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.
John has lived in northeast Ohio for most of his life. He graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Business Communications and was president of the boxing team. He and wife Jacque have five sons, Joseph, Ryan, David, Samuel and Jacob. The two older boys are avid hunters, and Joseph bagged his first buck this past bow season while Ryan recently shot his first goose. Since 1989 John has been employed by Dow AgroSciences, the agricultural chemical division of Dow Chemical. John and his family live on their farm that has been in his family for more than 125 years. John has hunted many species of game for more than 25 years with a heavy concentration on waterfowl, and his love of duck and goose hunting led to the formation of HonkerBonker Guide and Outfitter Service. HonkerBonker guides hunters in Ohio and western Pennsylvania and has been featured in outdoor newspapers, on outdoor radio & television and videos and in Fish & Field Report, Ohio Valley Outdoors, Duck Tales and Wildfowl magazines. John belongs to several national and local outdoor organizations and donates several hunts to these fundraising events each season. He strongly believes in supporting the hunting tradition and exposing youth to the great outdoors. He took out a Ducks Unlimited Life Sponsorship in the name of "The Five Beckwith Boys" to honor his sons. John and his partner, fellow Avery Pro-Staffer DeWayne Knight, bring many years of experience to the Avery team and can be found working events in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Having been raised in family with a strong hunting heritage, Brett is a true outdoorsman. He began hunting waterfowl over 30 years ago, has guided duck and goose hunters for years and still chases ducks and geese every time he gets the chance. With hunts from Canada to Arkansas under his belt, Brett also loves to hunt deer, bear, turkey and upland game so I guess you could say he is an all-around fanatic! A true outdoorsman, Brett is passionate about his responsibilities as an Avery Pro-Staffer. You can find him each fall representing Avery at shows throughout Minnesota where he asks as many questions as he answers. Brett loves to swap stories and pick up any new ideas he can from others' experiences because he learns something every time someone asks his opinion or advice. Brett's wife Jodi joins him in the field as her schedule permits, and he looks forward to the day his young son will be old enough to tag along.
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."
"I'm lucky!" says Avery Pro-Staffer Shawn Bloomhuff. "I have a wife who does her best to understand it' and two young boys who have it' in their blood already." The "it" Shawn refers to is waterfowl hunting, and he can't get enough. When his dad took him on his first duck hunt on the Mississippi River 25 years ago, Shawn could not have known what wheels were being put in motion for his future and the role duck hunting would play in it. Shawn has been lucky enough to hunt in some of the best places in the country with some of the best and most respected hunters in the world, and his passion for the sport is driven by waterfowl. Whether it's decoying ducks and geese in dry fields or working them into a small spread in a cattail marsh or along a flooded river, Shawn just wants to be there! Shawn is also in the beginning stages of competition calling. In his first competition event he, along with fellow Pro-Staffer Travis Mueller, sounded good enough to capture the 2003 Masters of the Marsh Two-Man Duck Calling Championship at the K&K Waterfowl Extravaganza. This was only the start for Shawn, and he hopes to continue a successful career in this sport that attracts some of the best hunters in the world. Currently residing in Davenport, Iowa with his wife Becky and their two sons Alexander and Logan, Shawn looks forward to passing the hunting tradition to his boys as his father did for him. "I can't think of anything more satisfying than sharing the world of hunting with my sons," says Shawn. "If they keep it in their blood, then I have at least 25 more years of hunting to look forward to!"
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".
Friends and family who deer and duck hunted introduced him to the real attraction to hunting: the camaraderie of friends. John enjoys traveling, and knows the benefits of having a reliable, hard working boat and blind. Additionally, John puts his Avery/ Greenhead Gear products to the test in the field every chance he gets, which gives him the experience to promote and help design products. Duck hunting in west Tennessee and eastern Arkansas have no equal, and John's love for hunting just about every type of game in this area, gives him the knowledge and enthusiasm to make the Avery experience an enjoyable one.
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.
Being born in Havre De Grace, Maryland, on the shores on the famed Susquehanna Flats, its no wonder Jeff's passion and motivating drive is "Ducks, Dogs & Decoys" 365 days a year, its what defines his life style. Jeff's love for waterfowl and the outdoors has offered a chance to make a career of guiding fulltime for Seaducks, Diving Ducks and Brant. Carving decoys... cork gunning decoys along with the privilege of carving the wooden master decoys for Avery's Greenhead Gear Seaduck Decoys. Dogs... his 3 Black Labrador Female crew- Coot, Diamond & Poacher, are family members. An integral part of his bird retrieving, running AKC Hunt test and Field Trials to training daily in the "off season", Jeff's girls are by his side. Photography... his camera is always ready for his eye to capture that "perfect shot", in fact now during the season, Jeff finds more enjoyment shooting his digital camera rather his 12 gauge. As an Avery Pro-Staffer, Jeff brings aboard a strong day in-day out common sense knowledge on what's needed to be successful in the field; knowledge which he'd like the opportunity to share. This makes Jeff a great fit to the Avery Outdoors Family!
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.
Born and raised in Maryland, it was only natural that Jason be exposed to waterfowl hunting. Jason cut his teeth duck & goose hunting in a region that gave birth to the legacy of Chesapeake Bay waterfowl hunting: Havre de Grace, MD and the Susquehanna Flats. Goose pits on Maryland's infamous Eastern Shore also hosted Jason, his father and grandfather. The seed that was planted in Jason to waterfowl hunt by his family, has taken him to Canada, North Dakota, and many other regions of the United States. Jason admits that because of the wide range of waterfowl and access to them, Canada is his favorite destination. But, seeing and experiencing different hunting areas, meeting people and making new friendships, is the underlying current to all of Jason's hunting. To Jason, "It's not about filling a bag limit every outing. It's about being in an environment that is full of surprises and the vast experiences from them that make each hunt challenging and unique." Between his work and hunting, Jason makes time for his family. His wife Coleen and stepdaughter Lauren are very supportive of his passion for waterfowling, although Jason will admit, he has been asked to leave the house when practicing his calling. Jason's professionalism and easygoing nature are a natural match to the work of an Avery Pro-Staffer. Whether in the field or at dealer promotions, Jason brings high levels of dedication, commitment, and honesty to the goals of Avery Outdoors and the Pro-Staff and we are pleased to have him as a member of the team.
Bill's father first took him duck hunting at age 3. From that day on, keeping him out of the blind became a serious issue for both of his parents! His father relates that while many children would cry to go home when the weather got lousy, Bill would cry when it was time to go home and even worse on the days when he was not permitted to go at all. There has never been a time in Bill's life that waterfowling did not play a major role. As he was growing up, Bill's inability to concentrate on anything other than duck hunting was frustrating for his parents, and his duck hunting obsession soon became an even bigger concern to his high school teachers, then college professors and finally his employers. When the opportunity arose to work for Avery in 2000, Bill knew that he had found a home! While he has held several positions at Avery, Bill has worked his way up to Director of Media Relations which he boasts is "the greatest job in the world". The opportunity to spend his days working and hunting with top outdoor writers, video crews and fellow outdoorsmen gives him daily reminders of how his lifetime of preparation met up with an opportunity that made him "lucky" enough to make his living doing what comes natural to him. When your passion is your job, what do you do in your free time Bill is involved in contest duck calling and is a four-time winner of the Tennessee State Duck Calling Championship as well as the 2003 U.S Open Duck Calling Championship. Representing his home state at the World Duck Calling Championship has been a real highlight for someone whose life revolves around the pursuit of waterfowl. Bill also enjoys training and running his retrievers and has competed in as well as judged every level of AKC Hunt Test. He has also competed in the Qualifying and Amateur divisions of AKC Field Trials. While he has hunted in all four flyways and several Canadian provinces, Bill still finds the most enjoyment hunting ducks in the river bottoms of West Tennessee and Arkansas where he learned to hunt. Most spring mornings Bill can be found close to a gobbling turkey somewhere between his house and the office. He currently resides in Jackson, Tennessee with his very understanding wife Nina, and their young son Bill. "Little Bill never had a fighting chance!" says Bill of his new hunting companion. "His grandfather bought him a Tennessee Lifetime Hunting License the day he was born."
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, Johnís 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 Canadaís 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.
Dustin lives outside the small agricultural town of Escalon in Northern California. He was raised and now lives on the ranch that his grandfather, Sal Curci, started back in the 1940's. Sal was a well-respected and highly regarded gun dog trainer, and he operated a kennel on the ranch for over 60 years. Through his family's involvement with raising and training gun dogs, Dustin grew up with the hunting lifestyle as a livelihood. Sal was a major puppy donor to both Ducks Unlimited and California Waterfowl Association, and Dustin fondly remembers him and his grandfather taking puppies to many of these dinners together. Dustin began his hunting career at nine years old and has never slowed down since - Sal is the major reason for Dustin's love of hunting and for training Labrador Retrievers. Today Dustin pursues mostly geese and ducks, and his favorite style of hunting is decoying geese over grain fields in Northern California. A well-rounded hunter, he also hunts deer, turkey and upland game and, in the off-season, trains dogs, fly fishes the Sierras and does some tournament bass fishing. As an Avery Pro-Staffer, he is always available to give seminars and work at promotions because he looks forward to meeting new people who share his passion for waterfowling and dog training.
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!"
Darryl was lucky enough to have been introduced to the world of outdoor sports by his father at the early age of 6. He took Darryl fishing for the first time then and since, Daryl has spent the next 20 years honing his skills until he eventually was able to fish competitively at the very highest levels. The pressures of work and family commitments meant that finding the required amount of time to maintain that standard became harder and harder. As a person who has to do something properly or not at all, Darryl made the hard decision to walk away from the world of competitive fishing. The call of the countryside was still very strong though and he was invited to try his hand at clay pigeon shooting which opened another door to time spent afield. The urge to pit your wits against nature has never gone away and it was just a short matter of time before Darryl started to test his shooting and field craft skills against both waterfowl and woodpigeons. Darryl is fortunate enough to be situated in a part of the country that allows him easy access to the Cambridgeshire fens and the Norfolk coastline; fortunate because this is some of the best duck and goose habitat in the UK. When not chasing ducks, geese or pigeons, Darryl enjoys working his dog on some of the many driven pheasant shoots that are prevalent in the UK. All this is made possible by some weird and wonderful working hours and the understanding of his wife Jane, and Bridie, their young daughter. In joining the Avery Pro-Staff, Darryl hopes to raise the profile of waterfowl hunting in the UK and in doing so, help to make Avery a market leader both outside as well as within the United States.
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.
Kyle was born and raised in Cedar Rapids Iowa. His father introduced him into the outdoors at the age of six, hunting ducks on a local farm pond. Ever since that point in time Kyle's passion and love for the sport has never waned. Hunting is something that appeals to Kyle because it affords him the opportunity to be outside rather than cramped indoors somewhere. Spending time with close friends and family is another reason hunting is so enjoyable to Kyle and something that he says he "will never give up." His favorite game to hunt would be decoying geese and ducks in the fields. To Kyle there is nothing like seeing one's hard work come together like a flock of ducks or geese bombing into your set up. Most of his hunting is done in the state of Iowa where he lives but on occasion he take trips throughout the Midwest wherever the waterfowl might be. Kyle's experience and knowledge in the field of hunting coupled with his character and personality are a welcome addition to the Pro-Staff team. Being around Avery products just about every single day in the fall, Kyle knows Avery products can withstand the harshest of hunting conditions and makes him a great spokesman for their use.
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.
Craig Galloway was introduced to the outdoors by both his grandfather and father. He and his grandfather hunted whitetail deer and turkey together in the fall and in the spring and summer he fished Northern Ohio, Canada, and Michigan with his father. Those times were the foundation for what would become a future habit for Craig: spending time afield with family and friends. He went on his first waterfowl hunt 15 years ago and since then he's made many more trips and made many friends along the way. Always remembering those that have helped him learn a trick here or there, Craig is eager to share his knowledge with others and welcomes the opportunity to share a story from one of his adventures afield. Craig's favorite way of hunting is field hunting ducks and geese with Power Hunters in the Scioto River bottoms with his brother and friends! He feels that the harsh Southern Ohio winters are a great test for Avery products: "We use our gear day in and day out and depend on its performance to help us fill our limits daily. Whether it is rain, mud, snow, ice, or wind.our gear needs to handle it. It's tough, dependable and a proven performer.that's why I choose Avery!"
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.
Rob was raised in Belzoni, MS, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. At the age of 12, he was invited to deer hunt with a friend and that set the wheels in motion for his future; both as a personal preference and as a profession. Rob began hunting ducks as a junior in high school and got his first guiding job when in college where he guided for a timber company along the Mississippi River near Fitler, MS. From there, Rob helped other guide services for several years and later operated his own guide service until being hired with Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks in January of 2004. Rob now works the famed waterfowling areas like the Tallahatchie and Coldwater Rivers, Tunica Cutoff, Nash Buckingham's Beaver Dam, Buzzard Bayou, York Woods and Cassidy Bayou. Rob's passions are field hunting ducks and white-fronted geese and running trap-lines in the fields, sloughs and bayous that cris-cross the Delta. Rob took the job as conservation officer because he feels there is a need to protect the environment and conserve our renewable natural resources, and he enjoys meeting people from the far corners of the nation when they come to the Delta to hunt waterfowl. It is Rob's desire to see waterfowl populations thrive so that we may all share in the experience for generations to come. Rob now lives in Vance, MS, with his wife, Dee Dee, and daughter, Lilly. Rob feels that his experience as a waterfowl guide, lifelong resident in the wintering grounds of the Mississippi Flyway and daily activities as a conservation officer will help make Avery/ GHG products the best in the industry.
Dan Hemmingsen was born and raised in the southern part of Denmark. His grandfather and father introduced hunting to him when he was able to walk and by the age of 13, he shot his first duck. Although the family's foremost passion is upland hunting, Dan has turned his passion to waterfowling, especially decoying geese and ducks. Dan and his crew have been harvesting waterfowl in most areas of Denmark as the first to use the Avery and GHG products in the country. Dan has a bachelor degree in business administration. He left this track to become a social worker and occasionally guide. Besides guiding, Dan likes to develop new ways of adapting the American way of waterfowling to the Danish conditions, meet new friends and sharing stories from the field. He has had the opportunity to hunt with some of the best waterfowlers in Scandinavia and in turn, glean some of their knowledge. With his experiences learned from the field and others in the industry, Dan brings a wealth of knowledge regarding European waterfowling to Avery's Pro-Staff. Additionally, the daily use of Avery products under the harshest of conditions |
