Duck call demonstrations at Missouri Waterfowl Festival

Rick Dunn, professional duck caller, will join the Missouri Waterfowl Festival (Oct. 31-Nov.1, 2008) as a main attraction, demonstrating his famous duck calls and helping to judge the duck call contest. Photo provided [Click to enlarge]

This story is the third installment in a series of stories on the upcoming Missouri Waterfowl Festival to be held in Kennett.

At the upcoming Missouri Waterfowl Festival, world champion duck caller, Rick Dunn, will join the festivities as a main attraction, demonstrating his famous duck calls and helping to judge the duck call contest.

Dunn, who was born and raised in Jacksonville, Ark., started duck hunting when he was 12-years-old, along with his brother Danny.

In 1975, years after he began hunting, Dunn decided to try to make his own duck call.

According to Dunn, his first attempts were, "poor to say the least," however, he didn't give up. Dunn also stated that the funny thing about his calls was, every time he would wear one, somebody would want to buy it.

Dunn the decided he should name the call, and possibly sell a few. "Echo" was the first name Dunn thought of and he decided to stick with it.

Dunn decided to try competitive calling in 1983, and after winning a regional contest, he was hooked.

Nine out of 11 times, Dunn finished in the top 10 at the Stuttgart World Championship, finally winning the competition in 1997.

The Missouri Waterfowl Festival and Sports Show will be held on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at the American Legion Building and Delta Fairgrounds in Kennett.

For more information, visit the festival's online site, www. missouriwaterfowlfestival.com, or contact the Kennett Chamber of Commerce at (573) 888-5828.