduation. On a dare at an outdoor show with a borrowed duck call, Jason entered a meat duck calling contest and finished third. The experience was addictive and soon he was entering numerous duck and specklebelly meat contests. In 2004 Jason decided to learn the "Arkansas Style" single reed calling techniques required to qualify for the World Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart Arkansas. Jason resides in Iowa, LA with his wife and two daughters. He loves reading to his girls and spending quality time with his family. He also enjoys dove hunting, fresh and saltwater fishing, and working his HRCH male chocolate lab Coco.
Growing up in Parsons, Tennessee, David spent much of his youth on the Tennessee and Beech Rivers where he began duck hunting before he could drive. David says duck hunting is more his obsession than his hobby, and anyone who knows him will agree 100%! David works full time in the biomedical industry, but since 1998 he has missed only eleven days of Arkansas duck hunting, and his two sons, Hunter and Justin, hunt with him as much as their school and schedules allow. David also manages "the Goat Farm" which is a well-known duck club that he put together for the enjoyment of his boys and other fathers and children. Since duck season only lasts 60 days or less, David got involved with retriever training as a way to extend his season into a year round event. "I trained my first Lab in 1989, and she was a natural talent" recalls David, "which was a good thing since I made every conceivable mistake!" Several dogs later, and after countless hours of training and judging hunt tests and field trials, David has been asked to help in the development of dog training products that will assist others in becoming better trainers. He truly enjoys designing and creating exactly the kind of equipment he would like to have in the field. "Doing seminars on retriever training, blind placement, use of decoys, the love of watching dogs work in the field and seeing kids grow and learn in the outdoors makes all the hard work' worth it," says David with his contagious smile.
Kevin Carter was born and raised in Arkansas, the heart of the Mississippi Flyway. He was introduced to the sport of waterfowling at the age of 6, when his father took him on his first hunt in the White River bottoms, east of Stuttgart. That morning, Kevin shot his first duck, a drake mallard. He has been hooked ever since, and continues to hunt the same White River Bottoms where he was introduced. His favorite area of the country to hunt is Southeast Arkansas, whether it's flooded hardwood timber, or a rice field. Kevin is currently attending the University of Central Arkansas, pursuing a degree in business. He is also the owner and operator of Carter Lawn Care, which he started in 2003. Kevin also enjoys competitive duck calling, and has competed since 2003. He has finished in the top ten in the Arkansas State Contest twice, and has placed in many other contests. Kevin hunts day in and day out with Avery products which makes him an ideal candidate to promote those products to other hunters at shows and retail stores.
Chris knew at an early age that he had the hunting desire in his blood. He was born and raised in a hunting family of waterfowl and big game hunters and remembers his first goose hunt in Northern California in the Sacramento Valley. The sky was black with snow geese and the noise was deafening. He recalls the geese locking their wings to his father's snow goose call and them coming into the spread. For Chris, it was amazing to watch his father work the geese into the decoys. At the end of the day his father and he had filled their limits and Chris had memories of a lifetime of his first experience with waterfowl hunting. Chris was born in California and is the oldest of five siblings. He has lived in California, Nevada and Utah during his childhood and enjoyed the outdoors and hunting experiences in all three states as well as Texas, Idaho, Colorado, Canada. After several years in Nevada, Chris moved back to Utah and met and married his wife Julie. Together they have one young son, Cache. His stepson Brody is currently living in South Korea. Chris's family also includes two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Chris is currently employed by HCA Supply Chain in the transportation department as an operator. He specializes in waterfowl and also owns and operates a guide service called Fowl Weather Outfitters. Chris's knowledge and experience of the outdoors and Avery products makes him a welcome addition to the Pro-Staff. He is also a consummate professional and is customer service oriented and enthusiastic whether in the field or working with customers at a dealer event.
Angelo Casbarro was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was introduced to waterfowl hunting by his father and other family members at the age of 15; now, at the age of 27, waterfowling is Angelo's insatiable obsession. He has since traded the days of pass shooting ducks and geese over corn fields while hiding in hedgerows to hunkering down in layout blinds waiting for close range, fast action waterfowl hunting. While field hunting may be Angelo's preferred method of water fowling, he also enjoys loading his canoe with a small decoy spread and paddling through his local marsh in search of ducks. Long gone are the days of waiting for dad to take Angelo out as he is well known for traveling great distances to get a chance at some prime water fowling action. Angelo is not only an avid hunter but also an educator who prides himself in being able to pass on his knowledge and experiences to the future generation of waterfowl hunters. He particularly enjoys traveling and takes the time to meet and speak to others who share his passion. Angelo is a firm believer that one can never know enough about one's interests and should constantly strive to better oneself by learning as much as possible. Angelo's use of Avery products during the harsh Canadian water fowling season and his willingness to share his experiences and success from the field makes him a wonderful addition to the Avery Pro-Staff team as well as an ideal candidate to promote Avery products to other hunters.
Bob Chaplin was born in New Jersey, but moved to Ohio at an early age. Being born on the Eastern Sea Board, Bob believes he was destined to be a waterfowler. At a young age he spent countless hours in the squirrel woods with his father were he honed his hunting skills chasing rabbits and upland game. Then when he was 18, a friend took "Chappy" on his first real goose hunt and he was hooked. That entire summer he did nothing but get ready for his next full season of waterfowling. Living in Ohio and near Lake Erie has given him the opportunity to be able to hunt fields, marshes, and layout hunt on the lake, where on any given day during the season you will find him in one of those places. Even with hunting Ohio and PA, he still finds the time to be with his wife Christine, and two children, daughter Haley and son Bobby.
Warren Coco is a serious duck hunter. It was his passion for duck hunting that led to one of the greatest inventions for the modern duck hunter. In 1977, Warren started Go-Devil® Manufacturers of Louisiana and began producing a shallow water, air cooled outboard engine known as the Go-Devil. The Go-Devil allowed duck hunters all over the world to gain access to places that they had only dreamed of going. Over the past 25 years, his business has grown tremendously and he continues to revolutionize the waterfowl industry with his products. Warren was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and has spent most of his life in the swamps and marshes of south Louisiana pursuing his love of the outdoors. Waterfowl hunting is a year round commitment for him as he is constantly either working to get his favorite honey holes ready for the season or he is in a blind with his favorite 10 gauge! Warren also enjoys giving back to the sport he loves and is a great contributor and supporter of outdoor organizations with Life Sponsorships of both Ducks Unlimited and the Delta Waterfowl Foundation. He still lives in Baton Rouge with his wife and 3 children.
A native of Long Island, NY, Captain Tom Cornicelli has been professionally guiding for more than 20 years and he has received widespread acclaim for his combined talents as an artist and full time waterfowl and fishing guide. As a high profile charter boat captain and angler, Tom is a five-time I.G.F.A. (International Game Fish Association) world record holder on the fly rod and his accomplishments on the water are unrivaled. During the off-season, Tom is a full time wildfowl artist and has been creating his art since 1987. It all started in the salt marshes of Long Island. In those days Tom carved decoys for hunting. After being urged by a friend to attend some of the local carving shows, Tom's work quickly became competitive at the "world class" level of competition. Since 1992 he has consistently placed in the numerous carving shows throughout the county. In 2004 he was awarded "Best in Show" World Gunning Pairs and "Best in Show "at the Ward Foundations Chesapeake Challenge competition Silhouette Division. At the Ward Foundations 2005 World Carving competition he again was awarded "Best in Show "honors in the World Gunning Pairs Division. His energy and enthusiasm for his craft have never been greater and have not gone unnoticed as recently, he was recruited by Avery Outdoors to compliment their Greenhead Gear line of decoys and carved the Over-Size Canvasback Drake that was introduced in 2005. A much sought after speaker and consummate teacher, his presentations on waterfowling are unparalleled and he looks forward to bringing his wealth of knowledge to Avery's Pro-Staff. Whether it is open water hunting for divers, gunning puddlers or field shooting for geese, this veteran guide is considered by many to be one of the best in the business and his passion for waterfowl is exhibited in his art, photography and career.
Name: John Cristinziani
You may recognize John as the founder and operator of Magnum Hunts www.magnumhunts.com a World Class hunting club specializing in Canada goose hunting since 1985. He continues to appear in several media productions as well as in magazines and newspaper articles. Born & raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, John’s roots take him back to Europe where his family pursued wild boar, fox & hare with hounds. His father first introduced him to the sport of waterfowling as a young boy at age 10 and this ignited a burning desire in John to learn to hunt his game of choice - the Canada goose. Despite being fanatical about chasing and trying to outsmart big mature whitetails, nothing compares to the constant action encountered when decoying large Canada’s to the spread. Serious goose calling for John began as far back as 1986 when at age 17; he entered his first sanctioned contest. John won several local competitions along with many top finishes but his most successful win was the title of Central Canadian Calling Champion in 1998. John has an extensive background in corporate sales and has since started up his own sales and marketing company specializing in industry related products for the hunting and outdoor sports. John is the Avery Outdoors broker as well as the Zink Calls distributor for Quebec, Canada. Much of his free time is spent developing his outfitter business and hunting trophy deer. He spends over 100 days in the field every year hunting waterfowl. He truly enjoys giving seminars at local shows and events and meeting new people. Fortunate to have his own DU project, he enjoys managing several ponds and marshes. A conservationist & sportsman, John is the chairperson for a local DU chapter in his home town and has been on board with DU for close to 20 years. Devoted to wildlife conservation, he assures the preservation and proper wildlife management of several properties that he owns & leases. His most recent commitment is to the QDMA program where over 400 acres has been set aside on one of his properties to help improve the quality of the deer herd.
John is a Pro Staffer for the following industry related companies: Avery Outdoors, GK Calls, KENT Cartridge, Benelli Canada, Le Chameau & E.A.R.
Christian was born and raised in the boot heel of southeast Missouri which is an area of the country that is rich in waterfowl hunting history. His father first took him hunting at the tender age of 6, and he has been hooked ever since. Twenty-six years later and a few sidesteps along the way (including his beautiful family), Christian still pursues his passion for hunting with waterfowl hunting ranking at the top of the list. Christian and his wife, Sherry, reside in Sikeston, Missouri with their two energetic children, Lexi and Lane. About 9 years ago, Christian started Timbre Duck Calls, and today Timbre and Rich-N-Tone Duck Calls produce a line of calls under the name Reel-Timbre Duck Calls. In the winter, Christian manages his waterfowl outfitting service, Allen-Curtis Wildfowl Adventures which is located in Southeast Missouri. Of course his hunting season begins much earlier than that as he follows the great Mississippi flyway migration from Canada, through the Dakota's, and to finally to his home state of Missouri. After college, Christian went to work as a regional director for an organ bank in Missouri, and today is the director of a nursing home in his hometown. Being an Avery Territory Manager, and an avid participant in duck calling contests, makes for a busy summer and fall. He has been involved in competitive calling for eight years and, in that time, has been fortunate enough to win two hunting style World Duck Calling Championships, the Missouri State Championship and several other regional events. Christian states that, although he loves the competition of professional duck calling, he treasures the many friends he has made throughout the country because of the waterfowling sport.
Darrin Day was born and raised in the countryside of central Kentucky. He spent fall days chasing any critter that was in season and developed a deep love for the outdoors. From gobblers in the spring, bowfishing through the heat of summer, and chasing whitetails in the fall, Darrin spends as much time in the outdoors as he can. In high school Darrin was introduced to the wonderful world of waterfowl. "When it comes to ducks and geese, you either love it or you hate it" Day states. "Much to the dismay of family and girlfriends, I was consumed by it!" The calls, the decoys, and the dogs are just a few of the components that lured Darrin into the waterfowlers' trance. Living in central Kentucky makes things tough at times. "I didn't exactly grow up in an area famous for waterfowl. At times it seems we are about as far out of the flyway as you can get," Day states. Darrin learned that persistent scouting and banging on doors is a vital part to being successful. Day says that the Central Ky. area has really changed in the past ten years and the area has really started picking up more birds during the fall migration. Darrin is also an accomplished dog trainer. He has trained many dogs over the years and at times trained for customers. "I love seeing a puppy learn the ropes. It is amazing what modern breeds have tucked away in their genetics and I think it is a real challenge to unlock that potential" Day explains. After graduating from Eastern Ky. University with a degree in Loss Prevention and Safety, Darrin's career choices were centered on his passion for hunting. Being a professional fireman in Lexington Ky. for the last seven years and running his own landscape business gives him plenty of time in the fall to spend in the field. Darrin resides in Berea, Ky. with his six year old daughter Morgan, very supportive girlfriend Nicole, and yellow lab Molly. Whether giving a tour at the fire station or introducing a young person to the outdoors, Darrin enjoys working with kids. He believes that the waterfowl youth of today are the future of our sport tomorrow.
If Jeremy could magically only shoot one bird for the rest of his life, "No question, early season teal." He has made trips to Mexico to chase these same Bluewings. Jeremy is also an avid fly fisherman and guide who has fished all over the world including the Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, Alaska, Costa Rica and is currently working on his own Top 10 Rivers of the US. He is also an upland hunting guide spending every fall walking behind one of his 6 pointers and retrievers. While the thrill of a rigid point is an incredible sight, his passionate pursuit of waterfowl and the thrill of helping others to experience it is his true passion in life. The consummate teacher and instructor Jeremy is more than willing to share his experiences and knowledge. "I have been given the gift of Montana. I am not afraid to share it with anyone."
Born and raised in Maryland, Kevin Dirk could not escape a destiny in waterfowling. His Grandfather, Charles Edward "Pappy" Walker, would take him and his brother duck hunting on the tidal inlets of the Chesapeake Bay before they were old enough to carry shotguns. It is this strong foundation that fuels Kevin's intensity toward the world of Waterfowling. Currently residing in Western Colorado, Kevin is lucky enough to hunt amongst the most breathtaking mountain landscapes our country offers. In addition to guiding for Orvis endorsed Scenic Mesa Ranch, Kevin offers select hunts through his company, Mountain Migrators. When asked about his approach to Waterfowling, Kevin's view is "Full-Circle" and he makes sure to emphasize that it's not about what you accomplish during the season, but how you live everyday, making sure to invest in habitat security and getting local youth interested and involved for the future of Waterfowling. It is this commitment that Kevin brings to the Avery Pro-Staff and is evident in the way he works with people, whether at a Trade Show on product knowledge or "hands-on" in the field. Kevin also spends time chasing bugling Elk in September and shooting in local archery leagues; but in his words, "There is nothing in this world like the final glide of a Canada Goose on the wing". During the off-season, you can find Kevin in the barnyard, garden, poultry runs, or trying to get ahead of the never ending projects on his small family farm. His wife Kim and daughter Hazel are never far behind and enjoy all the attributes of a rural lifestyle. When the day is done, you'll find him on the porch admiring his 6 acre Wetland Enhancement Project, waiting for the next flight to finish.
Travis grew up in Utah spending most of his spare time at the family cabin where he hunted fished and watched wildlife. This is where he learned to love the outdoors. As he grew a little older he started hunting ducks with a group of friends from school. Together they would make plans on the bus ride home to meet at the local slough to hunt ducks. Everyone would bring whatever decoys they had and put out the spread, and hope to fool some birds. Travis learned a lot about duck hunting through the trials and errors of this little group and he found out that hunting with friends was something he really enjoyed. Ducks on the sloughs near home eventually gave way to goose hunting in some local ag fields. Now he hunts in four or five states and two Canadian provinces, and hunts at least 60 days a season. The past two seasons Travis started guiding waterfowl hunts in Utah for a local outfitter. In the off season he goes to all the sports shows to learn more about water-fowling, and calls in the goose calling competitions. Travis has won two Utah state goose calling contest and won the Idaho open, and took second at the W.C.A national championship in Katy Texas. Some of his other interests are fly-fishing, deer and elk hunting, and spending time at the family cabin. Travis is a student at Weber State University in his home town of Ogden, Utah where he is completing his associates work. He is working toward attending Chiropractic school on the West Coast. The local chapter of Ducks Unlimited is where Travis does most of his volunteering. He has been a committee member for the past five years and is currently the chairman for the chapter. This is a place he feels at home meeting sportsmen and women who share the same passion for hunting waterfowl.
Born in Napier, New Zealand, Greg was hunting ducks with his father since age 13. Their favorite game is hunting greater Canadas, from the mountainous high country of the South Island of NZ to the big water and coastal estuaries of the North Island. Greg loves the challenge of battling the weather that success on big water necessitates, often hunting in 60mph cold winds, and the wonderful success this can bring the waterfowler who's up to the task. Greg loves being a mobile waterfowler and Avery's layout blinds and decoys have revolutionized waterfowling for him and his crew. He is a local and national councilor for Fish &Game New Zealand, the organization that manages game birds, trout and salmon in New Zealand. Greg spends a lot of time trying to give something back to the sport that provides him and his family with so much enjoyment. Greg's wife Fiona and his 2 sons Jamie and Willie all hunt with him, and all work ceases round the Duley homestead during the waterfowl season. His family takes over 1000 head of waterfowl every season and it is all a welcome addition to the Duley pantry as Greg states: "We love eating duck!"
Josh Ernst was born and raised in Bellevue, Iowa. He currently lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he is a Branch Manager for a local Credit Union. At the age of 12, Josh was introduced to waterfowl industry by his father. Josh and his dad would spend many hours cutting firewood, scouting turkeys, and watching deer from afar. At a young age Josh was marveled by the idea of calling game to a close range. Once he committed his first duck into the decoys he was hooked. During the past 13 years Josh has built many relationships and introduced many young kids to the waterfowl industry. Between the months of September-April, Josh can be found chasing waterfowl throughout the mid-west and taking an annual trip to Canada. His true passion is committing a wary flock of geese to the decoys. Besides hunting, Josh enjoys traveling to sporting shows, meeting new people and developing strategies for next season. He also spends time filming and photographing wildlife. Josh's passion and energy along with his knowledge in the field is a tremendous asset to the Avery Pro-Staff. When pursuing waterfowl, perfection and realism are keys to success. Josh truly believes in the Avery and GHG products and has proven them successful.
Sean Evans currently resides in Spring Hill, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, with his wife Erin and their son Cole. Sean grew up in the famous Marais Des Cygnes valley in east central Kansas, an area known for its rich tradition of waterfowl hunting and more importantly a staging area for thousands of ducks and geese each year. When Sean is not out in the field, he works as a Safety Director for a major over-the-road trucking company in Kansas City where he is in charge of all Department of Transportation and OSHA standards and compliance. Aside from working a full time job, he also owns and operates Honker Down Outfitters, a waterfowl guide service located in Spring Hill. Living in east central Kansas gives Sean the ability to chase fowl in ways different from other areas. When it comes to ducks, he prefers hunting out of his boat on any one of the large body lakes that surround his home. What he finds exciting about this is that he never knows what the big water is going to bring. From screaming Goldeneyes to big flocks of Mallards, to the lonesome moans of Canada geese, he can find it all on the big waters of the Kansas reservoirs. Late in the season, he switches gears and moves into the grain fields to chase those big Kansas geese. Sean brings 27 years of hunting experience with him to the Avery Pro-Staff. When you come across Sean, you will immediately see that he never meets a stranger and is always willing to pass on his knowledge. Sean learned the important concept of teamwork from his time in the United States Marine Corps and also learned the importance of helping others. Because of his exceptional attitude and his eagerness to help others, he will make a vital asset to the Avery team.
Bob started duck hunting in northern Arizona, at the age of 9 with his father. It left a deep impression on him. At the age of 14, a close friend introduced him to goose hunting and there was no turning back. Bob also enjoy hunting dove and quail in the desert regions of Arizona, and chasing after monster bull elk in the high country. Bob began his guiding career in OshKosh, Nebraska in 1996. After three years of unbelievable goose hunting, he gave up his winter home in Nebraska to become a licensed guide in the State of Arizona. He immediately took a job guiding at Cibola Sportsman's Club, a well-known duck and goose-hunting club on the Colorado River. Bob takes his calling very seriously and embraces every chance to learn new calling techniques. He takes time to really listen to the birds to pick up their true sounds and tones. I guess you could say he really does his homework. Bob's ability to read the birds and respond to the situation, assures his customer's the best opportunity in the field. Bob is determined to do a phenomenal job promoting Avery products through his relationships with local television and radio personalities, participation in Trade Shows and Expo's and his everyday experiences in the field. He is also a familiar face at the local Cabela's and Sportsman's Warehouse.
Sean Finke grew up on the shores of Grand Lake St. Mary's in Ohio. His earliest outdoor memories are of hunting waterfowl and doves and also fishing for crappie. Sean's first waterfowling experience involved sitting in a fencerow with his grandfather and uncle pass shooting geese. Now, at 32 years of age, Sean has twenty years of waterfowling experience to draw on. Sean and his wife Linda have a daughter Laney and are expecting twins in December 2005. Sean is already looking forward to hunting with her and the twins in the years to come. Those early days spent pass shooting geese inspired Sean to look for ways to bring the birds closer. His desire to constantly improve his techniques has made Sean a master at decoying waterfowl in both dry fields and over water. Sean's love of the outdoors guided him through college, and led to a career with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. He started his career banding ducks, geese and doves at a refuge, but later Sean went to work at a fish hatchery for ten years. He now has went back to work at a waterfowl area and spends his time improving hunting opportunities for all around Ohio. His career also allows Sean to teach hunter education and youth waterfowl clinics throughout Ohio. Being from Ohio too, Sean was very fortunate to have met Fred Zink in 1995. There friendship as grown throughout the years and has led to many hunts, and presented Sean with the opportunity to appear on Mossy Oak's Whistling Wings, and to help Fred at various trade shows presenting Zink Calls and Avery Outdoors to the public. With everything that Sean has going on with work and the family, Sean still finds the time to hang out with his true buddy, Hunter, his 11 year old chocolate lab.
Brad Fontaine gained his love of hunting, when at the early age of eight; his dad would take him into the fields of North Dakota. Those early memories of time spent with his father and experiencing the thrill of hunting the birds has fueled his passion for the sport ever since. He still gets that eight-year old boy gleam in his eyes when preparing for a hunt and especially when that hunt is with his beloved black lab Maxx. Brad has however been especially drawn to waterfowling and for the past ten years has owned and operated Great Northern Waterfowl Adventures with his friend, partner and fellow Avery Pro-Staffer, Brad Hanson. Brad also strongly believes in supporting the causes dedicated to preserving wildlife and the sportsman's future. Giving time and money to both local and national groups such as Delta Waterfowl, NWTF, DU and others. He also recognizes that one way to promote and preserve the sport of hunting is to excite and involve the youth. Having no children of his own, he enjoys taking young boys or girls along, teaching the many aspects of safe, ethical and successful hunting. He is currently working with fellow members of his local church to develop an adult and youth oriented hunting club called New Life Outdoors (NLO). Seizing an opportunity to assist in growing the sport along with helping to develop spiritual character. To say he is passionate about hunting would be an understatement, but he does try to maintain a balance between hunting, work, family and church involvement. He currently resides in Watertown, SD with his wife Cindy, and little Winston. (The non-hunting dog.)
Eric Fortenberry hails from Glenpool, Oklahoma and is the lead guide for Firewater Lodge in Victor, South Dakota during the fall hunting season. During the off-season he works for Justin Tackett's Super Retriever Series Eric started out hunting the backwaters of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma where he hunted flooded timber to big open water and everything in between. The hunting was always pretty good and it allowed Eric to learn a lot about his craft, the environment in which he hunted and the animals he pursued. That training has stood him in good stead as lead guide at Firewater Lodge. The lodge is located in South Dakota and it's an amazing place to see when the migration is in full force. There are three large bodies of water within fifteen miles of each other with corn and bean fields in every direction. It is a large staging area for the northern birds. Being a guide is a wearing but also a very rewarding job and according to Eric: "I can't think of anything else I would rather do for a living." The most rewarding thing about guiding for Eric is getting to introduce young hunters to the sport: that and being able to work your dogs as much as he does makes all the early mornings and sleep deprivation worth it.
Rick grew up in a small town of 300 people where hunting was a way of life. Whether it was ducks, pheasants or deer, everybody hunted. Hunting, fishing, the Minnesota Twins, or the Minnesota Vikings were all folks talked about; 20 years after he left that small town, Rick loves to visit because he finds that not much has changed! Rick is consumed with hunting whitetail deer, and it doesn't matter when, where or how he does it. While he prefers bow hunting over all other methods, he will grab "the 7" if necessary. His first close encounter with a 150+ buck a couple of years ago changed Rick's entire perspective about the pursuit of whitetails, and today he considers himself a trophy hunter. Rick states, "Once I saw eye to eye with the toughest game animal out there, it just did something to me and changed me for good. I have passed up more small bucks in the past two years than I can count. Like a friend once told me, "You can't shoot the biggun' if you shoot a little one!" Rick has a wonderful family that starts with his very understanding wife, Meredith and includes two little boys: Jake & Ethan. As the senior member of Avery's sales force, Rick brings to the Pro-Staff his immeasurable insight and experience from his time on the road over the last seven years, his intense product knowledge, his interaction with Avery dealers and his basic instinct gained from years of hard core field experience.
Levi Fry was born and raised in southeastern Kansas. He began hunting on the family ranch at an early age. During college, he was introduced to his true passion, hunting waterfowl. Since then, he hasn't looked back. After relocating to Minnesota and starting a family with his wife Stephanie and son James, Levi has spent time harvesting birds and knowledge throughout the upper midwest. From backwater river hunts in Kansas to big cut corn fields in Minnesota, Levi enjoys spending time in the field with friends and his Chocolate Lab Gander. His career in Outside Sales gives him the communication and delivery skills vital to helping others that show an interest in the sport of hunting waterfowl. With a vast knowledge of Avery's products, Levi is an ideal candidate to demonstrate what it takes to succeed as a member of Avery's Pro Staff.
Rich Good was born and raised in Lake County Illinois. His father (Rich) and grandfather (Bill Meyer) introduced him to the sport of waterfowling when he was just 4 _ years old. To young to shoulder a gun he enjoyed every moment in the blind on his family owned waterfowl paradise. His Grandfather would talk of the good old days like the Armistice Day Storm of 1941 and Rich knew at a young age he was hooked. In the late 80s he took up the sport of deer hunting and has successfully harvested several nice bucks with his bow, one of which has made the Pope and Young record books. Rich and his wife Deborah and 5 children: Mike, Randy, Eric, Iris and Luis reside in Ingleside, Illinois. Rich is a bit of a magician because besides sharing time with his large family he still manages to spend 50 to 60 days a field each year pursuing his passion of the waterfowling. Additionally Rich is an avid Walleye fisherman, deer hunter, and recently started turning his own calls in his garage in a makeshift shop. Rich enjoys talking to and teaching other hunters, about products he believes in and enjoys teaching young hunters the Art of Waterfowling. Avery products have made that job much easier and more fulfilling to the teacher and the students.
Derrick Goodwin was introduced to the hunting and shooting sports by his father at the early age of 6. Derrick started hunting dove and quail in the desert areas of Arizona. Derrick moved to Utah while in junior high school and became fascinated with waterfowl hunting. Derrick's family was raised in southern Idaho, and regular trips there were normal to hunt pheasants and waterfowl along the Snake River. One of these trips is where Derrick found his passion for decoying geese in the dry grain fields. Besides hunting local areas, Derrick's yearly hunts include stops in Canada, Idaho and Wyoming. In his travels he has learned not to trust his hunting gear to inferior products and truly believes Avery products are the best in the business. Spending hard earned time and money to chase waterfowl in several states and Canadian providences has taught him many things about having the right gear, attitude and motivation to consistently harvest waterfowl. In addition to hunting waterfowl, Derrick enjoys the summer outdoors in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with his wife Trena and their two dogs Porshia and Maddie. His other passions include elk hunting and outdoor cooking.
Rusty Hallock comes by his interest for waterfowling and hunting honestly. He is the fourth generation of his family to get deeply involved with the sporting treasures and traditions that the Chesapeake Bay area offers. Beginning at a very early age, Rusty was exposed not only to the waterfowling opportunities of the Bay but also to the richness and sense of place that comes from growing up in a small bayside town in Maryland; a place where generations of families either worked the water crabbing, oystering, clamming, and fishing, or working the ground planting and growing tobacco. Rusty keeps his passion for hunting fueled in the off-season by carving decoys and competing in local and regional calling contests. His decoys have received awards and been recognized at several events, including the Ward Foundation of Art. He feels that carving simple gunning decoys is the perfect way for him to put a little of himself into the tradition that he loves so much and leave a lasting legacy to the next generation as well. Even though Rusty has been fortunate enough to hunt waterfowl in the Central and Mississippi Flyways, he still enjoys the treasures offered in the Chesapeake Bay region. But nothing is more exciting to Rusty, than working a flock of geese into a harvested cornfield on a cold snowy morning. Currently residing on the Eastern Shore in Centreville, Maryland with his wife Hope and their two daughters Catherine & Anna, Rusty brings over 25 years of waterfowling experience to the Pro-Staff and is a consummate professional in his participation on the Avery team.
Brad Hanson has been hunting waterfowl since he was old enough to follow his father into the fields adjacent to the Thief Lake Wildlife Refuge near Middle River Minnesota. Back in the early 70's when he began hunting Canada geese, pass shooting the birds as they left the refuge to feed was the standard tactic. That was until the local hardware store began selling the most recent innovation, paper fold out decoys made by Carry-Lite. Although these new decoys were as crude as the skills of the hunters using them, they did prove effective and assured that getting em' close would become a lifelong passion for Brad! Brad has hunted waterfowl with his black lab "Macy" all over the US and Canada and has been operating Great Northern Waterfowl Adventures near Fergus Falls, Minnesota for eight years. "Things have really changed since the early days," says Hanson. "The equipment, the skills as well as the Canada goose populations have improved. We want our clients to experience a hunt like they may have only seen on television or on video. We want the birds as close as possible to assure a good clean harvest so we use nothing but the best equipment and techniques and constantly practice our calling. When in doubt, we scout, scout and scout some more." "We also believe that we as sportsman owe the resource something in return so we make sure and give our time, money and effort to several conservation organizations such as Delta Waterfowl, DU and NWTF," says Brad. "If we want to protect our sport we have to become involved, otherwise we will watch the anti's influence grow and our rights dwindle". Avery agrees wholeheartedly with Brad's perspective on hunting and the outdoors. His energy, enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport he loves make him a well-liked and respected veteran Pro-Staffer. Brad has been on the team since its inception and never turns down an opportunity to represent Avery anywhere in the country!
Buddy Harris of Americus, Georgia grew up in Greenwood, Mississippi which is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. This area has long been known for a wealth of all type of game including swarms of wintering mallards and other waterfowl. Like most sportsmen in this part of the world, Buddy grew up hunting a variety of game including ducks, deer, rabbits and squirrels. After graduating from Mississippi State with a degree in Agronomy, Buddy turned his attention to ducks full time. The public cypress and tupelo gum brakes, swamps and flooded hardwood timber in the area around Greenwood allowed him the opportunity to become well-versed in waterfowl hunting under a variety of conditions. Hunting highly pressured ducks on public land quickly became his specialty, and his input beginning in 1990 was instrumental in the development Avery and many of its products including its first, the Quick-Set Waterfowl Blind. While duck hunting is Buddy's passion, his eyes light up when talking about his five children. He has two sons, Justin and Drake, and three daughters, Leslie, Laney and Avery. Luckily, Buddy's career as a cotton specialist with Harris Cotton Consulting allows him a lot of flexibility during the fall and winter when he spends most of his time chasing ducks in Mississippi. Buddy's true talent as a duck hunter as well as his "Deep South" brand of addictive humor make him a great guy to share a blind with, and his patented, "You folla'" has become well known throughout the hunting industryyou folla'
Jeremiah Harston grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky. His passion for hunting was developed at an early age when his dad would take him quail hunting. Jeremiah's father introduced him to many types of hunting, but primarily they quail hunted over pointers and setters that they trained together. Jeremiah began turkey hunting when he was 14 years old and he has been chasing gobblers up and down the hills of Kentucky ever since. While in law school, a classmate invited Jeremiah on a duck hunt in the Wolf River Bottoms outside of Memphis, Tennessee. It was on this hunt that Jeremiah's obsession for duck hunting began. It was also on this hunt that he came to appreciate the benefits of a well-trained retriever. Shortly after that hunt, Jeremiah bought his first retriever, Buckley. Jeremiah began training Buckley and campaigning him in hunt tests and field trials. Buckley started in hunt tests where he attained several titles and passed the UKC-HRC Grand hunt test at 24 months old. Later that year Buckley earned a second place in a Qualifying stake in a field trial, gaining the designation of being Qualified All-Age. Since his start with Buckley, Jeremiah has trained and campaigned several other retrievers, placing in various levels of AKC field trials. Jeremiah's involvement in the retriever world and his pursuit of waterfowl in Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri has given him ample opportunity to test and provide input on the various retriever and waterfowl products Avery has to offer. In addition to being actively involved in retriever contests and hunting, Jeremiah also enjoys spending time with his wife, Catherine, and his young son, Luke. Spending time with family and friends is the reason Jeremiah is drawn to these pursuits and he truly enjoys spending his free time in the company of those who share his passion for hunting and retrievers.
David started upland hunting with his father at age 5 and was immediately hooked. At the age of 12 he was introduced to waterfowl hunting, and today it is his true passion as he spends four days in the field each week as well as a month's vacation time hunting ducks and geese. David hunts Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Vermont on a regular basis and travels to the West coast, Canada or Mexico annually. In the spring, he chases turkeys to pass the time. David has been a waterfowl guide for 16 years and he annually donates hunts to youths on youth day. In the summer months, David is a competitive free diver and competes in spearfishing competitions. Since his first place win in the 1997 Connecticut State Spear Fishing Championship, he has taken the top three places in the Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island State Spear Fishing Championships every year. In 2003, he and his Three-Man team won the United States National Spear Fishing Championship beating 130 of the top competitors in the US! In 1998 they won 3rd place in the US Nationals. David lectures on the art of free diving, spear fishing and waterfowl hunting throughout the New England area. David lives in Orange, Connecticut with his wife Christine, their daughter Jessica, and sons Jake and Zak. He spends as much time in the field with his children as they are willing and able to share. David brings to the Avery Pro-Staff 25 years of experience and knowledge of waterfowl techniques over both land and water, and he loves teaching anyone who wants to take their hunting skills and success to the next level. He hopes to help expose hunters to the quality of Avery's many products and the wonderful world and art of waterfowl hunting.
Born and raised in a big town, trouble was lurking around every corner. Luckily for Mark, his father wasn't going to put up with any of that. Mark spent most of his childhood fishing and hunting in his own back yard and scouting with his brother and father on weekends. He didn't carry a firearm until he was 11 yrs old and at the age of 14 a family friend turned Mark on to turkey hunting. That experience changed Mark's life. Now he spends one month a year traveling and chasing TIMBER BARONS: from South Carolina to New York. When Mark is not consumed by his passion for turkey hunting, he may remember that he is supported by his loving wife Sue and their two great kids: son Tony and daughter Katelyn. Mark says that they both take after their mother and he "thanks the lord for that!" Mark still lives in the same town where he was born and raised. In addition to traveling to hunt, Mark spends many hours "running the roads", working in-store promotions and giving seminars as a member of Avery's Pro-Staff. Meeting and making new friends in his travels is one of the "perks" Mark gets out of being a member of the Avery team. He use to guide goose parties and turkey hunters but now he greatly enjoys taking young hunters and first time hunters out, and that's where he spends most of his season. Mark is truly one of the best when it comes to his reliability, professionalism and friendly efforts that he offers to first-time hunters, friends, or the goals of Avery Outdoors.
Clay was born and raised in LaGrange, Kentucky and started hunting at the young age of 6. He shot his first whitetail buck at only 8 years old and went on his first waterfowl hunt when he was 11. Since then, Clay has anxiously awaited for each waterfowl season to roll around so he can spend time on duck and goose hunting trips with his favorite hunting partner, younger brother Field. "The day I got my driver's license, Field and I loaded up the boat and head out after ducks and geese, and we have never stopped," recalls Clay. Clay attended Western Kentucky University where he received a marketing degree. During a few fall semesters Clay took time off from school to guide hunters for Cacklers in Northwest Texas. After graduating, Clay received a job offer that he could not pass up, and he joined the Zink Call team allowing him to chase waterfowl for a living with brother Field and friend Fred Zink! "I could have never imagined getting paid to do something that I love as much as hunting ducks and geese with my best friends," states Clay. During the waterfowl season you can find Clay with the Zink Calls crew. If he is not pulling the trigger, then he is behind the camera filming for Avery, Zink Calls, and clips for Mossy Oaks Whistling Wings. Clay and his brother do most of the filming for Avery and Zink Calls, and Clays says of this experience, "Getting a good hunt on film is just as good as shooting them as far as I am concerned!" During the off-season, Clay can always be found at waterfowl shows representing Avery and Zink Calls. "I am very proud to be able to represent Avery because of the excellence that the company strives to put into every one of its products," says Clay. "Plus, I have a great many friends at Avery, and I enjoy spending time with them as often as possible." He admits he doesn't know it all but learns every time he gets out in the field in Clay's line of work, he gets out a lot!
Field cannot remember exactly when he was introduced into the hunting world but he knows he was allowed to carry his own firearm at the age of eight. Before that he was putting his time in as "retriever" in the dove fields and "beagle" in the rabbit fields for his father. Dale Hudnall, Field's father, always made sure that both Field and his brother Clay spent as much time in the outdoors as possible, even if it included missing a day or two of school, especially for opening day. What draws Field to the outdoors is the unique language of wildlife. For him, the ultimate thrill is when you can fool a wild animal by communicating to them in their own language. That thrill is no greater than when waterfowling or turkey hunting. Field shares those opportunities with his older brother Clay. Clay is not only a co-worker and a fellow Avery Pro-Staffer but he is also his best friend and life long, favorite hunting partner. They grew up hunting and fishing together with their father and share a bond that can only be understood by families that live for the outdoors. Field sees his involvement with the Pro-Staff as two-fold. "I am honored to be on the Avery Pro-staff and I feel that through the Avery Pro-staff I will be able to stress the importance of strong family relationships and how the outdoors is the best way to achieve that. I also wish to bring to the table my experience in the areas of calling and different techniques that work best for me. I have learned many lessons from being behind the trigger but I have learned even more from being behind the camera. It is amazing the stuff you can learn when you can see the hunter and the game at the same time. I hope to bring to the public through Avery a wealth of knowledgenot from my preaching, but through video footage captured on various hunt with some of the best waterfowl hunters in the world."
Tim Hudson lives in California's Central Valley, in the town of Los Banos. Los Banos is in the heart of the Pacific Flyway and provides some of the finest duck hunting California has to offer. Tim and his wife Ann have three daughters, Jessica, Meagan and Hollie. These four women are Tim's priority in life as they are very patient and supportive of him during the waterfowl season and equally so during the off-season as they frequently accompany him to calling contests. Tim has a degree in Fire Science and has been in the fire service for 20 years, currently holding the rank of Captain. Between the job, his family, and waterfowling, Tim feels that he has plenty to keep him on his toes. Being a child in a military family, Tim moved all over the country. After years of traveling, his family settled in California where Tim has been waterfowling for the past 25 years. He hunts private clubs and public refuges and enjoys both equally as they provide different challenges and are a large part of waterfowling in California. As an Avery Pro-Staffer, Tim looks forward to progressing in all aspects of waterfowling as well as meeting new people and sharing his experiences with them. Tim states, "There is no question that a passion for what you do along with professionalism, knowledge and experience are very important in anything." There is no doubt that Tim brings all of these to the team, and Avery is proud to have him on the team!
Mike is an outdoor writer and photographer from Regina, Saskatchewan who cherishes everyday afield and loves the sunrises, the sunsets and every moment in between. He specializes in waterfowling, deer hunting and ice fishing. He's an active member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Outdoor Writers of Canada. Mike is a full time writer with Big Buck Magazine and freelances for numerous outdoor publications. When asked how he best describes his love for hunting, Mike replies, "My favorite color is camouflage, and my truck's license plate says TAKE EM' if that answers your question!" When Mike was a young boy, he accompanied his Dad on many waterfowling trips. At twelve years of age, he graduated from duck blind spectator to fully active participant. It's been over 25 years since he fired his first shot, and his enthusiasm for hunting continues to grow. Mike loves spending time with his wife Bev, young son Kyle and daughter Courtney. Hunting and fishing are a way of life in the Hungle household as Bev and Kyle are both avid anglers and Kyle often tags along with Dad on hunting trips. As for Courtney, she can call ducks with and without a call! Saskatchewan is an outdoorsman's dream. The wetlands of this prairie province are prime waterfowl nesting grounds. In addition to all the local birds, thousands of migrating waterfowl following the Central and Mississippi Flyways stage annually in Saskatchewan. Then there's deer, upland game birds and countless lakes filled with walleye, northern pike and trout. Thus, Mike spends most of his time hunting and fishing in Saskatchewan. However, he's also experienced Alberta and Manitoba and traveled to the Caribbean to catch bottom fish and sharks. Mike brings a wealth of Canadian hunting knowledge to the Avery Pro-Staff. He adds a solid mixture of outdoor writing and photography and is able to field test gear in a variety of harsh weather conditions.
Rob Jepson of Annapolis, Maryland comes from a non-hunting family and, as a result, was not exposed to many hunting opportunities as a youngster. But living on Chesapeake Bay and with the help of a waterfowling uncle, Rob got the right exposure to the outdoors just in time to make it part of his everyday life. As his interest in hunting grew, he spent more and more time each passing fall in the corn fields and salt marshes of the famed Eastern Shore. After graduating from college with a degree in Psychology, Rob started working for a friend who owned an independent hunting and fishing retail store in Maryland. Originally intending to work there only until his post-college career took shape, he ended up staying there eighteen years! Eventually Rob left his retail career in 2004 to join Avery as the Eastern Region Territory Manager. Being in "the business" has allowed Rob to explore many types of hunting & fishing opportunities. Quail hunting in Georgia, pheasants in Nebraska, ducks in Arkansas, turkeys in Virginia, Sandhill Cranes in Texas, Canada geese in Manitoba as well as numerous fishing trips to Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, coastal Rhode Island, Florida for redfish, and tuna off Maryland's Atlantic coast. It is Maryland's Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay where Rob spends most of his days outdoors chasing Canada geese, ducks and deer. Rob's passion for the outdoors is buoyed by the support of his very understanding wife, Patty. "In the time that I have been involved with the hunting and fishing industry, I have, without a doubt, met some of the nicest people you would ever hope to meet. They have shared their knowledge and time with me as well as their camps. More importantly these relationships have extended well beyond the scope of hunting," states Rob, and it is these friendships that Rob attributes his continuing love and pursuit of all things outdoors. Today Rob is the Manager of Pro-Staff Relations for Avery, which is a job that he loves. "To work with over 140 of the nation's top hunters every day is an honor and a privilege," says Rob. "I get paid to work with the greatest talents and minds in the entire hunting business is this a great country or what!"
Hunter Johnson was born in the heart of duck country. The son of an Arkansas Game Warden, Hunter was introduced to the sport of hunting and fishing at an early age. Since his first trip to the flooded timber of Arkansas' Cache River bottoms at age 8, Hunter has been haunted by the sounds of duck chatter. Hunter eventually migrated a few hours north to the rich duck country of Southeast Missouri where he settled in, started a family, and began focusing on the dream of a duck hunting career. That dream finally became a reality when Hunter teamed up with a predominate rice farmer from Southeast Missouri, and together they started a duck club called MoDucks. Immediately MoDucks was a huge success, and when the need to expand into a fully guided hunting operation presented itself Locked Wings & Labs LLC was born. Today, Hunter enjoys spending time with his wife Tammy and hunting, fishing and playing baseball with their son Jesse. Besides guiding customers nearly every day of Missouri's waterfowl season, Hunter also likes to make an annual trip to hunt ducks and geese on the prairies of Canada, and spends each spring chasing turkeys in the Ozarks of Missouri and the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee. He cherishes the friends he has made and the people that have taught him along the way, and is always eager to share stories with others. Hunter brings a wealth of knowledge to Avery's Pro-Staff and feels the products that Avery makes have put him at the top of his game.
Chris Jones was born and raised on a family farm in central Iowa where he developed his strong love for the outdoors and all it had to offer. One cold and blustery Iowa day, he was invited to accompany a family friend to the local duck marsh. From that day forward, he knew where he was meant to be...in pursuit of waterfowl! Chris' family moved to southern Missouri at the age of 13, and throughout his early years, he developed an even stronger love of the outdoors. The fall migration brought an abundance of Mallards and Canada geese into the backwater sloughs and fields, and Chris was always right on their tails. As time went by, he made waterfowl hunting more of a priority in his life as he found ways to hunt everyday before or after school throughout the year. Often times, the bell would ring without him in attendance, and Chris is convinced the principal (who was also a die-hard waterfowl hunter) must have "felt his pain"! A career move brought him to Colorado in 2001, and Chris now resides on a small ranch spending the off-season with his horses and cattle. He thrives on waterfowl now more then ever as he hunts 80 to 100 days a year on average. Chris is an important part of Avery's Pro-Staff Central Flyway and can be found gladly sharing his wealth of hunting knowledge with anyone he meets at the area shows and promotions.
Tyson began hunting waterfowl at the age of eight and has had an energetic passion for it ever since. He was fortunate enough to grow up in Pierre, South Dakota, an area that holds over 1 million migratory geese and ducks each season. As long as he can remember, Tyson has been obsessed with watching and trying to understand the nature and habits of migratory birds. He began hunting Canada Geese very seriously when he was about fourteen years old. His journals show that he hunted 45 days straight over decoys during his eighth grade year. From then on, the passion and addiction for decoying big Canadas has become even more prevalent. Throughout the past four years, Tyson has been able to hunt 70+ days out of each season. As his hunting evolved into a more scientific approach, Tyson concluded that Avery products were critical for his success, and he has been 100% "on the team" ever since! Tyson's obsession for geese has committed him to several other hobbies relating to the birds as well. He has been involved with designing several short reed goose call models, he conducts instructional seminars and he competes in as many calling contests as possible. As off-season pursuits, Tyson enjoys photography, decoy carving and painting. Tyson is extremely committed to waterfowl hunting and anything associated with it. His driven passion to be involved with all aspects of duck and goose hunting allows him to bring his interests and experience to the Avery Pro-Staff where he hopes to pass it on to anyone who will listen!
As an Avery Pro-Staff member Kevin is able to share his experiences and knowledge of waterfowl with fellow hunters and is always looking to gain knowledge of the sport from all of his acquaintances. Also, by using Avery products throughout all of Minnesota's weather conditions in the field or on the lake, Kevin, has gained a great understanding of how Avery's products react in these different weather conditions and will be able to promote these products and respond to our customers questions at shows and events throughout the year. Kevin enjoys meeting other Pro-staff members and customers and works to gain the respect of everyone he encounters.
Jeff was born and has lived near the headwaters of Chesapeake Bay all his life. Growing up in such a waterfowl-rich area he has had the opportunity to learn from, and hone his hunting skills with some of the best hunters in the region. Jeff cut his teeth hunting ducks and geese with his father around Kennedyville and Wye Island on Maryland's famed Eastern Shore. Closer to his home he chased divers and Canadas near Havre de Grace and the storied Susquehanna Flats. During the Atlantic Flyway's moratorium on hunting migratory Canada Geese, Jeff switched his attention to Maryland's western shore and their burgeoning population of Resident Canada Geese. This switch came at a time when the sport was being changed by the use of mobile layout blinds and trailers full of goose decoys that could be moved so hunters could consistently set-up on the "x". Jeff took full advantage of this new tactic; something the leg bands on his lanyard can attest to! Any time in the season you can find Jeff with his two sons, Jeff Jr. and Brandon, and any number of friends in the field or on the water doing what we all love to do: hunt waterfowl. And while Jeff is a fanatic for doing things right; if for some reason a plan doesn't come together and the birds pitch in behind the rig or Rusty comes on a hunt and the whole farm gets shutout, then Jeff is there with a ready quip and his ever present smile.
Alex Langbell joined the Avery Pro-Staff in late 2004. He is a 9-year veteran firefighter with the City of Yakima and lives in the Tri-Cities region of Washington State. Married to an incredible woman named Andrea, they have a beautiful 2-year-old daughter named Madison. Alex brings 24 years of hunting experience with him to the Pro-Staff. "I've hunted Canada for the last 7 years chasing the geese back down to my stomping grounds in Washington where I've guided for several seasons and recently started my own guide service, with fellow Avery Pro-Staffer Craig Riche, Columbia Basin Waterfowl. When the season is finished and the last pit is filled in, I spend a lot of my free time fishing for salmon and steelhead and pulling 300 400 pound sturgeon out of the Columbia River." Alex isn't just a waterfowl hunter and he pursues big game as well, but he confesses: "Out of all the game I have hunted, I feel there isn't a more rewarding feeling than sitting in a goose or duck blind with a group of your good friends, talking, laughing and enjoying life to its fullest. I now focus all my energy, passion, and drive towards the one thing that I love most in life: and besides my family, that love is waterfowling. I live for waterfowl hunting. I strive to be the best at what ever I do and I am very successful at producing results. I have integrity, honesty, loyalty, and morals. I work hard and play hard. I never go at something half-heartedly. I have pride and commitment in everything I do." Alex's passion and commitment exemplifies the core values behind Avery and it's Pro-Staff and we look forward to his assistance in the Pacific Northwest region.
Eric was raised on a farm in the small town of Fairview, South Dakota which is just south of Sioux Falls. Like many Avery Pro-Staffers, he was introduced to hunting at the very young age of 5 and has hunted almost as "a religion" ever since! Blessed to grow up in an area surrounded by some of the best whitetail hunting imaginable, most of Eric's hunting revolves around South Dakota's archery season for whitetail deer. He also loves getting as much as he can from each short-lived waterfowl season in the Dakotas. So if he can't be found, there is a good chance he's either in a tree stand waiting for "Mr. Big" or laying in a corn field in a Finisher next to good friends Charles, fellow Avery Pro-Staffer Jim Thompson, and brother Andy. Most of his friends and family think Eric is crazy for the amount of time and effort he invests in each hunting trip and season, but Eric admits he is addicted. His fondest memories are of days spent in tree stands, long road trips with his friends and family to their favorite hunting spots and sitting in a blind and sharing "the experience" with them. He will cherish the memories of successful hunts (and some that were not so successful) for the rest of his life. Eric is the Central Midwest Region Avery Territory Manager for Avery and currently resides in Canton, South Dakota.
Jake Latendresse grew up in the rich hunting culture of west Tennessee. Born and raised on Kentucky Lake in Camden, Tennessee, Jake cut his teeth in the infamous Camden Bottoms where he grew up hunting mallards in the flooded corn and timber. At the young age of 3, his father began to cultivate a passion that turned into a life long ambition. Now living in Nebraska, he integrates his southern style while guiding and hunting along the historical North Platte River. Today, Jake travels the continent filming hunts for outdoor television. Through the eyes of a camera lens, Jake's love for the outdoors has found new meaning: capturing memories on film for outdoor television viewers. Filming for RNT-V and The Wild Outdoors, Jake has the opportunity to experience world class hunting everyday of the season. Also, Jake has found a wife and filming partner in the same gal, Kyna Wagner-Latendresse. Together, they make a potent team and spend a tremendous amount of time filming wildlife from tree stands and duck blinds. As a result being a cameraman, Jake brings an interesting perspective to the Avery Pro-staff. He says, "Hiding a camera is one of the most difficult experiences I have ever had in the outdoor world. However, Avery equipment allows me to set up as inconspicuous as possible so that the weary eyes of wild game are not suspicious of my presence. That is a must, if I want to capture in-your-face footage."
Jon grew up in Eastern North Dakota, an area rich with grain fields, potholes and an abundance of waterfowl. The history of waterfowl hunting in his family dates back well before Jon was born. After a few years of accompanying his father on waterfowl hunts, his 10th birthday present was a new shotgun. Starting that year, and every year there after Jon has spent his time watching and hunting waterfowl. Jon is married to Wendy and together they have a teenage son; Gus. Both Wendy and Gus share the same passion for waterfowl hunting as Jon. During the off season they both enjoy keeping the families hunting dogs sharp, and shooting sporting clays. Every year during the youth duck season, Jon and Wendy give area kids that have never had the opportunity to enjoy a waterfowl hunt, the chance to get out and enjoy a hunt. Jon still resides in Hillsboro, ND where he continues to have great enthusiasm in all aspects of waterfowl hunting, and enjoys sharing and helping people enjoy the outdoors.
Since the beginning of Brian's hunting experiences a dog has always been a key part. It's no different now. In 2005 Brian left working as a marketing consultant to pursue a full time career training and handling retrievers. Now Brian works as an assistant producer for Ollar Outdoors, filming the Wing-N-Tine Videos and as a full time trainer at Schreiner Kennels, in Cape Girardeau, MO. Brian's goal is to produce trained retriever with very solid basics to be able to continue in any intended venue. He hopes to be able to continue his career and education by being involved with the best company and very best Pro-Staff in the business, Avery Outdoors, Inc.
Casey Lewis grew up on a small farm in Wyoming close to the river and mountains. His father, having plenty of time in the fall for hunting, introduced him to hunting at a young age. The farm had ducks and geese on it each fall but it wasn't until Casey first learned to decoy geese from a friend that he found his true passion. He loves all the variables that go into each hunt when decoying birds. Paying special attention to detail is how he keeps birds locked up over his spread and what he loves about waterfowl hunting. Working as a teacher, Casey has taught several of today's youth about hunting through his Hunter and Outdoor Education programs. He is also the owner of Lewis Outdoor Adventures, one of Wyoming's top waterfowl outfitters and he and his guides spend countless days in the field. Casey's operation hunts over 350 miles of Wyoming. Being able to provide waterfowl hunts in unique Wyoming settings is just one reason he can't wait to return to the birds each season. Between teaching and guiding, Casey is in the perfect position to teach youngsters about hunting. For Casey, life revolves around hunting ducks and geese and even during the off season he stays involved with the sport by touching up decoys, training dogs and scouting new areas. His wife, Teresa and daughter, Avery understand his passion for the outdoors and provide their support for the Pro-Staffer and his guiding business. With Casey's knowledge of waterfowl hunting and the different conditions under which he and his guides hunt, he offers Avery Outdoors products the true challenges and has been happy with the results.
Nick has been in the outdoors either hunting or fishing since he was five years old. His father introduced him to the sport of trout fishing in the crystal clear spring fed creeks of the northern Nebraska Sandhills when he was eight. As he got older, Nick spent his spring breaks from school fishing on the famous Tennessee River system for small and largemouth bass. While at college in Nebraska, some friends introduced Nick to the sport of waterfowling and those first trips soon fostered an obsession and sense of intrigue for all things "ducks and geese" in Nick that now consumes him year round. His reasons for his interest in the outdoors is hard to pinpoint but Nick says there is something about the anticipation of birds on the wing that continually draws him to the outdoors. During the off-season months, Nick enjoys taking pictures of animals in their environment. This is just another way to keep him in the field and helps him learn more about the habits of the birds he intends to pursue in the hunting season. Nick primarily hunts waterfowl on the famed Platte River in the Central Flyway but he can also be found on a crisp autumn morning hunting rabbit, pheasant, or quail with his father and German Shorthair, Boomer. Like all Avery Pro-Staffers, Nick brings a passion for the outdoor/hunting industries that borders on obsession. If you want to see for yourself, Nick can be found on the Avery Message Board where he is apt to be sharing his knowledge of Avery products and his boundless enthusiasm for hunting.
Today he still hammers those same big lakes and small potholes, shooting everything from mallards to scoters, honkers to Brants and everything in between. Travis also hunts big game in the early archery season so he doesn't miss any time during the waterfowl season killing ducks and geese. Travis always loves to experiment with new decoy spreads. He has no problem moving a spread around in the middle of a hunt to make the birds work right. He has adjusted to the areas river systems and lakes with the time of year and weather to make his hunts a success. During the off season Travis loves to enter calling contest, watch waterfowl videos, paint and flock old decoys, brush up blinds, scout new areas, and catch fish for a good beer batter. Hunting public land all his life has truly tested Travis in becoming the best water fowler he can be.
George Lynch grew up in Southern Michigan and has been hunting and fishing all his life. At an early age his father took the time to teach George every competitive sport that would fit into their schedules. George learning this competitive spirit from an early age has always strived to bring his best game with him to a team no matter what the pursuit. This continuous drive and desire for excellence of winning and being a part of a winning team is why George is proud to be part of the Avery Pro-Staff. In the year 2000 this competitive drive helped him win the title of Michigan State Goose calling Champion, his first ever calling contest. Always looking for something better is the reason George developed his own line of calls named Lynch Mob Calls. A nickname given to him earlier in his career by a neighboring Ohioan named Fred Zink, who he had worked with in a guiding operation in southern Michigan. The call business has given him many opportunities to travel and hunt all over the country as well as Canada and to meet fellow hunters from all over. He has judged many large sanctioned calling contests as well as doing goose calling and hunting seminars for large companies such as Sportsman's Warehouse, Cabela's, and Gander Mountain. His goose hunts have been shown in many newspaper articles, magazines, along with doing TV shows. George strongly believes that family should be a main priority in our lives, and instilling good morals and honest ethics along with strong character is obtained through example. George believes it is the same for our future young hunters that are starting today. He believes we as respected and seasoned hunters should set the benchmark as to why we hunt and to respect all game laws. He believes that this type of professionalism to our sport and game laws is a key essential to managing our resources.
Tommy Marvel is a 4th generation wingshooting outfitter on Maryland's famed Eastern Shore and operates Chesapeake Guide Service out of his Galena, Maryland home. His great-grandfather started the business in the 1920's when live decoys were still lawful and used every day of the season. While the days of live decoys are gone, Tommy still delivers on the traditions of a great Eastern shore hunt; birds, friendship, and beautiful settings. Even after so many years of guiding and outfitting Tommy still finds himself looking forward to the next day's hunt, knowing that if he did his homework and the plan comes together, another successful day will be enjoyed. But for Tommy, it's not always the birds in the bag that makes a good day afield. "Any day you get up and see the sun rise and set is another good day." Starting with dove and Resident Population Canada Geese on September 1 and with Snow Goose season ending in mid-March, Tommy gets many opportunities to use Avery and Greenhead Gear equipment. While it makes for a longer season than the average hunter gets it is work and to unwind Tommy enjoys traveling to North Dakota every October to experience waterfowling in a more relaxed atmosphere. No clients to impress, just friends on a great trip to a waterfowler's paradise.
Gerry Mazur's introduction to hunting came later in life than most. It took moving to a new house before he understood the excitement and challenge of being a hunter. A new neighbor and avid goose hunter, Bill Conley, can take the credit for introducing Gerry to hunting. Bill took Gerry under his wing, so to speak, and was the first to take him into the field. Bill's knowledge of goose hunting was better than any book Gerry could have picked-up. Bill taught him the art of calling, the importance of setting the decoys in the field to equal the conditions and most importantly that patience is a virtue when it comes to hunting. Bill also taught Gerry another important lesson the key to goose hunting is scouting an area prior to the hunt. That is a lesson that Gerry practices to this day; he scouts throughout the year and has made friends with many local farmers through his ventures. All the scouting and patience paid-off for Gerry; the first goose he killed was banded and had a neck-collarnot bad for the new guy. Another long-time friend, Tom Perna, knew Gerry had the hunting bug and took him duck hunting for the first time. Again, it was all about calling, scouting and sitting in bad weather waiting for the birds. After several years, lots of scouting and practice blowing the call, Gerry considers himself an avid goose and duck hunter and is thankful to the efforts and support of two good friends. Last fall, Gerry took on another challenge he brought home a seven-week old black lab pup, who he hoped would become his best hunting companion. Stella was a natural from the beginning, eager to hone her retrieving and swimming abilities. After long hours of training, it was time for Stella's hunting debut. She entered the field like a champion and continues to make her dad very proud. Stella has a great stature and the ability to mark several downed birds at one time. It's tough to tell who gets the bigger thrill of Stella retrieving a downed birdStella or Gerry. Gerry continues to practice his goose calling techniques. Thanks to George Lynch, he has made great strides in his calling abilities also, it was George who introduced Gerry to the Avery Pro Staff program. Gerry and his wife Patty live in Toledo, Ohio and have been happily married for 13 years. Along with Stella, they own a golden retriever named Harley, a cat named Moose and a cockatiel named Ozzie. Besides being a dedicated hunter, Gerry is an award-winning photographer, plays drums in two local pipe and drum bands and owns a vintage fire truck that he drives in area parades.
Stuart was born and raised in Modesto California, just north of the waterfowl-rich area of the Central California Grasslands. His obsession with the outdoors started at the young age of seven, fishing the Outer Banks of North Carolina with his grandfather and hunting upland game with his father and two brothers in California. At fourteen years of age he shot his first drake Mallard. It is safe to say that he was addicted from the moment he picked up that greenhead. From the point that he could drive Stuart just kept getting more and more involved with waterfowling. He had his first boat and blind at the age of sixteen, which he used to hunt Woodies and Mallards on a local river. After High School "Stu" moved south to go to college where he hunted the public ground he now calls home. In 1998 Stuart stepped on the contest stage for the first time and has since competed in around 40 Sanctioned and Team contests; qualifying for the World Contest four times. Additionally, Stuart has had 25 top-three finishes in other calling contests. Stuart and his wife Kim have two children Lauren and Zachary, and yes both children already have their own custom duck calls. Lauren started hunting with her dad two seasons ago and she already has been out several times this year. Zachary is already letting Stu know that he wants his time in the field as well. When it comes to Kimberly there is no other way to describe her except that she is AWESOME! She has spent countless days hunting and fishing right by Stuart's side and hardly ever misses a contest. Kim also welcomes many of Stuart's wayward hunting partners to the house during the season for a hot meal, a shower, and a place to sleep. Stuart adds: "If you ever want to see a picture of a lucky man just look at mine."
Jeremy McIntyre grew up in Fernley, NV and has been hunting with his family since the age of 6. Some of his fondest memories are of hunting big game in Northern Nevada with his dad and uncles. He took his first deer at the age of 12 and his first antelope at the age of 15. He grew up hunting ducks and geese on the Stillwater wildlife refuge and at the Greenhead duck club outside of Fallon, NV. Jeremy enjoys taking his children hunting and feels it is very important to teach the youth of today about the outdoors. He has developed an even greater passion for waterfowl since moving to the center of the Pacific Flyway. Jeremy is fortunate enough to have a flooded rice blind in his back yard. Whether it's catching a quick hunt before work in the morning or taking the kids out for an evening hunt, it's what he loves to do. Jeremy is currently working as a sales rep. in the agricultural and irrigation industry in Northern California. This gives him ample opportunity to meet new faces and garnish new places to hunt. His favorite region to hunt is the flooded rice in Northern California. He hopes to one day have his own guide service and travel North America hunting waterfowl. He is a member of the Nevada Waterfowl Association, the California Waterfowl Association, The North American Hunting Club and Ducks Unlimited. Jeremy currently resides in Yuba City, CA. He has a wonderful wife Melissa, and three beautiful children; daughter Morgan, son Cory, and his new baby daughter, Alex, is 15 months.
Curt's dad is to blame for creating a monster. Curt started hunting at the age of 5 with his dad and brother. He used to carry a stick as his gun, and then graduated to a BB gun and then a .410 and so on. He has always been interested in the outdoors; to him there is nothing better than watching a flock of hungry ducks or geese dropping into a field. He typically starts in Minnesota early and hunts central Iowa to Northern Missouri as the season goes on, but he can't ever turn those trips down to Saskatchewan or Manitoba. He loves traveling around and visiting with other hunters giving some of his knowledge and receiving new tips and tricks. "You're never too old to learn something new." With the respect and reputation from local dealers and the public Curt will fit in great with the Avery family and provide useful knowledge to help Avery grow and succeed and still remain the #1 leader in the waterfowl industry
Steve Mealman was born and raised in Lakeville, MN. He was born May 27 and in early October his dad took him hunting with him for the first time. He put Steve in a car seat in the bottom of the duck blind right next to the dog. His father Dave took him on pretty much every hunting trip he went on after that. The first hunt Steve was able to carry a gun on, was a duck hunting trip to North Dakota with his Father. Steve is also heavily involved in Labrador Retrievers. Steve runs his 5 labs in both Hunt Tests and Field Trials. He has also been involved in the Super Retriever Series, Great Outdoor Games, and The World Retriever Championship. Steve titled his first dog in AKC hunt tests at 8 years old. What really drives Steve's passion for hunting is being with friends and his dogs out in the field. He feels that there is something really special you share with a dog that is your hunting companion. Steve's passion for ducks has taken him from Northern Saskatchewan to Argentina, and just about every place ducks and geese fly in the U.S. As co-owner and operator of Firewater lodge Steve puts more miles on his equipment in a year than most people do in a lifetime. Also with his experience in Manufacturing he can bring different ideas on making new products and existing product better for Avery and it customers.
Whether it's hunting for mallards on a cold winter day or to fly fishing for trout in early summer, when it comes to the outdoors, Jason Mears does it all. From the time he was a little kid, his father had him involved in the outdoors fishing or setting beside him groundhog hunting. Jason knew from that time on dreaming of that big buck or agile squirrel, being in the outdoors was what he wanted to do. By heart, Jason has always been an Archery Hunter but when he was introduced to waterfowl hunting a few years ago, he found another new passion to add to the book. Now, every time a he sees a flock of honkers or a group or mallards, he can feel the excitement start to build and can't wait until the next hunting endeavor. Jason was born and raised in Hutchinson, PA where he now lives with his wife Michelle. Besides hunting, Jason enjoys spending time with his friends and family. You can't forget about his dog, Bashful, an excellent English Pointer that he and his breeder trained. Jason says that he gets as much enjoyment out of watching Bashful work as he does if they've had a good day hunting. Jason is also involved in his local sportsman's club where he helps with the Youth Pheasant Hunt that they hold each year. He believes that getting the youth involved in hunting is a great thing and helps ensure the life of the sport. Seeing those children after they have harvested their first game truly puts a smile on his face. Making sure that each child leaves there understanding good ethics and safety is what it's about. Jason makes a great addition to the Avery Pro-Staff. By testing Avery products in the field and with his Sales and Engineering background, Jason is able to promote Avery products to fellow hunters and provide feedback on up and coming additions to the product line. He truly enjoys helping others learn and grow from the Avery experience.
ravis grew up in Iowa's Mississippi Valley, and during his formative years spent a lot of time on his father's shoulders walking to the duck blind in search of a two mallard limit. His love of hunting grew when he began carrying a BB along, and hoping for a shot at a trophy. Pheasant and deer hunting were easy due to their abundance near his home. The ease of pheasant and deer hunting may have been what spurred the disease, as Travis refers to waterfowling. If you ever have a discussion with Travis, his passion for duck hunting is evident. He attended Upper Iowa University where he studied Conservation Management and Biology. Although he swears that it had nothing to do with his attending school there, within five minutes of campus there is trout fishing and pheasant hunting in abundance. Travis also played college baseball, and was fortunate enough to play in the College World Series and gain a spot on the All American Team. After college, Travis played minor league baseball for the Canton Crocodiles. He is currently a Territory Manager with Avery Outdoors, and his territory includes Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin. He currently resides in Swisher, Iowa with his wife Julie and daughter Emma.
Kenny Nachtman was introduced to hunting by his father at the age of 4. He tagged along with his dad duck and goose hunting and also on other hunting trips. Kenny knew then that waterfowl hunting was going to be a huge part of his life. Kenny loves to get up and go waterfowl hunting on those frosted winter mornings, and those brisk fall days. Being outdoors to see all of the wilderness up close and personal is what keeps him going back day after day, especially the sight of hovering waterfowl over his head while in his Ground Force Blind.. Growing up along the Mississippi river it should be no surprise that waterfowling has turned into an all-consuming pursuit of Kenny's. And while he loves the challenges of hunting ducks and geese over water, one of his favorite things to do is hunt them in fields. As Kenny says, "There is nothing else like it!" He is always willing to share his field experiences with anyone who asks him and has a lot of great insights for both novice and veteran hunters alike. He consistently hunts some of the harshest conditions the Midwest can dish up and his positive attitude is always welcome; whether at a dealer show or while hunkered down in the middle of a frozen Iowa cornfield waiting for the next flock.
Robb Nicolay hails from Torrington, Wyoming, home of the "2-Shot" Goose Hunt that is held there annually in December. Robb's favorite game to hunt is waterfowl and his favorite method is being in a blind or pit with his father, Larry Nicolay. However, Robb feels that it is important to stay mobile and to be able to be where the birds are whether it is using Finisher Blinds or one of the other Avery ground blinds The earliest memory that Robb has in hunting took place when he was seven years old when he witnessed his first group of mallards parachuting into the decoy spread. The reason that this sticks in his mind is because it was also the first group of mallards that he had called in to a spread. Robb credits his father and mother for encouraging him to be involved in hunting and the outdoors. Robb has tremendous respect for his father and mother for getting him started hunting at a young age and everything that Robb has accomplished in hunting is due to his parents. His fondness for waterfowl hunting has led him to the competitive calling scene. His contest experience, while limited, has had its' successes: placing 2nd in the duck calling and 6th in the goose calling at Cabela's Calling Contest in Sidney, Nebraska and. Robb is also a proud member of Ducks Unlimited. He feels that the money that is raised from this organization gives a bright outlook for the future of waterfowl hunting. Along with Avery, Robb also is a member of the Zink Calls Pro-Staff. When Robb is not hunting or spending time at his job he enjoys spending time with his wife Tara and his family. Family is very important to Robb and when hunting season is in full swing Robb is very busy but always finds time to be with his family and always has a spot for his nephew, Gavin, to tag along.
Shawn Nyholt was born and raised on a farm near North Battleford, Saskatchewan in a area that is recognized for its world famous waterfowl and whitetail deer hunting. It was here as a young boy, that countless hours and cold early mornings were spent following his father through duck marshes or tracking big weary old whitetails to have that one chance to make it happen. These years were the start of what his life is about today. At the age of 30 Shawn's dreams really came a reality in 2005 when waterfowl hunting became his main focus. Co-owning and operating a waterfowl guiding business has provided him more time in the field but as well chance to sharing stories, develop friendships and ideas with fellow hunters is something he look forward to ever hunting season. A graduate from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in agronomy, Shawn still keeps involved in the industry of Agriculture in his off season. Shawn and his wife, Lauren treasure all their time in the outdoors whether they are spotting waterfowl, baiting whitetail stands or fishing trophy walleye or northern pike. To be able to do something you love and make a living at it is something not everyone get to do in life. When it comes to waterfowl or deer hunting setting a field spread out or climbing into a stand on cold early Saskatchewan morning is something he will cherish for ever
Born and raised in America's heartland, Brian O'Rourke spent many days of his youth on his grandparents' cattle farm in northeast Kansas. He can still recall the first time his father took him hunting when he was just 6 years old. Brian, his father and his then 9 year-old brother, had a successful day of quail hunting and his love for the sport began. Years later Brian began to bowhunt Kansas bucks each fall and winter in the thick timber behind his parents' house. His passion for waterfowl hunting was soon to follow after a childhood friend invited him on a hunt. Today Brian spends every fall and winter in a cornfield shooting geese or in a tree-stand preying on big, whitetail bucks. He also takes an annual trip to hunt wild boar in Texas and Oklahoma. Spring allows for plenty of turkey hunting and an occasional mushroom hunt. But Brian's hunting doesn't stop there. Many summer evenings Brian is suspended above his flat-bottom boat bowfishing. While some hunters take summers off, Brian enjoys bowfishing with his cousin at least twice a week during the warm months. Brian was raised to work hard and play hard and that is exactly what he does. When he's not spending his time hunting, he is busy running his own business. Along with hunting, construction and carpentry is in his blood. He owns and operates a hardwood floor business in the Kansas City area, which keeps him very busy year-round. He currently lives in De Soto, Kansas, but he's in the midst of refurbishing an early, 1900's farmhouse with his fiance, Amy on one of her family farms in Linwood, Kansas.
Dan is from Dubuque, Iowa where he grew up in a hunting and fishing household. Growing up on a farm, Dan's hunting started at seven years old with his Dad, brother and uncle as they hunted Raccoon and trapped as well. All through high school Raccoon hunting, pheasant hunting and deer hunting were all he could think about, until he was introduced to waterfowl and turkey hunting where he could do more calling rather than chasing. In 1998 Dan entered the Iowa State Duck Calling Contest and less than two years later and hours upon hours of practice and help from some of the world's best callers, he qualified for the World Championship and finished sixth in the field of sixty four. Since the first trip to the World Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart in 2000, Dan has qualified four more times with three more top ten finish at the World Duck Calling Contest as well as several top three finishes in regional and state sanctioned events. Dan is very active with the kids in his area with instructional duck calling classes and with the Iowa Youth Duck and Goose Hunting weekend where he has introduced many youngsters to the sport of waterfowling. In addition to the Avery Pro Staff, Dan represents ECHO Duck and Goose calls and is on the ECHO Pro Staff and has done several seminars and shows for Echo Duck and Goose calls. Dan and wife, Laura, keep themselves busy with daughter Megan, son Nathan, as well as their Black Lab, Jake.
In addition to Conservation work, Lance has experience in the retail sales of Outdoor and Hunting products, working 3 years for Rusty's Outdoor Sports, Hutchinson Kansas. Lance remembers the day he saw the first Avery and Greenhead Gear products come in to the store and knew they would revolutionize waterfowl hunting. Lance hunts public and private lands throughout Central Kansas. His favorite hunts are decoying geese over water and marsh hunting late season ducks. Lance primarily hunts with friends that are like family to him. He is an active volunteer and committee member of Hutchinson Kansas Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Working with the public on a daily basis has prepared him to serve the consumers of Avery and Greenhead Gear with dedicated, accurate, and complete assistance. Lance also has a very understanding wife, Karie. She is a teacher at a local High School.
David was born and raised in Southern Minnesota. He began hunting when he was twelve. David has a passion for the ritual that includes getting up early and moving on the water in the dark to get rigged and ready for first shooting light. The challenge and thrill of pursuing a big whitetail or a bull elk in the fall is as rewarding! His dad introduced to the outdoors and David still enjoys his father's company in the field. David has always loved the mountains and after working as a Ranger in Glacier National Park for four summers his wife, Lori, and he moved to Montana to raise their four children; Ryan, Beth, Mike, Bailey, and pursue their love of the outdoors. He has passed on this passion to his children, and is fortunate to be able to hunt and fish year round with his youngest sons. As a Hunter Education instructor, David has enjoyed passing on the heritage of hunting to hundreds of young hunters. Recently, he has been able to watch his youngest son as he pursues his passion for competition waterfowl calling, and has enjoyed taking his own skills to new heights. David's career keeps him very busy so he makes the best use of his recreation time. He is fortunate to have access to thousands of acres of public land on which he can hunt, fish, camp and climb mountains. Years of experience has taught David the value of good equipment in maximizing the enjoyment and success in any outdoor pursuit. David enjoys sharing his passion for the outdoors and having others learn from my experiences and as such he is a welcome addition to the Avery family of Pro-Staffers.
The outdoors has been an integral part of Greg's life at an early age. His hunting career began at the age of four in the squirrel woods near his home. This taught me the value of patients and perseverance as it relates to your success. He was introduced to duck hunting at the age of seven by his Dad and Grandpa and Greg says, "This taught me the value of warm clothes and a good pair of boots." Growing up in the heart of Giant Canada Goose country it is of little wonder that much of Greg's hunting focus is dedicated to the pursuit of these majestic birds. Greg has hunted waterfowl in every part of Minnesota as well as Iowa and a couple Canadian Provinces. "From big water diver hunting to layout field hunting, to small creeks and potholes, every time I go out, I learn something new. This is one of the great things about waterfowl hunting and what gives it such an enduring quality. No matter how much you think you know the birds will prove to you that you don't know it all Yet. " Greg currently resides in Saint Charles, Minnesota with his wife Lisa their two children: Malory and Gavin, and their new Chocolate Lab "Gunner". Malory has been duck and goose hunting with Greg since she was 5 years old. 2004 was Gavin's first year out in the duck blind. Both kids are now just as obsessed about waterfowl hunting as their dad is. In the off-season they enjoy fishing, camping, car shows, drag racing, and building Hot Rods. With over 15 years of experience in various Engineering functions, with a focus on new product development, Greg will be a great asset to the Avery's Pro-Staff. He enjoys talking to other hunters of varying skill levels and experience and is a firm believer that "if you take the time to talk to someone, and you really listen to what they have to say, you can learn a lot from them." Greg also enjoys teaching other people what he knows and learning from them at the same time. He brings 30 years of waterfowl hunting experience and expertise to the Pro-Staff, as well as a very strong passion and commitment to this way of life that most people view as his obsession.
Dwayne Padgett was born in San Antonio, Texas but grew up in the Low Country of South Carolina. He was introduced to hunting at a young age by his father and took his first duck at age 7 in the famed Sparkleberry Swamp of the Santee Cooper Lakes. Today he still enjoys hunting duck in these same areas as well as the many tidal rivers along the Carolina coast. He's also an avid bow hunter for deer and turkey in the hardwood bottoms and pine hills of the south. After almost 35 year of chasing ducks and geese Dwayne has hunted in over a dozen states as well as Canada and Mexico. Along the way he has met a lot of people and made friends for life. His drive to pursue waterfowl, no matter where or what the conditions, is the same drive and determination that he brings to the Avery Pro Staff.
Jerad Perkins spends his summers in Southern Illinois and winters, for the most part, in Arkansas. Jerad and his dog Drake begin the waterfowl season in the north and finish up in Mexico sometime in March. Jerad credits his father for his love of the outdoors. He always made time to take Jerad hunting and share his skills. Jerad has been a professional guide at many different clubs, but has relegated his guiding to a part-time occupation as he is currently enrolled in Southern Illinois University full-time. As soon as duck season is over Jerad turns to his other outdoor passions, dog training, turkey hunting and bass fishing. He also makes time for a 5th obsession, competition duck and goose calling. Among his many contest accomplishments are three Winchester World Open Championships and three Illinois State Championships. Jerad believes that it doesn't matter how good you are, you can never learn everything there is to know in waterfowling in a lifetime, and tries to learn something new every day. Due to his youth, Jerad understands how tough it is growing up today, and therefore tries to get as many young people involved in the sport as possible.
Growing up in the Pitt household left little room for Stephen to be anything but a waterfowler. His father (Pat) is an outfitter, award winning waterfowl taxidermist and one of the most driven duck hunters in North America. By age four (4) Stephen was tagging along on duck hunts with his family, and at nine (9) he shot his first duck. Soon after that first duck Stephen began accompanying his father and brother on extended "out-of-town" hunts. As his patience, skill level and desire increased "out-of-town" wasn't quite enough. By the time he turned 21 Stephen had hunted ducks in all four (4) North American flyways, 23 States, Mexico and Argentina. While waterfowl is certainly king around the Pitt household, turkeys hold a strong second place spot that rivals many of the nation's most serious turkey hunters. Since the turkey bug bit, Stephen has hunted them in 12 States and Mexico. He's taken Eastern, Rio, Merriam and Gould's thus far, and now only lacks the Osceola to complete a North American Grand Slam. The challenge of the hunt, sunrises & sunsets, time with friends and (mostly) good dogs keeps Stephen in the field at every opportunity. Even more importantly is the chance to spend that field time with his father, brother and mother (yes, Mrs. Pitt hunts, and is an excellent shot). Besides his broad experience and knowledge of hunting, Stephen brings youth and enthusiasm to the Avery Pro-Staff.
Wayne Radcliffe grew up in Glen Arm, Maryland and was indoctrinated into goose hunting on what he and his fellow Marylanders arguably consider the goose hunting capital of the world: Maryland's Eastern shore. His interest in waterfowl began in his childhood years while hunting on his father's leases on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Almost every weekend was filled with fishing trips on the Chesapeake or hunting trips on the shore. With both a grandfather and a father being such avid sportsmen, it's easily seen how Wayne became so passionate about the outdoors. From inshore to offshore fishing, to ducks, geese, turkey and deer, Wayne has enjoyed all that Maryland's outdoors has to offer. With over 25 combined years of hunting experience Wayne has a wealth of "in-the-field" knowledge to draw from in his duties as an Avery Territory Manager. Additionally Wayne has over 16 years of retail experience under his belt. Wayne's' love of the durability and effectiveness of Avery products helped him develop a relationship with the Avery Team and eventually led to employment with Avery. With 7 years managing the hunting departments at two different big box retailers, he now works for Avery Outdoors as a territory manager on the East Coast, Ohio and Michigan. In addition to being an Avery Pro-Staffer, Wayne also Pro-Staffs for Zink Calls. Wayne also believes in conservation and belongs to reputable organizations such as Ducks Unlimited, Maryland Sportsman's Association and the National Wild Turkey Federation. During the season, he hunts with his friends, family and fellow Pro-Staffers as well as Avery dealers and their associates whenever his busy schedule allows. This marriage of both business and pleasure suits Wayne to a "T" and allows him a great platform to share his knowledge of Avery products. His easy-going and professional attitude, whether in the field or in a dealer's showroom is always the first impression one gets from Wayne and is one reason Wayne is such a valuable member of the Avery Pro-Staff.
Chuck Ragsdale was born and raised in North Georgia. He was introduced to the outdoors by his father at a very young age and developed a love for all aspects of hunting, fishing and the outdoors. Chuck graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in 1996. An opportunity to pursue a career in the outdoor industry, led him to the Sportsman's Paradise of Louisiana in 2002. The move to Louisiana gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion of waterfowling, continue to hunt whitetail deer and enjoy some of the best fishing available anywhere in the world. Chuck resides in Prairieville, Louisiana with his wife Stephanie, son Benjamin and black lab, "Daisy". He brings a diverse background and wide range of outdoor experience to Avery's Pro Staff. Most importantly, he provides Avery with the input of a "regular guy" that values the importance of great equipment to use in his everyday pursuit of wildlife.
Derek's dad and Uncle John first introduced him to hunting pheasants at the age of seven in Iowa. This is where the "passion" for hunting began for Derek. Uncle John always said he knew Derek had the passion because back then they did not have good hunting clothes for kids. They would tape up his blue jeans with duct tape to keep the snow out, but it did not help. Derek would walk the snow-covered fields with a BB gun sobbing because of wet, frozen feet and the drive home would spent thawing out his feet as he cried from the pain. But the next day found Derek eager to go again!! This is a story he always tells people with pride. During those trips as a teenager Derek noticed the thousands of ducks and geese migrating south and developed a special passion for waterfowl hunting! Giving new hunters and especially kids the experience of seeing a greenhead cupped to the call or a Canada goose dumping air from their wings is truly a gift from God that Derek loves. Over the past 14 years you could find Derek chasing waterfowl in S Dakota, Iowa, New Jersey, Delaware, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and his home state of Texas. He has been married to his "awesome and very understanding wife", Dena, for five years. According to Derek, she has been his most successful "hunt" by far. Being on the Avery Pro Staff is an awesome responsibility. Not only does Derek represent a company that is as passionate as himself about hunting waterfowl, but is also passionate about educating new and young hunters about our sport. Meeting people at dealer shows & doing seminars to pass this on is what drives Derek to be the most professional and complete Pro Staffer for Avery that he can be!
David Rearick was born and raised in western Pennsylvania. He grew up enjoying stories of his Dad's days in the field and stayed up late to see what his father brought home after a successful hunt. Once he was about eight years old, his Father took him along on hunts and taught him the way to be successful and respectful in the field. These traditions and lessons have carried him through his entire hunting career and led him to be the waterfowler he is today. His biggest excitement during the course of the year is getting his Father into the field, to experience a newer, fast-paced form of waterfowl hunting his father never knew. While David enjoys other types of hunting along with waterfowl, the majority of his time is spent scouting, searching, and preparing his rig for the upcoming duck and goose season. More and more time each year is taken away from his other passions and devoted strictly to waterfowl. Throughout the season he travels to different states and countries to meet new people and enjoy hunting different types of waterfowl not available in his local waters and fields. He also spends time showing others the sport and putting newcomers in layout blinds and boats for geese and divers; experiencing enjoyment more from their success than his own. Through the years, David had gained an appreciation for quality and dependable equipment and that is why he chooses Avery for many of the products used in his daily activities afield.
Adam Reid was born and raised in Iowa and began his hunting career at age 5, tagging along in his dad's duck boat and goose blind. He truly became addicted to waterfowl hunting at age 9 when he dropped a Canada goose with the first trigger pull of his single shot 20 gauge. From there it grew into passion that led him to attend college near his favorite goose hunting grounds. Adam attended Creighton University on a basketball scholarship and earned a degree in Environmental Sciences specializing in population and ecology. Adam then traveled to Alaska on a great adventure, almost 10 years later he is yet to find a reason to leave. Adam currently resides in Anchorage with his wife Jo, and his two young boys, Drake and Colton In the summer Adam and his family spend their long Alaskan days on the Kenai River in pursuit of giant King Salmon, where Adam operates Big Reid Guide Service. In the winter he is a teacher and part time waterfowl guide. His favorite waterfowl hunting is close in decoying the mixed bag of ducks that frequent his favorite marsh. He is always up for the challenge of setting up for both puddle ducks and divers. Adam loves to show Alaska and all it has to offer with others. It is on these many hunting and outdoor adventures that Adam can put Avery products to the test. Whether it is a driving summer rain, wind and snow in the duck blind, or back country hiking in search of big game, Adam has tested Avery products in all parts of Alaska. With his 20+ years of waterfowl hunting experience and unique Alaskan hunting opportunities, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge to the Avery Pro-Staff.
Dick Rhode has spent his life working as a fishing guide on Lake Erie and hunting its surrounding marshes. At 11 years of age, he shot his first greenhead mallard while hunting with his father from a layout boat over his father's homemade decoys. That day changed his life forever. Dick's love of carving goes back to autumn nights watching his father carefully craft decoys for their hunting rig. The satisfaction that carving gave his father inspired Dick to pursue the art with a vengeance. Widely regarded as a true master decoy carver, Dick's decoys win hundreds of blue ribbons and Best of Shows throughout the United States; with his most recent being 1st Place at the 2005 World Championships and 2nd place in the World Shooting Rig at the 2003 Ward World Championships. In 2002, Dick was invited to join the team of carvers being assembled to create the full line of Greenhead Gear hunting decoys. Since then, Dick has been the biggest contributor to the program with his name molded into the bottom of the Life-Size Mallards, Pintails, Gadwalls, Black Ducks and Redheads as well as Over-Size Mallards and Pintails! Dick believes his greatest accomplishment, however, is seeing the tradition of hunting pass to his sons, Matt and Jared, who both share in his intense love of waterfowling.
New Englander Brian Rhodes hails from the smallest state in the Union: Rhode Island. Living in a state with the nickname "The Ocean State" it was only natural that he gravitated towards outdoor pursuits. He has been an avid hunter and outdoorsman since about the age of 12 when he started out hunting ducks. Since then his obsession has grown to include just about everything else one could legally hunt! Aside from hunting the rocky coasts of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Brian has been lucky enough to travel to many different places to hunt waterfowl: from sea ducks and divers in Alaska and Maryland and Long Island to snow geese in Missouri. In his travels Brian has not only had the opportunity to see firsthand some of the best hunting the country has to offer but has also had the privilege of meeting some of the best hunters those regions had to offer. Brian makes a lot of his trips as part of the work he does for the video production company he owns: The Swampers. The company produces waterfowl hunting videos specializing in sea duck and diver hunting. On top of that Brian is also a fully licensed USCG Captain and he operates a sea duck hunting guide service out of Bradford, Rhode Island Running a waterfowl guide service enables Brian to use Avery products day in and day out in some of the harshest conditions waterfowling has to offer. He and his clients hunt in salt water in the open ocean through the dead of winter. So if you want to know how Avery gear holds up to a tough New England hunt, look for one of Brian's videos or catch up to him at one of the many dealer shows the Avery Pro-Staff works and ask him yourself. Like a lot of old New England "salts" that have come before him, he always has a ready story of adventure from the high seas!!
Craig Riche grew up and started his outdoor life in Boise, Idaho. With that came a great education in hunting, fishing, and all things outdoors. From chasing antelope across the desert plains, to fly fishing remote high mountain lakes, Craig was in constant pursuit of whatever game was in season. Yet, despite the wide range of game to chose from he developed a passion for waterfowl hunting. As Craig relates: "Somewhere between my first "face plant" in the drink with a fully loaded decoy bag, and crumpling that first big honker over a spread of decoys, I fell in love." His hunting escapades eventually landed him in Eastern Washington where he has guided duck, goose, turkey, and deer hunters for the past 10 years. While there is much work to operating a successful waterfowl guiding service: from the preseason farming and scheduling of hunts, to the hundred straight days of guiding and scouting, Craig keeps a remarkably upbeat attitude. "How many people can say the get paid to do what they love From being featured in magazine articles and television shows, to competing in and judging calling contests, it has all been a wonderful experience. I have always enjoyed teaching and helping people learn the art of hunting." It is Craig's personal perspective and energy that has landed him a spot on the Avery Pro-Staff and we encourage you to meet him at the many venues and events in the Pacific Northwest in the coming year. Currently residing in the Tri-Cities region of Washington, Craig has a very understanding and patient wife, Amy, a son Kyle and daughter Ashlynn. Of course no hunting family is complete with out at least one hunting dog and they have two black labs: Babe and Brodie.
Rhett Riddle was introduced to hunting when he was old enough to talk. He would sit on his grandfathers' lap and listen to stories of dove and deer hunting every day. When he was six he went on his first dove hunt with his father and grandfather and has been hooked ever since. At the age of twelve Rhett got drawn for a youth waterfowl hunt and killed his first limit of ring necks and widgeon. On that day his passion for waterfowl hunting began. Since then waterfowling has been a top priority in his life. During the entire year he's out scouting and checking out new products on the market for the upcoming season. When Rhett is not hunting he is working with his chocolate lab Costa. They are getting ready for the many hunt tests they run. They spend every day together, with only minimal time apart. They take part in hunt tests affiliated with the Hunting Retriever Club and the American Kennel Club. Rhett's girlfriend Jessica Clark attends almost all hunt tests with Rhett and Costa and occasionally will get drug into a duck blind with them. Rhett uses Avery products daily with his dog training and hunting experiences. Through the use of these products he has gained a knowledge that he intends on sharing with end-users at various shows, promotional events, sporting dog competitions, and in the field year round.
Joe Robison lives in Erie, Michigan and has been hunting waterfowl since the age of 12. He turned his passion for the outdoors into a career as a Wildlife Biologist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division (MDNR) professionally for the past 12 years. Joe earned his degree in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan. He started his career with the MDNR at the Muskegon State Game Area Goose Management Unit. He is now the Wildlife Biologist in Southeast Michigan at the Pte. Mouillee State Game Area Headquarters. Pte. Mouillee State Game Area is the largest fresh water marsh restoration project in North America. Joe is married to his wife Gina and they have a daughter, Sidney. Joe can't wait to introduce his daughter to hunting. Joe has been waterfowl hunting for the past 23 years. and he travels from border to border, coast to coast, as well as Canada and Mexico to pursue waterfowl. He dedicates time to his family first, hunting second and third to the Southwestern Lake Erie Chapter of Waterfowl U.S.A., where he is the area Chairperson. He also donates guided goose hunts to the local Ducks Unlimited chapter for fundraising activities.
Aside from work, Clint spends the majority of his time in the outdoors with his dog Max. Most of his fall is spent following the waterfowl migration from Canada to Arkansas. Spring will find him and his buddies following the snow goose migration as far north as South Dakota ending just in time for the onset of multiple states' spring turkey seasons. When not hunting he spends the remainder of his time dog training, fishing, shooting clays, and preparing for the next season. Clint's experiences and devotion to the outdoors makes him an ideal candidate for the Avery Pro-Staff. His relentless time afield and hunting diversity will allow the company to obtain feedback on their various products to ensure the customer continues to receive the best products on the market today.
A family friend introduced Kelly to the rich tradition of waterfowling the Atlantic Flyway at the ripe young age of 10. Perseverance and dedication to the sport caused others to take notice of Kelly, and through their urging he began guiding waterfowl hunters in 1993. His guiding career took him from the famed marshes of Long Island to the world-renowned cornfields of the Maryland Shore. Kelly's competitive nature and desire to excel at all facets of waterfowling led him to competition calling in 1993. He is a 5-time New Jersey State Duck and Goose Calling Champion. Kelly has also entered several World Calling Championships for both ducks and geese and finished a career-best 3rd in the 1997 World Goose Calling Championship. Kelly and his family now reside in Norwalk, Ohio (just 30 minutes south of the famed Sandusky Bay). His family consists of his wife Lisa, daughter Corie and son Dan. Both of Kelly's children occasionally accompany him in the field, but he dreams of the day they can carry a gun and have a bigger role in the hunt. Teaching his children to hunt is made even more special for Kelly since he had to pursue the sport on his own as a young man. Hunting and competition calling were not enough for Kelly, and in 1995 he began carving waterfowl decoys. In the last five years, carving has become his true passion. While Kelly is proud of his achievements on the local level, where he has won several carving competitions, he is extremely proud of his most recent accomplishment. He took 3rd Best of Show at the prestigious Ward Brothers World Gunning Pairs, where he edged out 78 other contestants. His countless hours of studying photographs and perfecting his technique caught the eye of long-time friend Fred Zink who asked Kelly to join the team of Greenhead Gear decoy carvers in 2002. Several of Kelly's carvings can be seen today in the world's most popular line of hunting decoys from Greenhead Gear as he carved the original Green-Winged Teal, Blue-Winged Teal/Cinnamon Teal and the "Hot Buy" Mallards, the decoys that revolutionized the entire decoy industry. Kelly is a true talent and a great friend to Avery!
Randy Ryal's father introduced him to hunting at the age of 10, taking him deer hunting in the Alabama woods where he grew up. Those early days of deer hunting with his father and brothers created in Randy a passion for the outdoors that exists today. After a friend introduced Randy to turkey hunting, his obsession with birds was created. Randy and this friend spent numerous hours hunting turkeys and working on calling techniques for contests. However, his friend's life was cut short after an accident. Not wanting to hunt without his friend, Randy went back to deer hunting and spent time in the woods in pursuit of the big Alabama whitetails. Then his stepfather introduced him to the world of duck hunting and Randy's obsession with birds was rekindled. Duck hunting allowed him many opportunities to spend time with his stepfather as well as allowing him to introduce duck hunting to many of his friends who are now just as obsessed with waterfowl as Randy is. During the off-season you can find Randy training Labs each evening with his stepfather at Canoe Creek Kennels, which his family owns, where they have one GRHRC and are working towards more. He enjoys hunting in the timber of Arkansas, Lake Winnipegosis in Northern Manitoba Canada, as well as Mississippi and Northern Alabama. His wife Wendy has hunted with him as well as both his daughters, Kelsey and Kaitlyn. He brings to Avery a deep passion for the outdoors and a keen interest in seeing today's youth become tomorrow's leaders so that our pastime can be carried forward.
Chad grew up in Southwest, Iowa pushing the timbers with his dad at the age of 5. Growing up on the family farm he hunted Quail, Pheasants, and Whitetails. After college, and a successful wrestling career he moved to Idaho where he is a stay at home dad for his two children and wife Jenny, helps coach wrestling, and also is a realtor. Chad resides in Star, Idaho where he feeds his new passion, hunting the many miles of the Snake River for ducks and geese. He hunts deer and elk in the fall and never misses a chance to be out in the field.
Stephen's father has been taking him hunting since he was 4 or so. He has never forgotten sitting up there in a big box blind with his brother and dad, freezing, and the occasional adrenaline rush when a deer actually came by. Stephen would soon figure out later in life that, that excitement couldn't be matched by anything else. So he pursued hunting whole-heartily since he got his first gun at the age of 7. That excitement was only heightened when waterfowling was introduced into Stephen's life; then he learned the ultimate hunting sport. This only led to an absolute obsession with improving his skills as a hunter, retriever trainer, and person. Ducks come first for Stephen, but when he's not chasing mallards and wood ducks in East Texas, he loves to bowhunt for deer, hogs, and turkey as well tote the shotgun for dove, quail, and pheasant. Stephen hunts all over Texas, from East to West and even along the coast. Occasionally he hunts Louisiana, and Arkansas, as well as Canada and parts of the upper mid-west. The one thing that really makes waterfowling stand out to Stephen is the rich history, and the importance of the conservation of our resource. Stephen is a graduate of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2004, with a degree in Agriculture. He feels that he can brings a lot to Avery, by giving them more exposure in East Texas as well as just giving back what he's been taught by so many other hunters and friends.
Kyle grew up in the River Bluffs of West-Central Illinois, overlooking the Illinois River Bottoms. It was in these bluffs and bottoms that his father taught him the skills of hunting and what it would take to become an accomplished outdoorsman. From those early days of hunting and exploring the bluffs and bottoms, Kyle has continued to hone his skills by spending every minute he can in the outdoors. Kyle attended college at North Dakota State University in Bottineau, North Dakota were he received his AS Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. He then returned closer to home, Western Illinois University where he completed his BS and MS degrees. Kyle's dream was always to pursue a career with a State or Federal Natural Resource Agency. He has worked with several Federal and State Agencies over the years, and now calls the Missouri Department of Natural Resources home. Kyle has had the opportunity to hunt in many different States and Provinces over the years, but he is always ready to return to the Illinois and Mississippi River bottoms for waterfowl, family and friends. Kyle now resides near La Grange, Missouri with his wife Julie and two daughters Madison (age 7), Rebecca (age 4) and two dogs Magnum (a chessie) and Fenny (a Chocolate Lab). Kyle never misses a chance to spend time in the outdoors. One of Kyle's most memorable hunts took place this spring, when he took his daughter on her first turkey hunt as a licensed Missouri hunter. Madison (age 7) harvested her first turkey, a 21.5 lb long beard during the youth season. I feel that I bring 28 years of some of the most diverse hunting and outdoor experience a person could have to the Avery Pro-Staff. I love the outdoors and have dedicated my life to helping manage and preserve it.
Jack was born and raised in Northern Indiana where his father introduced him to hunting when he was just 4 years old. His passion for waterfowl hit full speed at the age of 16 when he could finally start scouting and contributing more on his own. Ten years later Jack is still running at full speed and spends all his available time pursuing waterfowl. The constant challenge and rewards of the hunt is what keeps his passion high for the outdoors. Jack always finds great joy in his time spent afield: whether it is the self-satisfaction that comes with being able to fool a flock of wary geese or the look on the face of a first-time hunter when they hear the thud of their first goose hitting the ground. Jack's experiences for waterfowling, paired with his easy-going personality fuels his enthusiasm to share his knowledge with others and make him a great addition to the Avery Pro-Staff.
Thrainn was born and raised in Seltjarnarnes, a small town just outside of Reykjavik, Iceland. One of seven brothers, Thrainn graduated from commercial college in 1979. He met his wife Kristn Benediktsdttir 24 years ago when they were both working at the Reykjavik fire department. They have two children together, Thrainn, Bjrg, and Thrainn's stepson, Hendrik. For the last ten years, he has been a full-time maritime fire and rescue instructor. This job involves some travel throughout Iceland and has enabled Thrainn to pursue his love of hunting all over the island. At an early age, Thrainn was introduced to goose hunting by his father Skuli. At the age of twelve, and with his father at his side, he shot his first goose and has been hooked ever since. When he growing up, Thrainn's parents used to take him and his brothers to his uncle's farm located in the western part of Iceland where they did a great deal of goose and duck hunting and still do today. It was there that Thrainn learned to hide in drainage ditches along fields as he patiently waited for geese. He vividly remembers early mornings in subzero temperatures wearing rubber boots and a wool sweater as he was sure his fingers would freeze and fall of his hands! Hunting rock Ptarmigans is another of Thrainn's favourite pastimes. The excitement of the hunt, the never-ending beauty of nature, God's creations and the fellowship of good people keeps him coming back to the field over and over again. As he gets older, Thrainn realizes how much more he enjoys hunting not for the kill but for what comes with the hunt. Thrainn is honored to be a part of the Avery International Pro-Staff and states, "I enjoy bringing a broader insight for hunters in other countries by posting on-line journals and by participating in Internet discussions regarding the use of techniques and equipment in totally different environments. I also hope to be instrumental in the promotion of Avery and its products in Iceland in the future." We are certainly looking forward to your doing just that Thrainn!
Jude St. John lives in London, Ontario, Canada with his wife Nicole and children Ena, Adele, Mara and Judah. Jude was introduced to hunting at the age of thirteen by his father, Ray Sr., and several weeks each autumn were spent chasing upland game, waterfowl and small game in eastern Montana around the town of Sydney. Pheasant was the quarry of choice, but the pursuit of many different game animals was to be expected when the St. Johns were in the field. It wasn't until his twenties that Jude began to pursue ducks and geese with fervor. Jude has played football professionally in the Canadian Football League for the past nine years. Following an undefeated national championship season with the University of Western Ontario, he was drafted by the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. After three years in Canada's "Steeltown", Jude signed with the Toronto Argonauts where has played six years with North America's oldest sports team and hopes to finish his career there. Playing in the "trenches" on the offensive line helps him appreciate the solitude and serenity that can be found in the outdoors. Jude also enjoys playing hockey and occasionally substitute teaching at high schools in London. Jude also participates in many public speaking engagements at schools, banquets and churches, and when his schedule allows, he acts as Master of Ceremonies for Avery sponsored calling competitions. Jude values the many friends and family members he has spent quality time with in the field, and he also recognizes the importance of mentoring young hunters in the sport. Jude is a great example of an Avery Pro-Staff "team player" whose constant feedback and ideas are implemented into existing products every day.
Ray St. John was born and raised in Southwestern Ontario. He grew up appreciating the outdoors but was not exposed to hunting until his early teens. Ray and his brother Jude became avid hunters on their autumn visits to Eastern Montana to visit their father. Montana was the ideal spot to "test the waters" in many different types of hunting. Ray and Jude had opportunity to hunt some of the finest country in North America: small game, upland birds, turkey, waterfowl, deer, antelope and elk were all on the menu each fall. Somewhere in those teenage years waterfowl found a special place deep in the St. John boys. As the seasons passed Ray and Jude found themselves turning more and more to their true passionwaterfowl. Goose and duck hunting was extremely challenging in the early years due to very little equipment and even less experience. Although waterfowl hunts have become much more successful, Ray still experiences the thrill of a flock with "wings locked and feet down". His fondest memories hunting waterfowl always seem to include; brother Jude, close friends, first-time hunters and his retriever Doof. When hunting waterfowl, Ray has always been passionate about hard work, ingenuity and attention to detail. Avery's extensive line of waterfowl gear was a natural fit. Ray is proud to be on the Avery Pro-Staff team. He carries years of waterfowl experience and a desire to teach others what he has learned in the field. Ray has not forgotten the challenges he experienced as a young hunter and takes a special interest in introducing new hunters to the thrill of hunting waterfowl. Ray's greatest joy will be in the future when his children can take and active role in the hunt
Eric was raised in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin located just outside the Horicon Marsh. His family relocated to Green Bay when he was nine and he has resided there ever since. His hunting and fishing obsession began as soon as he could hole a pole or gun. He shot his first geese when he was 12 in the Horicon Marsh with his father. That is when he became addicted to waterfowl and the outdoors. Throughout everything his father has been a role model and influence to the outdoors. He has acquired most of his knowledge and skill from him. After graduating high school Eric attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. He received a degree in Machine Tool Operation-Machinist (CNC-Auto Cad Design). His instructor at college was a three-time WI state goose calling champion. On occasion he would talk about goose calling or hunting and this really interested Eric, after hearing him call and seeing a few of his videotapes Eric decided to go on a hunt with him. He turned out to be Eric's so called "mentor" and/or "teacher" of waterfowl hunting and goose calling. From that time forward he has become totally addicted to the entire sport of waterfowl hunting and anything related to it. Everything he knows about waterfowling Eric owes to the guys he hunts with for taking him under their wing. Currently Eric works for SBC the local phone company in Wisconsin. His work schedule allows him to NEVER miss a day of hunting during duck and goose season, which runs from Sep.1 to Dec.31. The only time he misses the action is the 2 weeks Eric goes to Canada each year chasing the snows, blues, Canadas, and mallards. After season is over he enjoys hunting pheasants with his lab at a local game farm, which he is a member at. In summer Eric likes running his lab in AKC hunt tests, and working with a dog trainer located just south of town. Eric recently started calling in Wisconsin state goose calling competitions, and will be entering other competitions in the future. Eric is currently living in Green Bay with his very understanding and supportive girlfriend Heather and his chocolate lab, Maddy. In spite of it all, becoming an Avery Pro-Staffer for Eric is quite an exciting opportunity to say the least! He is confident that he can bring many great ideas to the Avery team. Overwhelmed with energy, knowledge, and a positive attitude, he is always brainstorming to find a quicker or easier way for gear to be used or assembled.
Allan considers himself fortunate to have been exposed to both hunting and fishing at a very young age by his father. By the time he was 6 he had landed his first sailfish, lots of reef fish, pan fish and freshwater trout. That same year also marked the first time he was allowed to shoot game with a shotgun, his dad's Browning A-5 12 gauge. From those days til now, practically every decision he has made has taken into account how it would affect his time afield including where he went to college (near the duck/turkey camp) to where he honeymooned with his wife, Connie (at the mountain cabin in October during trout/grouse season). Four decades later he still can't sleep the night before opening day. ANY opening day! What keeps him going back has a lot to do with perfecting his techniques. Being able to work a flock of ducks into a place they had not intended to go, making geese land right where you want them to, calling a gobbler into point blank range, watching the dogs he trained make retrieves that surprises even him, making good clean kills are all satisfying and memorable to Allan. But mostly what keeps him going back day after day is the opportunity to share this passion with others, especially his kids, Bonce and Jacob. The most important thing Allan brings to the Avery Pro-Staff is his willingness to share his experiences and hard-earned knowledge with others. "There's no use learning all this stuff and just keeping it to yourself!" says Allan. He feels the best way to pay back all those who helped him get involved in the outdoors is to invite others into the sport and then help them become proficient at the style of hunting they want to do. That's a great plan Allan, and Avery commends you on your success at doing just that!
James Staten was born and raised in Mississippi where his Dad introduced hunting to him at an early age hunting small game, deer and dove. By the age of 10 he had killed his first deer and has been hooked on hunting since. After moving to Arkansas at the age of 13, James found the world of waterfowling. After watching his first bunch of mallards sit in the decoys he was hooked. Since then ducks and geese are his passion and his primary pursuit. James enjoys any chance he gets to decoy ducks and big geese on his home waters, the Arkansas River. He has taken his passion of waterfowl to other levels, helping with guide services, duck and goose calling contests, and helping with his local Delta Waterfowl chapter by serving as Co-Chairman for the last two years. Other than hunting, James enjoys any time spent with his wife Jennifer and his black lab Ace, bass fishing and attending outdoor shows. James brings to the Avery Pro-Staff an outgoing, enthusiastic personality eager to listen and learn from other waterfowlers experiences. James also has a strong passion for introducing youth to the sport of waterfowling, helping in hosting many youth hunts and youth events through his Delta Waterfowl chapter. Seeing a kid's reaction on their first hunt reminds him of what got him started. James believes that in today's hunting having the best gear is critical to being successful. His knowledge and daily use of Avery and Greenhead Gear products helps him in being successful in the field day in and day out no matter what the game.
Rick was introduced to waterfowl hunting at a young age by his dad. That early start fueled a passion that has spanned 40 years. Rick has turned that love for hunting into a career of trainings retrievers and being a waterfowl guide. Rick began his professional dog training career in 1990 with Wayne Curtis of Fox Hollow Kennels. In 1992 Rick and his lovely wife Barb established Fine Line Retrievers which is now located in Milaca, Minnesota. Over the years they have developed the property into one of the finest dog training facilities in the country. He has built a pretty impressive resume with over 80 Qualified All Age dogs and 20+ Field Trial Champions to his credit. Rick is proud of his Field Trial accomplishments but his greatest joy is in training some of the finest hunting companions that can be found in the blinds, pits, and flooded timber of North America. Besides dog training Rick is an avid waterfowler who has competed in several duck calling competitions. He has hunted and guided in 3 Canadian Provinces, Arkansas. Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, and his home state of Minnesota. Each year he looks forward to the time he gets to spend with his good friends working as a guide at Allen-Curtis Wildfowl Adventures. Rick has combined with Shawn Stahl and they have produced the Fowl Dogs video series. By using actual dog training segments, Rick shows you the proper foundation to train your own retriever. He has developed an extremely efficient and effective training program and enjoys sharing his knowledge thru this video series. His experiences as both a Dog Trainer and Waterfowl Guide make him a valuable addition to the Avery Pro-Staff.
Kirk was born and raised in Friend, NE where he grew up hunting upland birds and deer with his father and uncles. His passion for waterfowl started during his college years when his uncle took him on a field hunt for Canada geese. Although he still enjoys upland and deer hunting, waterfowl became his primary hunting interest. Whether it's hunting the potholes of Nebraska's Rainwater Basin, big river hunting on the Missouri River or field hunting resident geese in southeast Nebraska, Kirk's hunting season begins with the early resident geese and teal season and continues into the late snow goose conservation season. Kirk graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biological Science from Wayne State College in May of 2000. Currently he works as a Fisheries Biologist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission studying and sampling the Federally Endangered Pallid Sturgeon on the Missouri River. His spare time is spent training and participating in the local retriever club and actively running AKC Hunt Tests with his black lab, Ruger.
Doug's first memories of duck hunting were of being with his father tucked away on a willow island along the Republican River in southern Nebraska. That same season he bought his first duck decoy, a Christmas present for his father. Even at the tender age of six, he knew there was something special about this hunting thing. Thirty years and many a decoy later, Doug and his wife Becky have three boys Garrett, Blake, and Gage with whom he can now share the special times that hunting together can deliver. Doug spends most of the waterfowling season on the Platte River near Grand Island, Nebraska with the occasional jaunt to South Dakota and Indiana. Like most maturing waterfowlers, at first it was about bagging limits; now the goose pit is more about bagging memories with good blind mates. What Doug brings to the Pro-Staff position is an understanding of the learning process every hunter goes through and that it is imperative to give back to the resource and to the sport itself. Doug's other interests include fishing in walleye tournaments with his dad, college football and road cycling.
Paul has had a passion for the outdoors from a very young age. Trout fishing, hunting ducks and small game took up most of his time while still at school, but as soon as he was old enough to get his drivers license he was hunting geese, upland birds and deer as well. While completing an apprenticeship as a horticulturist, Paul spent several years working as a professional pest control shooter hunting rabbits, hares, and possums. On completing his apprenticeship he worked for the local Parks Dept for twenty four years. Three years ago he took up a position as a technician working a four day shift with four days off to give himself more time to spend hunting and fishing. Paul is also heavily involved with Fish and Game, both as a ranger and as an elected councillor actively promoting, protecting and enhancing our fish and game resource. Paul is excited at the opportunity to be part of the Avery Pro-Staff team. He looks forward to assisting New Zealand hunters to become more successful and gain more enjoyment from their hunting through the use of Avery products.
Cray was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky where he was introduced to hunting at an early age by his grandfather. In his early 20s, Cray was introduced to hunting waterfowl and it quickly became an obsession. This obsession coupled with his love for retrievers led him to start Creighton Kennels Hunting Retrievers. In 1990, Cray began working with hunting dogs and since then he has worked with Competition retrievers, Gun Dogs, Companion dogs, Service dogs, Therapy Dogs and Search and Rescue dogs. Cray has trained and handled dogs in the N.A.H.R.A. and H.R.C. programs and judged events in both of these venues. He also has handled and judged in Super Retriever Series events and was one of 4 judges to judge the inaugural World Retriever Championship. Cray has a strong desire to keep the outdoor sports as a large part of his family life and to give back to that community. He believes that the future of hunting and fishing lies at the feet of the children and Cray wants to teach and guide our children to a love and respect for the outdoors, our environment and our heritage. One way Cray is giving back is by volunteering as a Den Leader for the local Cub Scouts, he finds this work very rewarding. These experiences allow Cray to bring a wealth of hunting and retriever training knowledge to Avery's Pro Staff. Cray's use of Avery products allows him to believe and trust in them. This trust makes it very easy for him to promote Avery to both water fowlers and retriever enthusiasts. Cray lives in Milton, Florida with his wife, Michelle Stephenson, DVM, and their 2 boys, Patrick and Kelton.
Chris Stoddart was born and raised in Lanark County Ontario, Canada. At 19th months of age his father Alex, took him duck hunting. Chris can still remember sitting on a blanket watching ducks work his dad's decoy rig. It left a lasting impression as Chris says, "Being outdoors is the only place I can imagine being, it's who I am." Watching a flock of ring-neck ducks buzz the decoys, hearing geese off in the predawn distance, or training dogs for next year's pursuit, Chris just can't get enough of all things "outdoors". He has hunted waterfowl west to the Pacific; east to the Atlantic; North in the Artic, and as far south as Arkansas. Along the way he has had many great experiences and met many new friends. Not that he doesn't like the home field advantage either and every year, Chris anxiously anticipates the annual fall migration of geese and ducks just east of his home in Ontario, where thousands of waterfowl stage. Additionally he spends three months of each winter training retrievers and running retriever competitions in Arkansas and surrounding states. Never far away from his thoughts is his wife; Jayne, who also enjoys hunting, and who has encouraged Chris to fulfill his dreams of life in the outdoors. They have two children; a daughter Victoria, who's already a crack shot; and a son Wesley, who is already developing a burning sensation for the outdoors fishing and hunting. Growing up training hounds and retrievers, it was a natural progression for Chris to give up his hardwood flooring business and pursue professional dog training and guiding for his livelihood. He has gained a lot of knowledge and experience competing, guiding, and hunting with retrievers all over North America and he hopes to reflect these experiences in promoting Avery products whether at a retriever event, hunting show, or a public boat launch.
ohn Taylor was born on Maryland's famed Eastern Shore where he lives today with his wife Julie Ann and their twin boys, John & Josh. John has been a correctional officer with the State of Maryland for over 15 years, and it is a job that suits him well as it allows him a great deal of time to hunt. From the time that he could barely walk, John's father exposed him to all types of hunting. It wasn't until the early 80's that he began to goose hunt, however, and it was his late father-in-law who shared with John some of the best goose hunting the Eastern Shore had to offer. It was then that John decided to learn to blow duck and goose calls, and his passion for this skill quickly escalated. In1989 John participated in his first goose calling contest, at the National Outdoor Show, and he won first place. From that point forward, all other hunting took a back seat to waterfowling. Calling contests weren't as much fun as hunting for John, but they were the next best thing and provided a way for him to extend his enjoyment of hunting into the off-season. In 1998, John won the World Goose Calling Championship with a call that he helped design specifically to his calling needs. It was then that John decided to start making his own calls, and he began production in 1999. In 2000 he began to use them in competition, and after some trial and error with several prototypes, things started to come together. In 2002 John placed 3rd and in 2003 he finished 2nd in the World Championships with his own call. John's calls go by Bay Country Game Calls and his goose calls are named "Shorething". John makes all of his calls by hand, one at a time, from start to finish and only produces a limited number of calls per year as his priority is getting in the field to hunt. After being officially retired from Goose calling after his win at the 2005 World Goose Calling Champion of Champions contest in Easton, John looks forward to devoting more time to the development of his calls. John is honored to be a part of the Avery Pro-Staff and looks forward to meeting many new people and sharing his experiences with them.
Robert (Rob) Taylor lives on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand and is almost 44 years old. He is a Factory Manager with a firm that manufactures furniture. Rob and his wife Lynaire have been married for 20 years. They have two teenage daughters. His youngest daughter has been hunting with him since she was 9 years old and his oldest daughter enjoys going fishing in Rob's boat. When Rob was 15 years old, he became interested in hunting. In those days he liked to stalk deer and pigs. When he met his wife, her father introduced him to more deer stalking and took him on his first roar in Easter. In 1984, a work colleague introduced Rob to waterfowl hunting and he has been waterfowling ever since. Rob laughs and says "I was given a choice by my partner (wife now) when I started out and was looking at joining the Territorials and also wanted a dog." She indicated that I couldn't train a dog and do army training on weekends along with the hunting that I was also doing. Rob made a choice. He decided to get his first dog and purchased a German Short-haired Pointer. Twenty three years late, he still has German Short-haired Pointers, but is now looking at changing breeds to a Labrador Retriever because the conditions and areas where he hunts do not suit German Short-haired Pointers. When Rob goes fishing, he usually goes to Kapiti Island and targets Snapper. Within 25 minutes of leaving home, he has his lines in the water. On a good day, he will have the first fish on board within 15 minutes. Rob also does a little trout fishing on Lake Taupo in the middle of the North Island. While hunting ducks, Rob's passion for goose hunting was always in the back of his mind. He continually saw them flying around and wanted some of them too. He tried hunting them and at best averaged a goose a month. Realizing he needed help with his goose hunting, Rob began searching the Internet. He met some interesting people over the Internet and they helped him increase his goose hunting knowledge. In fact, on his first hunt with his newfound knowledge, he harvested a goose. To further build on his knowledge, Rob traveled to the United States to hunt geese. Today, Rob is a successful goose hunter who enjoys helping other hunters learn about goose hunting in New Zealand.
Residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jim grew up in the pheasant capitol of the world. He remembers countless trips afield for upland birds as a young hunter, but he increasingly caught himself scanning the horizon for airborne ducks and geese. Jim quickly realized that his heart was in waterfowling, although he still enjoys hunting all game today. His obsession with waterfowl and the mystique that surrounds them has led him to be both a waterfowl and an upland hunting guide. His love for photography allows him to tote his camera instead of his gun on occasion. Jim believes avid waterfowlers aren't taught to be such but are born such. Jim has always had an eagerness to learn as well as an eagerness to teach. He hosts a half-hour live sports talk show and airs a weekly outdoor tip on a local TV station. He writes for several outdoor publications, gives seminars on waterfowl hunting, conventional fishing and fly-fishing and also teaches fly tying. Sharing his knowledge with all ages is unquestionably satisfying for Jim, but the enthusiasm of youth has found a special place in his heart. Besides being a scout leader, he travels to area elementary schools to introduce children to the thrills of the outdoors and regularly teaches children's programs at a South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks supported Outdoor Campus. He is forever thankful to his father for introducing him to the great outdoors. Some of the most memorable moments in his life have been those spent in the field with what he considers the best of company. A member of the Avery Pro-Staff since its inception, Jim is a great all-around participant whose tireless involvement is the example of "the perfect Pro-Staffer" to all who join the team. Jim, his wife, Brenda and sons, Byron and Creighton along with their lab, Saige, treasure their time in the outdoors whether they are hunting, fishing, camping, boating or hiking. Jim Thompson is an outsdoorsman's outdoorsman, and Avery wants to express its sincere appreciation for the endless hours he spends "making it better". Thanks Jim!
Kenny Thompson is currently 21 years old and residing in Iola Kansas. Kenny was introduced to hunting at an early age of 7. Kenny's father Doug was the one who showed him the world of the outdoors and he has hit the ground running ever since. Most of Kenny's knowledge that he has gained has been from experience in the field and he has experienced many ups and downs. Kenny's love for the outdoors doesn't stop with hunting, he can also be found out fishing the local ponds and rivers or is also spotted on the Golf Course playing the occational tournament. If it has feathers or fur you can bet Kenny has spent time trying to chase it down. While Kenny's main passion is Waterfowl hunting he enjoys all the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Since Kenny used his first Finisher 6 years ago, he has been driven to get the most out of his calls. Ever since that first memory out of his blind Kenny has wanted to be a part of the Avery/Greenhead Gear family and help it grow every way possible. Over the past year Kenny has become a committee member on his hometowns local Ducks Unlimted Chapter, making sure that the ducks get the protection they need. In the winter Kenny finds his second home on wooded lakes chasing fat Mallards and long neck Canadians, even the occational lesser or two. Over the past 6 years Kenny has had many memorable moments good and not so good....but his most would have to be bluebird morning Mallards with his father in a hole of only 45 yards wide, what a quick limit!!! Kenny mainly likes to hunt wooded lake Mallards and Pintails the most but he is pretty fond of plowed field honkers too. Kenny brings a great personality and a do whatever it takes to the Avery Pro-Staff and really looks forward for representing them at shows and seminars. He has a great passion for the sport of waterfowling and wants to make sure it heads in the right directions. He also loves to introduct children into the world of waterfowling as for the smile on their face is priceless.
Scott Threinen hails from Mantorville, Minnesota. This goose-rich area just outside of Rochester provided Scott with an early introduction to waterfowling. While goose hunting is number one on his list, Scott enjoys every opportunity in a duck blind, or following dogs in the upland fields. Scott's talent for calling and love of waterfowl has seen him guiding throughout the Midwest for several years. This year, his competitive nature finally led him to the world of contest calling. With only 12 contests under his belt, he has four wins, five top three finishes and been in the top five ten times. These placements include runner-up at the 2002, 2004, and 2005 World Goose Calling Championship and 2003 Avery International Goose Calling Championship. He enjoys working sports shows and competing in calling contests. These public venues give him the opportunity to meet and learn from sportsmen all over the country, and to meet some of the more successful names in the outdoor business. Scott credits his success to his family and friends, and says "there's nothing better than a morning in the pit with friends".
John hails from Saskatchewan, Canada where he was born and raised. It was John's father who introduced him to hunting and John recalls his very first day afield as his eyes were constantly fixed watching and listening to migrating flocks of ducks and geese. John knew right then that he was hooked! Although the first few years of his hunting career brought many waterfowl hunts, John's father preferred to hunt upland birds; so at the age of 16, with his driver's license in his pocket, John set out in search of waterfowl. Springtime was spent driving the back roads of Saskatchewan scouting for potholes and simply admiring the ducks themselves as they were returning back north to nest in full plumage. Today, field hunting geese is John's main focus, but duck hunting over a slough is a close second. He confesses he has spent more time in small town Saskatchewan hotels than his own bed the past few seasons as he hunts his home province very extensively. Quality time with friends and family in the field as the birds work to the call are what it is all about for this Canadian waterfowling enthusiast. John is honored to represent Avery as part of their International Pro Staff. He studied business management and marketing in college and feels the most important thing he learned is the role that customer service plays in any business. Companies that listen to their customers and take what they say to heart deserve to be successful, and John knows that Avery is a company that will never let him down in that area!
Rick grew up in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota that is along the Mississippi River. Unfortunately for Rick, his father was not much of an outdoorsman. His uncle took him fishing and shared with him his first whitetail hunt. At the age of 13 Rick was invited on a Canada goose hunt with a good friend. For Rick, there is nothing like watching a flock of birds parachute down into a field full of decoys. Rick's main passion is chasing waterfowl but also spends time in the fall pheasant and grouse hunting. He hunts mainly around his hometown but enjoys the annual trip he makes to North Dakota with friends. Rick has always wanted to learn more about waterfowl and the hunting heritage. Over the past 3 years he has worked on his calling abilities and has entered himself in contest calling. In April of 2005, Rick won his first goose-calling contest. Although he has a long way to go, Rick is always ready to learn and teach people his knowledge of the outdoors. He enjoys talking with hunters from all across the country and learning new tricks to make him a better hunter and outdoorsman. Rick is currently attending Bemidji State University where he is studying marketing. He owes much of his opportunities to his parents whom have given him the freedom to enjoy the sport. He wishes to take that knowledge into the outdoor industry and be around the sport he loves. He looks forward to helping Avery Outdoors in any way he can.
Scott Turpen was born and raised in Tennessee, with most of that time in the town of Clarksville in northwest Tennessee. Scott's father introduced him to hunting at the age of 7. His first waterfowl hunting experience was an early season teal hunt. Although he was too young to shoot, he was not too young to be hooked. His family never thought he'd take it this far, at least that's what his father told Scott's mother. Scott has duck and goose hunted with and learned from some of the best waterfowl hunters around northwest middle Tennessee. He feels if someone thinks they know everything about waterfowl hunting then they'll never improve their success. Scott's favorite type of hunting is decoying geese out of Avery Finishers, getting the geese within yards of the blinds. Scott is adamant about having the best equipment and the most realistic decoys. He feels Avery and Greenhead Gear offer that to the hunter. Although Scott is not an outfitter or professional guide he still brings 25 years of hunting experience to Avery's Pro-Staff. He feels that those years of everyday trial and error experiences have taught him that Avery products are the best on the market and he hopes he can pass his in the field experiences on to future customers.
Tony grew up in Northwest Illinois where his father and uncle started him going to the blind when he was still in diapers. He grew up hunting geese on farm ponds and in agricultural fields and his grandfather was a member of two duck clubs in the famed Illinois River Bottoms. Many afternoons were spent pheasant and quail hunting with friends as well. Tony attended college in Kirksville, MO at Truman State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing. The area is rich with outdoor opportunities and he loved it. After a stint in the San Diego Padres farm system he returned home to Missouri to put his Degree in Business Marketing to work. He now resides in Kirksville, MO with his dog, Ruff, and hunts ducks, geese, and turkeys primarily throughout the Midwest. Since joining the Avery Pro-Staff in 2005 Tony's contributions to the team have been great. From working dealer shows to helping people on the Avery Message Board, his photography submissions, media hunts, etc., Tony give his all to better both himself and the Avery Pro-Staff. He gets the opportunity to spend a lot of days in the field between the beginning of September and the end of May and this makes him an invaluable part of Avery's Pro-Staff product testing and feedback program.
Jeff Wallis resides in Yuma, Arizona along the shores of the mighty Colorado River, with his wife Alma and daughters Dana and Blanche. After spending 8 years in the United States Marine Corps as a crash fire rescue technician, Jeff was hired on by the Department of Defense as a Firefighter/EMT/HMT and has continued to work in this field for the last 16 years. He also owns and operates his own business called Widgnwhackers Custom Lanyards Jeff was introduced to waterfowling in 1995 and quickly became obsessed with it! He hunts waterfowl about 50+ days a year during Arizona's100+ day season. Jeff also enjoys using his bow or rifle to hunt antelope, deer, elk and javelina while his hope is that someday he will get a chance at the elusive Desert Bighorn Sheep. Long-range tuna fishing off the coast of Baja California, Mexico fills his summer months. Another passion that Jeff has taken to heart is training and running his Black Lab, Wyatt, in AKC Hunt Tests. Last November, Wyatt earned his AKC JR Hunter Title! As a member of the Avery Pro Staff, Jeff is in charge of the Avery Pro-Staff News section of the website. He is also a frequent contributor of ideas for current and future production of Greenhead Gear decoys and other waterfowling equipment while providing his knowledge and skills in outdoor photography. Jeff also promotes the use of Avery products through extensive field-testing and by writing articles, shooting video hunts, and using his web-based marketing knowledge. In five years Jeff will retire from the Fire Service and looks forward to working within the waterfowl industry as well as becoming what he calls "a full-time hunting and fishing bum". Now that's a plan worth pursuing Jeff!
Jerrod Watson was born in North Dakota and spent his childhood in Montana and Alaska. His father introduced him to hunting by taking him on an antelope hunt in Wyoming at age 8. He was introduced to waterfowl and upland game birds when he was 10 years old. Jerrod combined his passion for hunting and love for dogs together when he was 22 and began training retrievers. Today, Jerrod loves watching retrievers work just as much as waterfowl hunting. He enjoys hunting in various places around Colorado and loves to work and train his dog in the mountain streams at their family cabin in Pitkin, Colorado. As his children grow, Jerrod looks forward to being able to have them experience waterfowl hunting in other parts of the United States. Jerrod and his wife Robin have four children: their son Cole, daughter Haley, and twin girls, Morgan and Molly. They all enjoy various aspects of the outdoors together including hiking, riding ATV's, photography, and fishing. Jerrod not only brings his passion for hunting to Avery's Pro-Staff, he brings and incredible amount of professional people skills and enthusiasm. His position at State Farm Insurance affords him the opportunity to train and speak in front of others on a regular basis. His ability to relay product knowledge and create enthusiasm about that product will be an integral part in promoting the Avery product line at shows, events, and in the field.
Dave Weidner hails from New Jersey, a state not often thought of in terms of great hunting but one that is actually steeped in a solid tradition of waterfowling. Dave first developed his love for the outdoors while learning to bow hunt for whitetails in the pinelands of New Jersey. Then while attending Rutgers University, he met a core group of avid outdoorsmen who further fostered his obsession with the sports of bowhunting, striper fishing and, of course, duck and goose hunting. In 2001, Dave decided to establish a guide service to cater to the growing needs of waterfowlers in New Jersey. StormOutfitters is now one of the most successful full service goose hunting guide services in the Northeast. With the creation of the StormOutfitter's website, Dave now has a creative outlet to share much of his knowledge of waterfowl hunting and dog training. His site includes field reports, ProStaffPhotos of decoy spreads, hunt test scenarios and more. Dave's passion for outdoor writing and photographing gun dogs and geese allows him to spend even more time in the outdoors and is a great asset in his role on the Avery Pro-Staff. His striper fishing and goose hunting tactics have been featured in several outdoor magazines and newspaper columns. In 2005 Dave, along with the professional guides of StormOutfitters, released the well received 'Feet Down-Guns Up!' DVD featuring several Avery products. Dave has been married to his wife Kathy for twelve years and together they have a daughter, Heather. Both Kathy and Heather have been a great source of support and also share a great love of the outdoors. Heather has accompanied her dad on goose hunting trips and has all but mastered the art of surf fishing on the Jersey coast for striped bass.
He was introduced to the outdoors around the age of 6. He would go fishing with his brother to neighboring ponds near their home. He then started to become more interested in hunting shortly after. There was not a day that went by that he did not spend time in the woods or fields that were close to his house. There is where he experienced his first pair of geese landing on the pond and will never forget the sound he heard! Michael kept interested in the outdoors by so many great people who have helped him and shared their knowledge during the past several years, which helped him become successful in the field. It is a great way to see what really goes on when every one else is sleeping. That is one thing he can always talk about to hunter or non-hunter alike, Michael can keep their attention. Michael hunts ducks and geese as much as he possibly can! He has hunted the prairie pothole region of North Dakota to the flood timber of Arkansas. Michael mainly hunts around home but will travel 50 miles north or south to get to the birds. Also, near Macomb, IL, were he attended college (great numbers of geese all year!). Michael brings a lot to the table and has much to offer the Avery Pro-Staff. He has a great understanding on different ways to hunt. He is 90% self taught, so many failures have led to great success and unbelievable memories. He pays very close attention to detail as well. Whether it is hunting, conservation, or promoting products he is loyal to, Michael can relate to complete strangers and make them feel comfortable.
Kevin White has always loved the outdoors, whether it be hunting or playing sports. His first trip out hunting was with his father and brothers at age 6 hunting for squirrels. His first experience with waterfowl hunting was at age 8 hunting flooded beaver ponds for woodies and mallards. Since then the outdoors and waterfowl hunting has constant in his life. Everyday in the field brings something new to see and this is what keeps him coming back. No two days are the same. His favorite game to hunt is ducks and his favorite spot is on or around the Red River. He also enjoys hunting waterfowl in Alberta, Canada. When Kevin is not hunting he loves to spend time with his family: His wife of 10 years Mandy, and their three children Peyton, Preston, and Presley Kate. When they are not going to dance recitals or baseball games they enjoy spending time playing outside with their dog Max or piling on the couch having movie night. Kevin brings a lot of knowledge to the Avery Pro-Staff in a few different areas. He has experiences in waterfowling, deer hunting, and pheasant hunting, as well as dog training and competing. He currently runs his lab HRCH Max in many hunt tests and trials. Kevin has always used Avery products both hunting and training. He has put them through there paces and he is very excited to continue this as a member of the Avery Pro-Staff. Kevin will be able to pass on his stories and experiences in a very positive and professional manner for Avery.
Since that day, Zach cut his teeth packing decoys into the public marshes of central Kansas. The more he hunted the more he realized hunting wasn't just hunting anymore and the passion of decoying ducks and geese in close became an obsession Like many hunters Zach soon discovered other enjoyable facets of waterfowl hunting; hunting and spending time amongst family and friends being foremost. States Zach: "As I grow older I will never pass up the opportunity to introduce someone new, young or old, to the passion of waterfowl hunting and the outdoors. I love the outdoors for many reasons but it would not be the same if I didn't have the opportunity to share the outdoors with others." That desire to share is one of the qualities that makes Zach a valuable member of the Avery Pro-Staff. Whether it is sharing information about our products to end-users at a show or letting them in on some of the tricks he has learned in the public marshes of Kansas, Zach's openness and genuine sincerity makes him a great addition to the Avery Pro-Staff.
Culley Wilson was born in Dallas, Texas in May of 1972. He moved to NC in 1999 with his job and he now lives in Hampstead, NC with his wife Melissa and daughter Sophia. Culley works for Schering-Plough Animal Health and is the Key Accounts Manager over the nation's second largest swine industry in NC. His father, being a professional bass fisherman, introduced him to the outdoors at a very early age. It was when he was a young teenager that his passion for waterfowl and bow hunting the elusive white tailed deer grabbed hold of him. Growing up in East Texas in a one buck county he quickly took to waterfowl hunting to fill the remainder of the hunting season. He is a self taught waterfowl hunter and his years of trial and error hunting have made him a successful waterfowl hunter today. Growing up on Lake Fork between the Central and Mississippi flyways in East Texas, there was an abundance of waterfowl to hunt. When he moved to NC in 1999 he found himself frustrated by not finding consistent flights of ducks in the Piedmont area of the state. To harvest a limit of puddle ducks was truly an accomplishment. So, he taught himself how to hunt Canada Geese being there was good resident population as well as a good migration of Canada Geese. After trial and error, he honed his skills and was fast becoming a seasoned goose hunter. His friends eventually talked him into guiding and Wild Wing Adventures was born. Today he guides for ducks, geese, swans, and big coastal black bears. Besides guiding, Culley enjoys spending time with his wife Melissa and their one year daughter, Sophia. Traveling the East Coast from PA to GA with his job allows him to create hunting memories and new friends with clients in many diverse locations and hunting scenarios. He credits trips to the field hunting geese in MD and DE as a guest of customers as a very instrumental part of his becoming a successful goose hunter. With his hunting experiences in many different areas of the Atlantic Flyway, Culley brings some good insight to varying hunting methods that are successful from one place to the next along the Atlantic Flyway from hunting Tundra Swans to Atlantic Brant Geese. This insight and experience from a wide range of hunting scenarios makes Culley an asset to the promotion of Avery Outdoors and Green Head Gear decoys.
Curt was raised in the fertile southwestern corner of Kentucky in the Mississippi River bottom. That is where his love for the outdoors grew from an early age following at the heels of his father. While still too young to carry a gun on his own, Curt was learning the ways of the outdoors. Hunting became a part of everyday life. When Curt wasn't hunting, he was fishing with his father and friends in local farm ponds. As Curt began to hunt on his own you could find him chasing waterfowl and whitetail deer in the river bottoms of Western Kentucky in the fall and winter and turkeys in the spring time. Curt graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture; there he continued to hunt waterfowl and whitetail deer. Skipping class to go duck hunting was a common occurrence in mid January. Since 1989, Curt has spent many days hunting at Reelfoot Lake, which is in the northwest corner of Tennessee, one of the great waterfowl meccas in the United States. There he guided for waterfowl, fished and enjoyed the outdoor experience with family and friends. Having guided duck hunters in Tennessee and Arkansas, he has enjoyed many incredible seasons of duck hunting as well as suffered through some terrible ones. Curt now works for Avery Outdoors as a Territory Manager covering Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho and Utah. He enjoys traveling to different state across the U.S. to attend Waterfowl Festivals and to participate in duck and goose calling contests. He is making the adjustment from living in the South to now living in Sacramento, California. He is looking forward to the 100 day waterfowl season and the high bag limits the Sacramento Valley has to offer.
Kevin Wilson was born and raised in Alberta. Since his first duck hunt at the age of 14, he has been passionate about virtually all types of hunting. Kevin has since turned his obsession for hunting into a career. As a long-time Outdoor Writer (Active member of OWAA and OWC) and owner/operator of Venture North Outfitting, Kevin's feature articles, product reviews and news items are widely published in several North American magazines and newspapers. Each fall Kevin and his staff introduce visiting hunters to the finest waterfowl hunting on the continent in the heart of Alberta's Central Flyway. Aside from writing and guiding, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife Heather and their two young girls, Chelsea and Paige. Believing whole-heartedly that our outdoor heritage rests on the shoulders of our youth, whenever possible he makes hunting a family affair. His favor goes to field-hunting ducks and geese, archery-hunting big Alberta whitetails, and hunting Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. With over 25 years of field experience, he's taken most North American big game and many bird game species, i.e., ducks & geese, turkey, moose, deer, goat, grizzly & black bear, caribou, antelope and more. As an accomplished hunter and media contributor, Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Avery's Pro-Staff.
David Wood was born and raised in Texas and has lived in various parts of the Lone Star State. Along the way he as been exposed to many forms of wingshooting, beginning when his father introduced him to duck, quail and dove hunting on a south Texas hunt at the age of 6. He killed his first white-wing dove shooting a 20 gauge that rested on his father's thigh as David swung through and pulled the trigger. Since that early hunt bird hunting has been a regular part of David's life. Waterfowl has emerged as his number one passion with upland a close second. Instilled in David at that same young age was to be a good steward of the land and to be grateful for what God has shared with all of us. In David's opinion, the outdoors holds a beauty that cannot be truly appreciated until you feel the sting of the rain or the heat of the sun. You have to be out in it to "get it". Now that he owns his own outfitter service he is "out in it" all the time. David's also enjoys training his retrievers and running hunt tests. It is a great way for him to stay connected to the outdoors when there are no bird migrations to follow as well as keeping his four-legged hunting buddies at the top of their game.
Chad was born and raised on a farm in Utah. He was first introduced to hunting while chasing pheasants on the farm with his father. In the spring when the geese were heading back north, Chad would always see how close he could sneak up on them while they fed out in the fields. His love for waterfowl took off from there. Chad grew up hunting along the shores of the Great Salt Lake. The Marshes along the Lake are some of the best in the nation. Being only minutes from a duck marsh helped him to become a proficient waterfowler. Chad still chases the pheasants around the farm land but his true passion is hunting waterfowl. Besides hunting all fall Chad also loves to travel with his Fiancé Brigitte, and their two children. The whole family loves to fish and spend time outdoors together. Chad is an adrenaline junky. He loves the job of firefighting and he has tried it all from skydiving to scuba diving. Chad is your all around hunter. He hunts everything from upland game to the majestic Elk of the Rockies. He hunts his home state, the surrounding states and all the way up to Alberta, Canada for some self-guided hunts. He is able to adapt to any condition and this greatly enhances his hunting skills. Chad is your typical hunt-hard waterfowler. The harsh hunting he puts Avery products through will help to improve and promote what high quality products Avery has to offer.
George Zahradka, of Middle River, Maryland, grew up on the family farm where he is a 4th generation farmer. He has a wife, Carla, daughter, Carli, and son, Georgie. George is busy during the spring and summer months working in the fields and greenhouses. He is best known for his beautiful hanging baskets and unbelievable sweet corn and tomatoes. He supplies his stand at the farm, 3 farmers markets; small farm stands to large super markets. Not only does his family help with the business but his wife and children have also taken an interest in hunting. As a boy growing up, waterfowling was everywhere. George's dad was a professional guide as well as an avid decoy collector. He can remember talking about the good old days with decoy carvers such as Paul Gibson, Charlie Bryan, Jimmy Pierce and Charlie Joiner. George would tag along on goose hunts to his fathers club on the famous Eastern Shore before he was old enough to shoot. By 13, he had built his own floating blind, and was hunting every day after school and Christmas vacation. What a better place to be waterfowling than on Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. George may be busy during the growing season, but look out once hunting season arrives. He spends 100+ days in the field hunting waterfowl. George has hunted throughout the States and Canada, including Pennsylvania, Maine, Texas, and his favorite place: North Dakota. George has been making the trip to North Dakota for about 12 years with his close friends. It has turned into a yearly tradition for them every October. George also like's to target pheasants in North Dakota with his pride and joy: his Springer Spaniel, Abby. In addition to waterfowling, George also loves to trap in the winter months. Fox are his favorite with over 325 in 30 days. I guess you could say that he's pretty serious about trapping too! George obviously has tremendous knowledge and experience in the outdoors with a great emphasis on waterfowling. He has learned many "tricks of the trade" throughout the years, which is why he is very successful day in and day out and is a great addition to the Avery Pro-Staff.
Most folks who love to hunt can name that one person responsible for getting them hooked whether it is a parent, grandparent, or family friend. Jason was lucky enough to have his father introduced to waterfowl hunting in the early 80's by a good family friend. This in turn led to Jason cutting his teeth on ducks and geese in Northeast Missouri at the age of 10. Mark Twain Lake was just filling up and the famed Swan Lake refuge of northern Missouri was near its heyday. There couldn't have been a better time to ignite a passion for waterfowl hunting. Jason owned a duck call before he even owned a gun and the most familiar phrase around the house went from 'this is not a gymnasium' to 'this is not the duck boat.' Turkey and quail hunting soon followed and an addict was born. Jason graduated with a degree in biology from Westminster College and a degree from the University of Missouri Medical School. After a brief stint in Mississippi to complete residency in emergency medicine he moved home to Missouri. ER work was the obvious choice to Jason for allowing the most flexible schedule to spend time in the field. The ER is a fast paced and exciting world, but still doesn't give Jason the thrill compared to mallards locked in over decoys, a big Missouri longbeard hammering away close by, or giant Canadas lighting in your face. He enjoys competition duck calling and is heavily involved in training and hunt testing retrievers, which has effectively done away with any 'off-season.' His dog Moose became a Grand Hunting Retriever Champion and a member of the prestigious HRC 500 pt club last year. Jason now resides in Columbia, MO with his wife Lana and daughters Avery and Harper. Avery has already flashed her potential as a 'birdboy' and insists on joining dad for every training session. Hunting the south has been a great joy, but Jason always comes back to the Swan Lake area of northern Missouri as a special place for him. He looks forward to the day when his girls join him on their first duck hunt and the cycle renews.
Fred Zink is one of the nation's most recognized faces when it comes to waterfowl hunting and competition calling. Born and raised in Clayton, Ohio, Fred was introduced to hunting and the outdoors by his father when he was just two years old. At nine years old, Fred went on his first duck hunt, and he has been hooked ever since. At 19, Fred entered his first calling competition and quickly became the most successful competitive goose caller of the 1990's. His 23 wins include three-time Grand American Champion, Grand National Champion, Winchester World Open and the Avery International. In addition to Pro-Staff positions with Mossy Oak and Avery, Fred is a member of the Mossy Oak Production team, which produces Whistling Wings, the world's most successful waterfowl hunting video/DVD series. In 2000, Fred's uncanny ability to design and develop innovative waterfowl hunting accessories brought him to Avery where he has been instrumental in building an incredible portfolio of successful products. Perhaps most recognizable of all his product concepts to date, Fred's Finisher Blind is a remarkable success story of ingenious design combined with aggressive marketing to produce the most popular layout blind ever sold commercially. The Finisher was the first of many Avery products designed by Fred, but other notable designs include his Power Hunter and Migrator blinds as well as the entire line of Greenhead Gear waterfowl decoys which have arguably revolutionized the standard for the injection-molded decoy industry. In 2001, Fred founded Zink Waterfowl Calls to take advantage of the growing demand for his custom goose and duck calls. Zink Calls has quickly developed a following from the very customers that Fred targeted from the start: youth! Because of the vivid memories of hunting that he cherishes from his childhood, Fred believes that all of those involved with the hunting industry owe it to themselves to do everything possible to draw young boys and girls into the sport. Zink Calls and videos are no-nonsense, high-end products aimed at the hard-core hunter who desires to reach the next level in calling and hunting no matter where they are at any given time. Fred knows from his own experience that memories of successful hunts are much more vivid and meaningful, and he hopes that passing on what he has learned can help make vivid memories for others. Today Fred balances his life between time with his family, time in the field and time managing his ventures in the hunting industry. He enjoys traveling to shows, giving seminars and meeting people from various regions of the country and hearing their best hunting stories! Fred truly appreciates hearing others' hunting experiences, and he is constantly trying to learn from them. When he's not on the road, Fred spends every minute he can with his wife Dawn and their two children, daughter Taylor and his little hunting buddy Gunar. |
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