In this third part of an exclusive interview with MidwayUSA CEO Larry Potterfield, Outdoor Hub’s President Steve Dooley gets to the heart of what makes MidwayUSA such a successful business, specifically highlighting the unique management practices of the company.

Part Three:

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Click here to go back to Part Two of this interview, covering MidwayUSA’s entrance into television and the hunting market. Keep following Outdoor Hub for more interview clips with Larry Potterfield.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Larry Potterfield on Business Administration and MidwayUSA’s Modern Management Practices

In Part Two of this exclusive interview with Larry Potterfield of MidwayUSA, Outdoor Hub’s President Steve Dooley continues where the last part left off. In the video, Potterfield details MidwayUSA’s entrance into the world of television and expanding the scope of the company.

Part Two:

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Click here to go back to Part One of this series, and click here to continue on to Part Three.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Larry Potterfield on MidwayUSA, Television and Hunting

As we observe the 75th anniversary of our Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration (WSFR) programs, many will point to the now abundant populations of elk, deer and wild turkeys as the poster children for conservation success. Some will laud the hunting, fishing and boating opportunities we now enjoy as a result of WSFR’s user pay/user benefit principle. Or praise how cooperation between state and federal government, conservation groups, industry and sportsmen made it possible to contribute billions of dollars to fish and wildlife conservation.

All are good reasons to celebrate.

Another noteworthy accomplishment on the Wildlife Restoration side is how this program has benefitted hunter education. Excise taxes paid by manufacturers — which are factored into the cost of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment — are made available to the states in the form of grants. These grants not only support wildlife projects, they fund hunter education and shooting range development as well.

The interesting part about this is the history behind hunter education and Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration programs. I interviewed Steve Hall, who retired from Texas Parks and Wildlife after 26 years of service as education director. Hall, who currently serves as the executive director of the Texas State Rifle Association, reminded me that hunter education is by no means new.

“The first seeds were planted in 1928 when Seth Gordon, an employee of the Pennsylvania and California game agencies, penned a code of outdoor ethics for the Izaak Walton League of America,” Hall said. “That code marked the beginning of ideas about safety and respect for wildlife, property and other people.”

According to Hall, World War II put many wildlife programs on hold. However, when the soldiers came back home, they swelled the ranks of hunters. It wasn’t long, though, before a growing number of firearms-related hunting incidents fueled safety concerns.

By the 1940s, Kentucky was offering gun safety training in their high school junior clubs and in boys and girls summer camps. Soon after, Michigan and Montana began developing their own programs. The era of mandatory hunter safety training started in 1949 as the result of legislation in New York. A partnership with the NRA helped New York deliver its curriculum.

“The hunter safety community really began maturing in the 1950s when programs to recruit and train volunteer instructors were introduced,” Hall said. “Today’s volunteer army of instructors is a big reason why hunter education programs are so successful.”

Hunter safety programs took another major step in the 1960s when the NRA hosted the first of several annual hunter safety coordinator workshops in 1966.

“The hunter safety leaders who met at these workshops saw the needs for standardized instruction and recognition of training between states,” Hall said. “Their vision laid the groundwork for a new organization dedicated to developing safe, responsible hunters.”

In 1971, a steering committee associated with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies became the launch pad for creating the North American Association of Hunter Safety Coordinators. The organization, which was founded in 1972, immediately set to work on its mission of providing leadership and support to hunter education program administrators and instructors. Today, it’s called the International Hunter Education Association, and 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of an organization that now serves 69 member agencies and 70,000 volunteer instructors who teach hunter education around the world.

1972 was a big year for another reason, and it brings this story full circle. That was when the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act was amended to help fund hunter safety programs. Now hunter education programs across the country were not only benefitting from the leadership of a new organization, now they had money to train volunteer instructors, develop teaching aids and standardize the lessons so a hunter education graduate could hunt safely in any state in the country.

In the years since then, millions of students have taken hunter education and hunting has become one of the safest ways families and friends can enjoy the outdoors. Hunters and shooters not only contribute to safety programs, their dollars have restored wildlife populations and provided countless recreational opportunities that all citizens can enjoy.

How hunter education training is offered also has changed with the times. Today, students can take part of their course online at http://www.hunter-ed.com. The training offered at this site is approved by the state agencies responsible for hunter education, and students study the same material that’s taught in the classroom. The online portion is typically followed by a field course, which gives students the chance to shoot and demonstrate safe firearms handling and outdoor skills.

So honor these milestones of conservation and hunter education success by heading afield as often as possible this year. Make it extra special by purchasing a hunting license and introducing someone new to the outdoors.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - A Tale of Two Success Stories: Hunter Education and Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration

As many hunters are putting their bows and rifles up for the season, in the great state of Alabama the peak of the rut is kicking into full gear. One of my favorite things to look forward to after Christmas is hunting in ol’ Bama. In the “black belt” region of the state the rut usually starts kicking off around Christmas with its peak around mid-January. This is perfect for those of you that need to put some late season back strap in the freezer and maybe even a trophy on the wall.

My good friend Jeremy Johnson invited me to hunt his family farm for the first time this past January. The track record on his property has got to be one of the best in the area, if not the state. Over the years I have seen countless videos from Jeremy on this property with some really nice bucks hitting the dirt. To say I was excited about the hunt was an understatement!

The first morning, cameraman Fred Branch and I met Jeremy, his better half Elizabeth, and good friend Justin Moore on the way to the property. The weather was a frosty 22 degrees with high humidity so we were bundled up big time! The morning was slow, only seeing a small buck. Justin did arrow a nice doe for the freezer though, while Jeremy and Elizabeth saw a few bucks but didn’t get a shot. We decided to grab a bite to eat then head back into the woods early in the afternoon and sit until dark.

Settling back in shortly after 1pm that afternoon, we saw deer right away. A young buck ran two does in front of us and out of sight. On and off we saw several deer until dark but no shooter bucks in range. Not a bad day of hunting at all and we were ready for the next morning.

Up and at it, we repeated the previous morning’s routing and were in the stand just as the day began to wake up. This time we were deep in a creek bottom just off of an old cut-over. The palmettos were thick and seeing 100 yards was difficult in most directions. About an hour after daylight, I look in front of us and catch movement, it’s antlers! A tall, heavy, shooter buck is coming straight to us! The buck turns and starts working a scrape as I try to find him in my Hawke scope. The brush is just too thick to get on him. He then begins walking from our right to left angling away. Looking ahead the only shot I am going to have is when he steps into a narrow road in front of us. I ready myself as the buck walks right into my scope and stops! Boom! My twelve gauge slug drops him in his tracks! He’s done right there!

Climbing down I knew that he was a good buck, but after putting my hands on him this deer had some of the heaviest beams and mass of any I had been fortunate enough to tag. The buck was a main frame eight point with two kickers on one base, giving him ten points over an inch long, 13 inch inside spread, and scored just over 130 inches B&C. I’ll take a buck like this all day long y’all! Not to mention he was at least 4.5 or 5.5 years old, a true trophy buck to me.

I would like to thank Jeremy for opening up his home farm and inviting us to come over and hunt. It was truly a great place to see and the amount of game on the place is remarkable. Just as Genesis 27:3 states “Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me,” we are blessed to spend time in the outdoors to see what has been created for us to have dominion over and as stewards of the land, we must open our arms and continue to pass on our God-given right to hunt.

God bless and good hunting!

Michael’s Gear List:

• Optics: Hawke Eclipse 30 SF 6-24x50mm, Hawke Frontier ED 43mm
• Gun: Remington 1100 12 gauge
• Ammo: Winchester Sabot Slug 375 grain
• Stand: Ol’ Man Ladder
• Safety Vest: Hunter Safety System Reversible
• Scent Eliminator: Lethal Field Spray
• Camo: Realtree APG by Gamehide
• Pack: Gameplan Gear Spot N Stalk
• Boots: Lacrosse Alpha Burly in Realtree APG
• Conditioning: Hunt Strong

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Finishing Strong: Hunting the Late Rut in Alabama

In these exclusive videos shot in the GunTec studio, Outdoor Hub’s President Steve Dooley interviews MidwayUSA’s CEO Larry Potterfield on the history of MidwayUSA. Part One covers the founding of MidwayUSA, from the origins of its name to the transition from catalog retail to the digital age.

Part One:

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Click here to go on to Part Two of the interview and keep checking back at Outdoor Hub for more exclusive video interviews with Larry Potterfield next week.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - “Just a Country Kid from Missouri”: Larry Potterfield on the History and Growth of MidwayUSA

“Trapping? You mean people still do that these days?”

“I used to trap years ago when (fill in the blank) and I’d like to get back into it.”

“My (relative, neighbor) traps, and talking to him about this year it has me anxious to get started.”

These are all very common responses I hear whenever the subject of recreational fur trapping is brought up. Many people think the only mode of trapping left today is for rodents inhabiting their kitchen, or that local guy with an ad in the yellow pages who wanted $250 to remove a nuisance squirrel from grandma’s attic.

Truth is, recreational trapping as a sport, pursuit and in some cases a profession is definitely alive and well. Alive, well and growing in popularity all the time. To some people the idea of trappers and trapping evokes images of mountain men, buckskin clothes and beaver pelts wrested from hostile indian territory. That was accurate some three hundred years ago as the westward exploration and expansion of our country was taking place. But  modern fur trapping is a far different story indeed.

Most states in the U.S. require some type of structure training from certified instructors before a trapping license or permit can be purchased. Those basic lessons include education on season dates and regulations, the type of traps and equipment permitted, sensible use of equipment in harmony with urban society, people and their pets.

Animal traps today include versions of the historic “paw-hold” style along with a variety of others. There are similar traps designed to be completely dog-proof for use with raccoons as the target species inside of public and private hunting areas, wire mesh box or cage traps on land are useful in many situations and square-shape traps with a round-bars design that close in scissors-type action for quick dispatch of target species on land or in water. Best-management practices have been studied in scientific fashion to develop and perfect the best possible performance from trapline equipment in use today.

Wild furs from the U.S., Canada and elsewhere have enjoyed a resurgence in demand that can best be described as dramatic boom in the past several years, courtesy of strong desire for fur products in Russian, China, Japan and other newly affluent markets. Fur coats have been coveted since time immemorial for natural comfort and durability in the coldest possible weather. Appearance and beauty are added features to the natural function of this 100% renewable resource.

The fact that wild furs are indeed a renewable resource fits right in with the “go green” movement of late. Nature cannot be stockpiled: wild fur-bearing animals are amongst the most populous and widespread species out there. Coyote, fox, raccoon, bobcats, beavers, mink and muskrats are primary species of interest along with opossums and skunks as incidental catches. All of the critters listed above are thriving and in some cases creating a nuisance situation across the country. Beaver dams often flood precious acres of bottomland timber and field crops. Beaver cuttings can decimate sections of corn fields, ornamental trees and shrubs or critical vegetation. Raccoon damage to sweet corn, grape vineyards and fruit orchards can be considerable.

From a wildlife standpoint, coyote and bobcats are very effective predators of newborn big-game animals. Fox, coon, possums and skunks all take heavy tolls on ground-nesting bird and mammal nests of young. Threatened and endangered species of birds or mammals might hinge on the balance of survival or extinction solely due to focused predator control.
Those are all good reasons why animal trapping in the modern world remains a highly effective tool of conservation management, not to mention the fact that muskrat (known as “marsh hare” in east coast restaurants), beaver and raccoon meat are highly desirable table fare in many parts of the country. Other uses for animal carcasses post-skinning include making baits and lures for trapping efforts, feed for animal farms, wildlife rehab centers and zoos and other protein-based renderings. I would opine that the greatest “waste” would be fur-bearing animals lost to various disease or death on highways from traffic.

Part of the recent resurgence closer to land use involves the green movement, but another part is the global economy’s downward spiral and economic contraction. Not everyone can still afford out-of-state or exotic hunting and fishing trips. When those seasons end in any given state, then what is an outdoorsman (or woman) to do?

Fur trapping is a pursuit that usually runs from late fall through winter and in most cases right into early spring for most states in the U.S. If the weather is still cool or cold, chances are there is something still open to be pursued. The best part is, trapping is a sport that can easily pay for itself (or more) in time. Many experienced trappers realize some type of profit above costs each year. A number of them use the extra income for Christmas gifts, a new gun or maybe save towards an out-of-state trip.

As with any profession that involves money, a small percentage of fur trappers make much or most of their annual income on fur sales alone. Current fur prices this season include red fox and coyote selling for $25 to $50, raccoon and beaver pelts from the teens to $30s, male mink at $25 and muskrats averaging $9 to $10 nose count across the board. That can add up substantially for top-level trappers in Iowa who bag two to three thousand coon per season or mid-west muskrat trappers who put up five to ten thousand muskrats in good years.

But the vast majority of active fur trappers out there each year are men and women who view it as a part-time, weekends and vacation type of sport that supports itself. Cash or checks from fur sales cover gasoline and travel, perhaps add to more traps and gear purchased, etc. Some trappers have their own vest, coats, blankets and teddy bears made from furs. Regardless, it is much easier to justify time spent afield in our great outdoors when it does not drain the family budget… or actually adds to it instead. Much easier see to your family and significant other when a fur check comes home at season’s end, versus one more credit card bill.

We could easily go on and on, but suffice it to say that trapping as a hobby, pastime or profession in modern times is alive and well. Our time spent here going forward will detail exactly what it takes and what one needs to enjoy success in one of mankind’s oldest pursuits of all. Thank you for joining us in conversation, and I look forward to discussing the specifics of traps and gear next time!

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Along the Traplines Today

Keep an eye on Warm Springs Productions and the TV series this film production house makes in the coming years. The company swept away three awards at the Golden Moose Awards presented by Outdoor Channel this year. This makes yet another addition to the recognition WSP has received in only its fourth year in business.

Most recently WSP won “Best Overall Series,” for Benelli Presents Duck Commander and “Best Graphics” and “Best Sound Design” for Buck Commander Protected By Under Armour at the 2012 Golden Moose Awards presented at SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first year the company was in business (2008), they took five of the 10 golden moose awards they were nominated for.

I spoke to Warm Springs Productions President Chris Richardson about the Montana company’s exponential growth since its founding in 2008.

“We had visions of success but, growing this quickly has been a unique experience,” said Richardson. WSP started out at a four-person operation in a tiny office that went on to produce 78 episodes for seven television series last year as a full production house that does everything in-house; the pre-production, graphics, sound, post-production, filming, and so on.

Bridger Pierce, the Director of Operations & Senior Producer of Outdoor Programming was also on hand to discuss the company’s successes. He was excited about the talented people at the company that make success possible. “I think Chris and Marc [Pierce, CEO] have done a great job of hiring within the outdoor industry and from outside of it,” Pierce said. “It’s through that bringing together of a great crew that Warm Springs was able to continue raising the ceiling on outdoor television.”

Watch the season three promo of Duck Commander below

After fifty to sixty days of filming, 700 hours of footage and two to three weeks editing time per episode, WSP finally had 12 episodes of Duck Commander to present to the Outdoor Channel. In that time the crew really bonded with the Robertson family, the stars of the series.

“We spent hundreds of days in Monroe and it’s hard not to just become part of their family,” said Richardson. “They make you feel at home even if you’re manning the swamps with them for 40 days in a row…. I call them my second family when I’m down there.”

Both Richardson and Pierce recall the unruly time schedule of filming – cameramen had to get up before the hunters, around 3 o’clock in the morning, and they couldn’t sleep until filming was over; often times after 11 p.m. But the challenges were worth it.

“We would shoot long hours,” Pierce said, “but the reality is that we’ve got such a great staff who are creative minded and really want to put the best product on TV and so every single one of them isn’t satisfied until we accomplish that.”

And to accomplish that it took 700 hours of footage, most of which ended up on the editing floor, to produce 12 episodes of Benelli Presents Duck Commander. In that time, one camera fell into the swamp and every day the crew faced the challenges of pouring rain, ice-cold waters, humidity, keeping batteries charged and the many Louisiana mosquitos that breed in its swamps.

And while WSP can’t reveal everything they’re working on before its officially announced, look for projects WSP is working on right now with the Discovery Science channel, the History Channel and the shows that are already in production like Buck Commander and Making Monsters set to air soon.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - The Making of a Film Production Company: Warm Springs Productions

“Sustainable” (insert your preferred commodity here) has become the new buzzword for anyone and everyone who wants to make a serious impact to help conserve our planet’s natural resources.

For example, sustainable energy development has become most prevalent in recent times. The energy currently being produced on wind farms and via solar energy has greatly raised the awareness among the general American public for the concept of “sustainable.” More so that the term “green,” “sustainable” reflects both the common-sense utilization of resources with the goals of decreasing human impact on the planet — while still maintaining growth in our U.S. and world economies.

I would like to reflect today on an often overlooked natural resource that offers a sustainability paradigm: our nation’s abundance of wildlife. Please let me explain. Wildlife species, like the North American Whitetail Deer, are currently estimated at all time highs in their population count, with some estimates suggesting there are over 25 million deer in the U.S. alone. By contrast, deer populations at the turn of the 20th century dipped as low as 500,000.

So, how does this relate to sustainability?

Every state’s wildlife resources agency manages wildlife populations to prevent the ravages of overpopulation – and the dangers that come with it, such as vehicular accidents. They generally allot a certain percentage of the state’s deer herd to be harvested by hunters. The state tightly regulates the number of deer harvested so as to not exploit the herd, thus allowing continued growth. Hunters pay substantial fees for hunting licenses in order to pursue deer; this money goes to support habitat conservation to further the management of the species. Sustainable Harvest.

All hunters are expected to utilize the meat and venison from their harvest. Through hunting, individuals are able to provide a high-protein, low fat food sources for their family and friends. Sustainable Locavorism.

Because deer populations are so high, hunters harvest more meat than they and their friends can consume. The venison, however, does NOT go to waste. Programs like Sportsmen Against Hunger and Hunters Feeding the Hungry help individuals donate ground venison to local food banks. Meals made from venison that hunters have provided over the last 10 years to those less fortunate number in the tens of millions. Sustainable Giving.

Sustainable practices have long been a tradition of American culture, however only now has such a definition like “sustainable” being given to it. For wildlife and those that pursue game species, sustainability is the key to providing a true vale on the individual animal. Not only is the hunter gaining a valuable meat from the animal, but others within the community can realize the important role wildlife and hunting play to provide food to those less fortunate. Establishing a value that wildlife, in very real and tangible terms, helps feed others, encourages better and more productive management of these animals in the future.

Hunters have helped increase wildlife populations while putting hundreds of millions of dollars into conservation, and have provided hundreds of millions of healthy, organic meals for their families and the less fortunate in the process. If this is not the definition of sustainable, then I don’t know what is.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Sustainability: Wildlife is the Model

As the sun set on the Western horizon, my wife Beth, cameraman Hunter, and I still had six more hours of driving to do. Traveling through Mississippi, the miles couldn’t move fast enough to the Oklahoma border. We were headed to hunt the Okie state for the first time and couldn’t be more excited for a late season bow hunt.

Arriving after midnight, we quickly found our beds so we could start off first thing in the morning. As daylight came the deer movement began. Since hunting over feeders is legal in the state, and late season food sources are a strong necessity to get a shot, we were going to use these to our advantage. Beth was hunting the top of a ridge and not long after being in the stand she had deer coming in. After the first few came in to feed, a nice buck followed but never offered Beth a clear shot.

Setting up just off a food plot on a hardwood creek bottom, I saw a few deer after first light, none large enough to shoot or close enough. Suddenly I saw a nice buck trotting across the plot. He was heading away and I decided to blow my grunt call. With a few short tending grunts, the buck stopped and headed straight for us! He came in on a string to the call and stopped at 15 yard…right behind a tree! Standing there looking, the buck knew something wasn’t right and trotted back up the ridge and out of bow range. Talk about a great start to the trip!

The afternoon was also slow for me, only seeing a doe with two yearlings, but Beth was wrapped up on a food plot with deer. She saw several bucks that were nice and a couple of shooters. None offered her a shot on the first afternoon though.

When morning two began we awoke to rain, which isn’t a good combination for video gear or bows for the most part. We decided to tough it out in ground blinds, we normally hunt in Ghostblinds but in the rain we needed cover for the video cameras. Sitting in the blind as daylight approached we watched the woods come alive on the top of a hardwoods ridge. With the acorns long gone, the only food available was the feeder setup 15 yards away. Several does and yearlings along with one small-racked buck came in to feed then eased back down the ridge. I thought to myself that the rain was setting in harder and the deer would stop their moving for the morning when I looked to our right and a buck was coming up the ridge. Checking him out with my Hawke binoculars, he was a nice eight with a broken rack. As I looked at him, a giant eight point walked into view. This buck had it all: mass, tine length, width, and height.

Quickly I told Hunter there was a shooter coming in and to get ready with the camera. I clipped my release on my loop and readied myself for the shot. The bigger buck came right in and began feeding. I slowly drew by my bow and anchored for the shot. Gently touching the trigger, my arrow released and I hear a loud thwack and watched the buck hit the ground right there! What happened? The chair I was sitting in was a little low in the blind so after I released the arrow, my fletchings clipped the edge of the blind window just enough to kick my arrow up. Luckily my Muzzy plowed the deer’s spine and dropped him right there. After a follow up shot the buck was done. Was I lucky or the buck just unlucky? I will never know, but I had my Oklahoma tag filled!

Beth was back on the same food plot she hunted the afternoon before and again had encounters with a couple nice bucks with no luck. She was looking for her first deer with a bow and was doing all she could to contain herself. She finally had a nice eight point in range and drew back on him only to have a doe walk in the way and she was never able to get a shot off. Over the next three days she saw plenty of deer but no shooters to get an arrow towards. As dark fell on the last afternoon, I asked her if she wanted to give it one more try the next morning before we had to head home. Her answer, “I didn’t pay all this money for a tag to eat it!” She learned from me many times that tag sandwiches don’t taste good!

The last morning she climbed in the stand well before daylight and was ready. The morning was fairly slow then two bucks came in to feed. One was a real nice eight point, and on the last day she wasn’t giving any a pass! She drew back her Elite bow, anchored and placed her pink Muzzy right behind the buck’s shoulder at 31 yards. Beth had just filled her tag and arrowed her first ever deer with a bow, a nice eight point on top of all that!

There is nothing like spending time in the woods with the ones you love. Getting to share Beth’s first bow kill with her was very special and hopefully the first of many to come. She never hunted before meeting me, I don’t know if I’ve created a monster or not but she straight loves the outdoors and filling her tags as much as I do. I know I’m blessed for sure!

Until next time, God bless and good hunting.

Gear list:

• Bow: Elite Pulse (Michael) Elite GT500 (Beth)
• Rest: QAD Ultrarest HD (Michael and Beth)
• Sight: Spot-Hogg Hogg-It (Michael and Beth)
• Broadhead: Muzzy MX-3 ,100 grain (Michael), Muzzy 100 grain 3 blade Pink (Beth)
• Fletchings: Bohning Blazer vanes (Michael and Beth)
• Optics: Hawke Frontier ED 43mm (Michael and Beth)
• Release: Scott Quick Shot (Michael), Scott Little Goose (Beth)
• Scent Eliminator: Lethal Field Spray (Michael and Beth)
• Attractant: Muzzy Bowhunter Setup (Michael and Beth)
• Camo: Realtree APG by Gamehide (Michael and Beth)
• Safety Vest: Hunter Safety System Pro Series (Michael and Beth)
• Pack: Gameplan Gear Spot N Stalk (Michael and Beth)
• Stablizer: X-Factor Outdoors System (Michael and Beth)
• Boots: Lacrosse Alpha Burly in Realtree APG (Michael and Beth)

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Late Season Oklahoma Bow Hunting

Breaking news – it has just been announced that Hard Core Decoys is now owned by Hard Core Brands International, LLC and Jim Shiefelbein…click here to read the press release.

Not every company can live up to its tagline, much less its name. Hard Core Decoys, manufacturer and supplier of premium waterfowl decoys, is one that can. Hard Core Decoys makes decoys for the true “hard core” waterfowl hunters out there, the ones that hunt 99% of the days open for waterfowl season, missing that 1% for a brother’s wedding or a friend’s homecoming. That much was evident as I spoke with Vice President Mike Galloway on the phone: he was on the road in the Mississippi Delta, looking out for birds in the midst of a hunt. I was lucky enough to catch him for the low-down on just what Hard Core Decoys is all about.

“What sets us apart from our competitors is that our products are made by waterfowlers, for waterfowlers,” Galloway says. Every member of the staff, from the creators and manufacturers to (of course) the pro staff who put the decoys to the test out in the field, participates in the pursuit of the elusive game. “We’re not just some conglomerate that absorbed a decoy maker. We’re the guys who are part of the sport,” Galloway continues. “When we make decoys, we don’t just pick one body and put four different postures on it. Each one of our decoys is dynamic and as close to reality as possible.”

Galloway is drawn to the sport, and by extension the industry, for the camaraderie and the social nature of a waterfowl hunt. “I love to deer hunt, but that’s basically a solo activity,” Galloway explains, continuing that “waterfowl hunting is a communal activity. While you’re out there, you share stories or a cigar with your buddies in the covert. You watch that Mississippi Delta sunrise together, and if there’s anything in this world that will make you believe in God, it’s that.” On his own dedication to the hunt, Galloway adds “in pursuit of waterfowl, you’re actually hunting. There’s serious thought involved – you mess up a single thing or improperly position a single decoy and those birds aren’t coming anywhere near you. It’s chess and it’s checkers: you’ve gotta think, but you’ve also got plenty of action and in the end you’re having fun.”

Hard Core takes that deep sense of community and the “team hunt” attitude into their products. They make decoys not only that the consumer wants, but that they want. “We wouldn’t put our name on a decoy that we wouldn’t use or stand behind ourselves. Our decoys perfectly recreate resting postures, sleeping postures and every possible true waterfowl position – no detail or expense is spared in the creation of our products,” Galloway asserts.

Everything Galloway told me about over the phone was backed up by Rick Carone, one of Hard Core’s pro staff and an expert waterfowl hunter who I spoke to after interviewing Mike. He sang the praises of the decoys themselves, saying “partly, they’re the perfect replication of a real goose. And what’s more, they’ve got so many different poses that it allows you to make your decoy flock so much more dynamic and realistic. Not all decoys do that.” Then, touching on the camaraderie alluded to by the Hard Core VP, Carone detailed a “wounded warrior” hunt they took an Afghan vet on during his recent return to the United States.

“Mike [Galloway] sent an email around to all of us asking if we’d be able to lend a hand, and he immediately got an overwhelming response in support,” Carone says. Echoing what Galloway had just told me minutes before, Carone added that “we went out to hunt with the vet and shared stories, from war and from hunts. We thanked him for his service, got his own opinions on what was happening overseas and then some. It wasn’t just about the birds but about the fact of being out on the hunt with your friends, new and old.” Straight out of the battlefield and into the wetlands, Hard Core remains dedicated to those who dedicate themselves to the pursuit of difficult game.

In addition to their personal commitment to their work, they go beyond the call of duty and back up their products with promises unique to the industry. For one thing, they absolutely guarantee delivery to retailers. “That’s a huge thing in the decoy market,” Galloway explained to me, “a lot of the times companies oversell and under deliver. Not so with us.” Adding to that, Galloway says “if you have an issue with one of your decoys, we guarantee that when you call Hard Core you will be speaking directly with a member of the Hard Core team who will help you out, not some call service in India.”

One thing you can’t say about Hard Core is that they’re static or stuck in their ways. Galloway could hardly contain his excitement over the phone, telling me that very soon they’ll be “blowing the doors off the outdoor industry.” As much as I pried, Galloway’s lips were sealed about the details.

Whatever happens in the year to come, you can be sure to hear about it first on Outdoor Hub.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - By Waterfowlers, For Waterfowlers: Hard Core Decoys