Kid’s “Quacking” Up Part II

By Rob Somerville

In part one of this two part series, I informed you on how a live auction at last year’s annual TOWA {Tennessee Outdoor Writer’s Association} conference, birthed a duck hunting trip of a lifetime for twenty kids. Most of these kids, which reside in Middle Tennessee, may have never experienced an opportunity such as was put together By Jeff Martin and his crew at Twin Rivers Guide Service, and the high bidder at the auction, outdoor writer and teacher – Marty Allison, from Dickson, Tennessee.
You also learned of the generous sponsors of this event who donated time, products and meals for these kids. I introduced you to an emotional story as you met the mother of Mackenzie Curvin, whose step-dad tragically died last September, and found out what her family faced and what she hoped would come from this hunt. In part two of this feature, I will interview some key people who put forth huge efforts to introduce kids safely and ethically into the outdoor lifestyle. Then we will join the boys and girls on this magical day’s hunt.

Buck Gardner – World Champion in Duck Calling and with Kids in the Outdoors

Buck Gardner has accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the competitive duck calling world. He also owns a multi-million dollar business, which manufactures and sells waterfowl calls and videos, and just recently, has branched off into the deer hunting market. His business involves his entire family and the loving bond they share is evident in all they do.
But, the most impressive thing to me about my friend Buck, is his huge heart. He loves people, especially kids, and gives generously of his time and money anytime he sees a need and it involves kids. Buck joined us on this hunt, brought each kid a duck call and assorted goodies and entertained us all with his humor and genuine personality. For example, when he asked the kids what the most important item to bring on a duck hunt was, he got various answers. Shouts of “your gun, your dog, shells, waders and your duck calls" filled the air.
Buck smiled, and congratulated each answer with a nod, but said there is one item that none of you mentioned, and it is the most important thing of all to remember.
What is it?” squealed the excited kids.
Buck simply reached into his blind bag and pulled out a roll of toilet paper to the delighted laughter of all. This set the stage as he injected humor with serious talks of safety, friendship and conservation. He had the undivided attention of all of us kids – both young and old.
As the kids and their chaperones sat done to a country style breakfast of eggs, sausage, biscuits and hot chocolate, I sat down with Buck for a talk. I simply asked one question, “Buck, with your busy schedule, why are you here today?”
He smiled and said, “Rob, it is my privilege to be here. It is like a gift to me to spend time with these kids. It is such a small thing to give something back of the outdoors, when being around these kids allows me to be a kid again too. I am excited. It is also gratifying to see that some of these kids are young ladies. We need to do a better job of getting women and girls involved in hunting”
The shine in his eyes and the smile on his face proved his emotions to be true.
Continuing, he said, “All my kids are grown now. We are very close. But, I miss the look in a youngster’s eyes when they see that first group of mallards working a decoy spread. God has blessed me. What a way to make a living!”
I asked him how he wanted to be remembered after he passed; his legacy. He answered with a laugh, “Well, don’t rush me off the earth just yet, but during a TV interview once, Rob Shearer asked me what I would want on my gravestone. He guessed it would be Champion of Champions. I said no, I would prefer it to simply say BUCK GARDNER – I TOOK MORE KIDS DUCK HUNTING THAN ANYONE.”

Jeff Martin – walking the walk

Martin works full time as Manager of President’s Island for the TWRA. He is also the owner of Twin Rivers Guide Service in Halls, Tennessee. But his strongest accolade is in how he unselfishly donates his blind, time and money in working with kids in the outdoors. I took a few minutes to ask him some questions as to why he decided to put this massive effort together.
He told me, “It is a combination of three things. They are my concern for today’s youth, my passion for waterfowling and the growing need to teach parents to spend quality time with their kids. {Jeff and his crew take over 100 kids duck hunting each year – FREE OF CHARGE!}
Martin continued, “It is not just about killing ducks. It is about enjoying the glorious outdoors that God has blessed us with; sharing the beauty of a sunrise, a good working lab and the camaraderie of the blind.”

Lance Rider and the TWRA – stepping up

Rider is the Wildlife Education and Outreach Officer – TWRA – Region One. When I queried him as to why the TWRA is involved in this hunt he answered, “We need to get more of our youth involved in the outdoors. They are our future. The outdoors lifestyle is not short term. It offers a special side-by-side bond for parents and their kids, unlike team sports, where the child is on the field and the parents in the bleachers. And there are no tryouts or cuts – everyone makes the team.”
He also listed other programs recently instituted to get more kids involved in the outdoors such as SCTP – Scholastic Clay Shooting Program, Youth Hunts {including deer, turkey and waterfowl}, Youth Fishing Rodeos, The West Tennessee Youth Outdoor Jamboree, Project Echo {in Carroll and Henry Counties}, 4H Shooting Sports, and working at educational booths in schools and at outdoor shows.
For more information on any of these programs, you can contact Lance Rider at his Jackson, Tennessee office. {1-731-423-5725}.

The Hunt – Friends, Firearms, Feathers and Fans for Life!

Now that you have met all of the participants and sponsors, let’s go to the Taj Mahal blind at Twin Rivers Guide Service in Halls, Tennessee and see how our youthful crew’s hunt went.
We met at the Best Western Motel in Dyersburg, and formed a caravan of vehicles for the half hour drive to the blind. As we exited our parked our vehicles, Buck’s dog - Cruz, showed some love to the kids as excited chatter and giggles filled the air. For most of these kids, it was their first hunt of any kind.
Jeff’s young helper, Gizmo, shuttered us right up to the blind’s door in two groups on the infamous huge and comfortable “duck buggy.”
The smell of a home-made, deluxe breakfast filled the air, prepared by master chefs - .
Excitement and adrenaline filled the air … oh yea, the kids were excited too. Safety reminders were addressed. Shooters were assigned holes. Adult supervisors watched attentively. Anxious eyes glanced from wristwatches to the lightening skies and back again.
Suddenly, whistling wings were heard and the excitement level jumped up a notch higher. Buck and Jeff began a series of hail calls, while the kids were told to be ready and to keep their heads down. Jeff, the acting pit boss, suddenly said, “Get ready kids – Take those ducks!”
Shotguns fired and two of the three mallards hit the water. Buck’s dog, Cruz, expertly retrieved the birds and high-fives and laughter filled the air. This set the tone for the day as the final tally of ducks reached in the high twenties – and this harvest was made by a group of young kids who had never even duck hunted!

Summary

This hunt was a successful trip. The ducks, which were harvested, were only a small part of the success. The real value was in taking a group of kids, who might not ever have an opportunity like this in their lifetime, and teaching them the positive aspects of the outdoor lifestyle. They learned discipline, teamwork, respect and the values of camaraderie. The adult participants were also blessed as we renewed the excitement of a first hunt. Matt Powers, who accompanied Mackenzie Curvin on the hunt, may have stated it best when he told me, “This was the greatest thing I have ever been involved with.”
As a sidebar, I would like to mention that Buck Gardner, upon meeting Mackenzie Curvin’s mom and hearing their story, invited them to come and hunt and stay with his family on their personal land in Arkansas. His mom, Christine, said it all when she looked around and said God Bless each and every one of you.
The men who put this hunt together are my friends and I am proud to call them that. They put back more than they take out of the great outdoors. They epitomize the closing of my every outdoor column, which says – “Our kids truly are our most precious natural resource. They are our future.”
I hope this encourages all of our areas hunters and fishermen to mentor some kids by introducing them into the great outdoors.
See ya,
Rob.
For more information on hunting at Twin Rivers Guide Service, you can contact Jeff Martin at 1-731-635-7223 or 1-731-693-8750.