March 2011: Chris Manka, CA

March 2011 Featured Team Member

Chris Manka

->What is your favorite part of fowl hunting?

Answer: I think the tradition and legacy of the sport. This is something that has been passed on through generations. I am a 3rd Generation hunter and my son will be a 4th. There is a feeling that is unexplainable when you have the sun rising, ducks decoying, dog working and all along your sitting next to a father, son, or friend enjoying it together

->What is your strongest hunting quality?

Answer: I think dedication. There has never been a day I have turned down hunting, nor will there ever be. It is a passion that is deep. Always willing to mix it up and change set up or strategy.

->What is your best piece of hunting advice?

Answer: Man, this is a tough one. I have learned so many things and I continue to learn every time I go hunting. I think the best advice is to never think you know everything. Always be a sponge to knowledge from other people. Some things will work, some things won't, but either way, you have have taken something and stored it in your book of tricks.

->What is your favorite piece of gear (not the most necessary)?

Answer: I think it would have to be my energy drink and toilet paper. LOL, The moment you forget the TP, is the moment you need it. First thing I pack every morning.

->What is the biggest sacrifice you have made to go hunting?

Answer: I think every time you go out hunting you sacrifice something....but I have never really sacrificed anything significant because I was sure to get married and have my son all in the summertime!!!

->Who got you started in waterfowl hunting (Or how did you get started)?

Answer: My grandfather along with my dad. There were many hunts were you didn't see a bird, and it was below freezing, yet it was the best time of my life.

->What is your favorite part about Duck Junkies?

Answer: I think the Community that has been created. I have gained friendships through this site that I am sure will be there for a long time. Everyone on the staff and fellow Junkies that are members, are willing to be there and offer any tip or advice they see fit. It truly is a great site.

->Final Thoughts: Always make the best of any situation. I have had some terrible hunts where there were no birds, weather wasn't working etc, but we made the best of them and made memories.

February: Brock Perry, NV

February 2011 Featured Team Member
Brock Perry

->What is your favorite part of fowl hunting?
Answer: Sunrises over the decoys, tradition.

->What is your strongest hunting quality?
Answer: I am focused on different strategies. It takes patience, variety and practice to master different strategies.

->What is your best piece of hunting advice?
Answer: Finely tune your skills in the areas you are lacking. Read, watch videos and never quit learning.

->What is your favorite piece of gear (not the most necessary)?
Answer: Straight up - a roll of toilet paper - every time. OK - the River call but if I had to choose one of the two, the TP would it.

->What is the biggest sacrifice you have made to go hunting?
Answer: For 12 years, my son hasn't been able to shoot his gun while in the blind with me. It was pure torture until this year since he is 12 now.

->Who got you started in waterfowl hunting (Or how did you get started)?
Answer: My dad. He also got many others started. He didn't let me give up, even in my early 20's when I was in my party days. Mom always supported what my dad did so I'd say my mom did it too.

->What is your favorite part about Duck Junkies?
Answer: People from all walks of life and all different areas that make up the community. When I am able to help others, it makes me feel good and I feel good when I see people helping each other. I love doing the radio migration show too. I just love it all.

->Final Thoughts:
Duck Junkies is a team effort. Members asking questions and creating their own direction. You make of it what you want.

January: Heather Carver, TN

January 2011 Featured Team Member
Heather Carver
->What is your favorite part of fowl hunting?

Answer: My favorite part is working the birds not necessarily shooting them. It's more then taking aim at some animal that is standing still.... you call at them, work them in, and then fire while they're still moving. It's a true challenge...I just love it.


->What is your strongest hunting quality?

Answer: It seems silly but I would venture to say that keeping everyone smiling would be the best. I know that aiming and calling are not my best and I admit it ((thats probably a good quality to have, too............ admitting when you can't do something!)) I try to keep everybody laughing and having a good time because people tend to get a little cranky after a few hours out in the cold.

->What is your best piece of hunting advice?

Answer: You can never learn too much. Never ever ever. You can never have too much information.

->What is your favorite piece of gear (not the most necessary)?

Answer: My brandy new pair of neoprene gloves! I finally found a pair of gloves I can get wet and my hands stay warm. I have searched to the ends of the earth to find these gloves. They are a cheap $14 dollar pair of gloves... but I love them...and they are my favorite. I also love my Duck Junkies hat because a lot of people oogle over it at the boat launch :)

->What is the biggest sacrifice you have made to go hunting?

Answer: I have completely blown off everything important I have had to do, deadlines I've had to meet, dinners I have had scheduled... you name it and chances are I've blown it off to go duck hunting!

->What is your favorite part about Duck Junkies?

Answer: You can discuss things on the forums and it's not a competition. You don't have to worry about people constantly arguing with each other like they do on other sites. People are helpful here.

->Final Thoughts: I am privileged to be part of the Duck Junkies Team.... Everyone is most pleasurable to work with and they have a desire to get involved in events across the country. It's nice to be surrounded by other people who also want to get involved. It's refreshing.

Heather Carver is also the author of The Duck Bible (Buy Now)

December: Jim Brooks, AL

December 2010 Featured Team Member
Jim Brooks: Alabama Pro Staff

What is your favorite part of fowl hunting?

Answer: That is a hard question for me to answer. I love everything about this sport. But, if I have to pick my single most favorite, it would have to be Youth Mentorship.

There is absolutely nothing that I love more than introducing a youth to the traditions and heritage of waterfowling. Seeing the wonder and excitement in the face of a youth that just bagged their first duck is something that just can't be beat. To me, it's like stepping back in time and going on my first hunt all over again.

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August: Wade Calk, TX

August 2010 FeaturedTeam Member
Wade Calk

->What is your favorite part of fowl hunting?
Wade: Shooting birds is always fun but my favorite part is watching the world "wake up" from a duck blind. I travel for work in excess of 200 days a year so those mornings really mean a lot to me.


->What is your strongest hunting quality?

Wade: Being able to help others be successful. I really enjoy it when people get in touch with me needing advice on where to hunt, what gear they need, hunting regulations, or anything of the sort and

I'm able to pull it all together and find the information they need.



->What is your best piece of hunting advice?

Wade: Be safe!! Having fun is what we're all here for, but all the birds in the world aren't worth losing a friend to a senseless mistake. Show the kids how to do it right!!!



->What is your favorite piece of gear (not the most necessary)?

Wade: I have a beautiful double reed call that fellow Junkie Robert A made that is my absolute favorite. He's been blessed with a great talent and that call is going to be the last thing a few ducks ever hear!!



->What is the biggest sacrifice you have made to go hunting?

Wade: I don't hunt on Sundays. I've missed out on some really good hunts and catch a lot of ribbing for it, but that's my day to be with the family and go to church.



->Who got you started in waterfowl hunting (Or how did you get started)?

Wade: I've hunted birds for a long time but my closest cousin Greg is the one who REALLY got me into waterfowling. We still hunt together as much as we can, wherever we can.



->What is your favorite part about Duck Junkies?

Wade: It's great how a bunch of complete strangers, who share a common interest, are willing to share tips and information to help each other out. The talent within the Pro Staff runs deep and I'm humbled to be included in that group. Duck Junkies has the potential to be huge and I want to be a part of it!

July: Brad Trainer, PA

July 2010 Featured Team Member
Brad Trainer

->What is your favorite part of fowl hunting?
Brad: My favorite part about fowl hunting is the way that waterfowl is hunted. There isn't too many animals that you can hunt and be able to chat, eat, and enjoy the outdoors right next to a few of you best buddies. Being able to share the same experience on any given morning with close friends or family is my favorite part about it.

->What is your strongest hunting quality?
Brad: My strongest quality that has to do with hunting is the general enjoyment i get during the preparation of a good hunt. The scouting, packing the trailer, getting equipment ready, etc. is something i enjoy so it doesn't ever seem like work to me. However, during the hunt my strongest quality would probably be calling ducks and geese.

->What is your favorite piece of gear?
Brad: My favorite piece of gear would be my Benelli shotgun. I have used that gun for everything from an oar to a prop to pull myself up a bank...and it has never failed me. An amazing hunt can be ruined by the failure of a gun, so i believe that having the most reliable gun you can is essential.

->What is the biggest sacrifice you have made to go hunting?
Brad: I am getting married next year so, ask me this question in another year and i might have a better answer. However, to date, I would have to say that the biggest sacrifice i have made for hunting was seven hours after my son was born i was sitting in my layout blind waiting for the birds. (I did get my fiance's permission though!)

->What is your best piece of hunting advice?
Brad: The best advice I can give is to be an ethical and respectable hunter. Unfortunatly, hunting fowl isn't a right, so treat the land, fowl, and sport with the utmost respect and raise our youth to do the same. Hopefully this sport we all love will still be available for our future generations to enjoy.

->What is your favorite part about Duck Junkies?
Brad: What I love about Duck Junkies is the interaction you can have with so many different people that have the same passion i have about hunting. It's awesome to be able to establish friendships with people all over the country and share different hunting stories. Not to mention the amount of useful information you can exchange on this site thanks to the hard work that Ryan and Sarah have put into it.

-> Who got me started in waterfowl hunting?
Brad: My father is the person who got me interested in waterfowl hunting, and hunting in general. Soon after i got my first hunting license, my dad took me on a duck hunt Thanksgiving morning on a creek a few miles from home. He let me do all the shooting, and I missed everytime. That is what started the obsession and a few years after that I saw a video of two guys goose hunting in a field and I was instantly hooked.

Being a member of the Duck Junkies Prostaff has been a great privilage for me. It is great to be able to represent a company that has such a huge desire to succeed and deliver an incredible website for others to benefit from.

May: Nick Roehl, ND

Nick Roehl, North Dakota

->What is your favorite part of fowl hunting?

Nick: My favorite part of waterfowl hunting would be spending quality time with family, friends, and my lab Nelli. Each time out is a unique experience. You never know when your last sunrise will be, so get out into the outdoors every chance you get.

->What is your strongest hunting quality?
Nick: I would like to think it's my ability to absorb hunting wisdom from experiences and other hunters. I spend a lot of time studying bird habits, reading everything on the subject, and listening to other hunters. The difference between a good hunter and a great hunter is that a great hunter never stops learning.

->What is your favorite piece of gear?
Nick: My favorite pieces of gear would have to be my duck calls. I am constantly practicing them wherever I can - in the house, the backyard, my truck while driving, I will even do it at the gas station or supermarket parking lot just to see the look on other people's faces. I would like to take this time to apologize to all the little old ladies I have scared half to death.

->What is the biggest sacrifice you have made to go hunting?
Nick: I skipped many friends' weddings because they scheduled their dates on duck opener. Sorry, but that's just sacrilegious.

->What is your best piece of hunting advice?
Nick: My best advice would be don't shoot the ROOST!!! When you see puddle ducks diving into a piece of water at sundown, do not get up in the morning and go sky bust the hell out of it. This will send a good concentration of ducks out of your hunting area. You are not only screwing up your hunting, but other people's set-ups that day in the area. If you are considering hunting in North Dakota, please take this advice.

->What is your favorite part about Duck Junkies?
Nick: My favorite part of Duck Junkies is getting to talk to equally afflicted waterfowl hunters. This is a great place to ask questions and get legitimately honest answers that will help you in the field or on the water. I have been waiting for a long time to find a place that wasn't full of limit-happy shooters always bragging about themselves, their dogs, their calling and the like. Duck Junkies is the place to be for down-to-earth waterfowlers.

Lastly if you are addicted to waterfowl hunting and need a place to get you fix, become a member of Duck Junkies you will not regret it!