Dive Bomb Squadcast

On November 13, 2021 the World Waterfowl Calling Championships in Easton, Maryland were turned into the Mike Benjamin show. Mike opened up the night with a win in the 2-man live goose before capturing another win in the 2-man live duck. Then came the solo stuff- a win in the live goose, a win in the live duck, and a 2nd place finish in the open goose. In this episode, we caught up with Mike to talk about his historic night on stage and what this means for his future in contest calling. You'll also hear about the redemption he wants at SquadFest next summer as well as how he plans to use a 2nd place finish in the contest he wanted the most to motivate him moving forward. Mike is one of the most stand up individuals in the waterfowl industry and we couldn't be happier for him and his success!

For over 30 years, Wildfowl has been a go-to source for information and entertainment for North American duck and goose hunters, sharing the best waterfowl tactics, gear and stories. Join us in episode 48 as editor-in-chief Skip Knowles tells us about his early background as an outdoor writer, the ins and outs of being a chief editor, and all the pieces and personnel it takes to put a magazine together from start to finish, Freelance writers and photographers will also learn key information from Skip on steps you can take to increase your odds of having your work recognized and potentially featured.

Callers from all around the world come to Easton, Maryland once a year to showcase their skills and hope to be immortalized in the history books of Championship Calling. Vice President of the Waterfowl Festival and World Champion caller Teddy Hoover joins the Squadcast to talk all about the upcoming 50th Waterfowl Festival & the various Calling Championships that will take place during this action packed 3 day event. With audiences of 600+, five championships and incredible prize packages on the line, the stage is always set for an exciting time!

Here we are mid-October and what a season it has been so far! In episode 46, the Dive Bomb Travel Squad joins the Squadcast to recap the first quarter of the 2021-2022 waterfowl season and some of the incredible and funny things we have been blessed enough to experience up to this point. From the 100 blue-winged teal in Texas, the monster double-double in Alberta, to Cade getting knock out by a falling honker in Michigan, we had a lot of laughs on this one and can't wait to see what the second quarter of the season brings!

No beating around the bush in this episode. Forrest Carpenter & Kile Jones join the Squadcast to get straight to the point in addressing the most common questions we receive on a daily basis. Do flocked decoys really make a difference? How much flocking do I need in my spread? What's the deal with the black and whites? Can you mix silhouettes and full bodies? We hope by addressing these topics in depth you will be more confident and successful next time you hit the field!

In the past, the main issue from our Canadian customers has been duties and brokerage fees attached to their orders once received by customs. We have always wanted a distribution center north of the border, but we had to be sure we found the perfect man for the job. After just a few conversations with Ben Commodore, we knew he had the drive, attitude, and experience to run Dive Bomb Canada with the same efficiency and attention to detail as HQ in St. Louis. In this episode, you'll learn more about our Alberta operation, how Ben feels about the way things are going so far, and what his long term goals are for Dive Bomb Canada.

Keeping things in order while managing work and 3 young kids while your husband stays on the road over half the year is a tall task for any woman. In this episode, we sat down with Kelli Tolliver to talk about how she maintains a healthy relationship and family under this ever-changing household structure. She also gives advice on how to support your significant other while they are chasing their dreams, what to look for in a new relationship, as well as her likes and dislikes of this unusual lifestyle.

Bluestem Waterfowl has rapidly become an outfitter that everyone is keeping an eye on due to their consistent success day in and day out. In this episode we learn what prompted Bluestem co-owner & Arkansas native Michael Spain to leave the bucket list destination of his stomping grounds for North-Central Oklahoma. Michael also talks about what it takes to run a successful waterfowl outfit, expectations for the upcoming season, and his take on roost hunting. You'll also learn about an unusual routine he has before going to bed at night that will leave you scratching your head!

As the best time of year gets closer, we have aggressively been expanding our already impressive line of products to meet customer demands in preparation for the upcoming waterfowl season. There has been a lot of talk about products that are on the way, and the boss Cody Stokes is here to reveal what's talk and what's truth. What's the scoop on the vertical field blind and when will they hit the market? Will Dive Bomb be releasing a fully comprehensive line of technical gear? We also discuss red hot topics like the fully flocked V2 Canadas, Kickback, Stealth Sheet ghillie blankets, PowerFlag, Pintail floaters, footwear, and much more!

Brothers, both very talented duck callers and World Champions- Cory the 2019 World Live Duck Champion and Jody the 2007 World Champion. In Episode 40 of the Dive Bomb Squadcast we learn their background and the events that led to their success through the contest calling circuit over the past 2 decades. What kind of competition is there between one another? How do they feel about their performance at SquadFest last month? Who do they consider their toughest competitors and what makes them the biggest threat? These guys have a great supporting relationship, but also very harsh critics of one another so we had a lot of good laughs during this one!

Now that we've had some time to reflect on the first ever SquadFest, Kile Jones & Cade Trickey join us in Episode 39 to break down the event in more detail while answering some questions that have been raised about the future of the event. How did we rate SquadFest as a whole? What kind of feedback have we gotten from the vendors and attendees? Will we need a larger venue next year? We also put Kile on the hotseat regarding the GOAT conversation before briefly discussing the upcoming waterfowl season and some of the trips we have planned!

Being the first ever Dive Bomb SquadFest, we had no idea what to expect going into this thing. It didn't take long for us to see all the hard work and preparation paid off as this event turned out to be an absolute grand slam. Please excuse the background noise as we ran this set LIVE right in the middle of the action!First, we were joined by World Champion Duck Caller and one of our contest judges for the weekend, Mr. Todd Copley to hear his thoughts on the event. Next, Rams QB Devlin "Duck" Hodges and World Champion Caller Trevor Shannahan stopped by to talk shop and give their predictions on the main events. Tyler Heaton then sat down with us after he swept both our Novice Meat Duck and Open Meat Duck contests winning $6,000 along the way. We wrapped up this episode with World Champion Goose Caller and the winner of our Open Goose contest, Robbie Iverson.

From their impressive compilation of media work with some of the top outfitters & guide services in the world, to their intriguing articles & waterfowl inspired recipes, Split Reed has rapidly become one of the leading hubs for all things waterfowl. Having a team with this many moving parts can be quite complicated; listen along as co-owner Duncan MacLeod joins us to talk about the early stages of Split Reed, to the team they have assembled to make this company grow so quickly. You will also learn about their plans for the upcoming season as well as what they hope to accomplish in the future!

With the growing influence of social media and the ability to establish oneself as a outdoor media professional, there has never been more hunters capturing waterfowl through the hunt with high quality equipment than we are seeing now. Erik Guggenheim has been heavily invested in waterfowl media for a long time and had a major impact on this explosion of turning waterfowlers not only into guides, but also talented media professionals through his influence at Ranger Creek in Haskell, Texas. We also talk about Guggie's upbringing, graduating from Harvard, his friendship with Tyra Banks, most memorable photographs, and much, much more! Erik is truly one of the most interesting and talented gentlemen in the waterfowl industry.

Since its establishment in 2017, FowlCo Outfitters has exploded on the scene with their impressive piles, beautiful accommodations, and strong social media presence. We caught up with owners Josh Teff, John David Blagg, and Aaron Seifritz to learn the origins of FowlCo and how this insanely successful operation came to be. We also discuss how they met, how they decided on the location, as well as the highs and lows of running a full service waterfowl outfit.

Migratory waterfowl possess an incredible ability to constantly adapt to the changing climate and environmental factors. Add in the fact that lower Mississippi Flyway mallards are receiving an unprecedented amount of hunting pressure, and the patterns of the "good old days" start to change. Dr. Osborne cites the driving factors behind these behavior changes and what their banding data is revealing about the mallard migration to the deep south. We also discuss hybrid ducks, band programs of the past, and how the dry prairies and late harsh winter may negatively effect the fall flight index.

If you are the owner of a waterfowl retriever, you do not want to miss this one! In Episode 33, we caught up with Marty Roberts, owner of Sporting Life Kennels to talk all-things gun dogs. We touch on several controversial topics such as breaking dogs, whining dogs, and the pros and cons of British & American Labradors. You will also learn the story of "Simba," the Dive Bomb dog that almost never was. Marty also shares steps you can take to help turn your dreams of a Rockstar gun dog into reality!

There is nothing wrong with being pretty, but there is a stigma attached to pretty girls and hunting that it’s mostly smoke and mirrors. In Episode 32, we caught up with Danielle Halverson to discuss some entertaining topics such as social media “huntresses” and thirsty dudes in the DM’s. You’ll also learn all about her background, how she supports her passion for traveling and hunting, and what it takes for genuine female hunters to separate themselves from the fakes.

June 11th – 12th, LIVE at Dive Bomb Headquarters in Maryland Heights, Missouri we are holding the first annual Dive Bomb SquadFest. While this festival is centered around calling contests that will amount to over $30,000 in prizes that includes cash, Dive Bomb prize packages, guided hunt packages, and calls from our vendors, this event is going to have something to offer for everyone in attendance - Great food & drinks, informative seminars, new products, call vendors, raffles, warehouse tours, & can't forget the cornhole tournament! This will be the ultimate off-season networking event, you don't want to miss it!

Nick Costas has been a huge contributor to the growth of Dive Bomb Industries with his go-getter mentality & hard work over the last few years. The thing is, at some point in our lives we are all faced with making difficult decisions regarding our future & the path we should take. Within the last year, Nick has had some doors open & opportunities arise to pursue personal growth in this industry. What's been cooking that ultimately led to making the decision to walk away from Dive Bomb? In Episode 30 you'll learn all about his plans for the future. what he takes away from his time with DB, & how he's feeling about this next chapter of life.

We often hear about hunting accidents, but it's normally through the grapevine and not a firsthand account. After we learned of this story that led to the loss of a man's life in the blind, we wanted to have our friend Armando Vendittozzi on to share his account of this tragedy that occurred in an effort to help spread gun safety awareness. We know the gun safety speech can be repetitive whenever you are hunting every day, but all it takes is a split second for an accident to occur that can change the course of your life or loved ones lives forever.

SmackEM Outdoors is a collection of four outdoorsmen based out of Fargo, North Dakota with a growing YouTube channel & social media presence. In Episode 28 we caught up with one of the founders, Collin Clarey, to talk about how they all met, how they got started, & what we can expect from SmackEm in the future. We also hit the rewind button to October 22 to re-live the epic 134 bird burner in the blizzard we enjoyed together. If you want to hear all the inside details on how this epic hunt went down, you're going to love this episode!

On Episode 27 of the Dive Bomb Squadcast we get personal with Joey Vassallo, owner of Midwest Flyways. Joey has worked hard to become advanced on a call & has many successful calling videos on YouTube. Have you ever wondered why he has not competed in contests & if he ever expects to change that? We also talk about out why Midwest Flyways was created, long term goals, & a little about their uncensored podcast. We hope you guys enjoy this casual, laid back conversation!

Staying engaged with a wildly popular YouTube channel & operating a brand new waterfowl outfit while still being present with the family must be pretty challenging, right? On Episode 26, we catch up with Bobby Guy over the phone while out scouting to talk about the good, the bad, & the ugly of running a outfit in Central Kansas. Listen to what drives Bobby to consistently put Sandhill Flyway clients on high caliber hunts while staying on top of the YouTube channel that helped him achieve these dreams!

Face tattoos, ear plugs, vibrant sunglasses... Cadillac Creek Outfitters are different. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, there is no denying they have grabbed the attention of waterfowl hunters all over the country. In Epsiode 25 we talk to Cadillac Creek front man Toby Brohlin about the end of his music career, the beginning of Cadillac Creek Outfitters, the inspiration behind their style, & how their hunting technique has changed since exclusively running Dive Bomb decoys!

School is in session! Episode 24 is an hour & 45 minutes of pure waterfowl knowledge. Seasoned waterfowlers Rusty Heron & Brett Hendricks sit down to discuss some of the most frequently asked questions that surround chasing big Canada geese: Flocked vs un-flocked? Spread size & shape? Socks? Flags? What to do if birds are flying over & showing no interest? We cover all of these topics & so much more, you don't want to miss this one!

There is no magic waterfowl 8-ball, but if we can share a little information from our experiences to help someone along the way, that's always the goal! On Episode 23 we sat down with our very own Forrest Carpenter & Kile Jones to answer some user submitted questions directly from our Facebook group "Dive Bomb Industries Forum & Fan Page." How do you identify a good field for running traffic? How do you determine if you should setup for a front shoot or side shoot? What happened with Kile Jones & Fred Zink? Listen along as we answer these questions and many more!

Imagine being so good at something you are forced to retire at just 20 years old. After being the youngest caller ever to win the Senior World Goose Calling Championship at just 16 years old in 2003, his 2nd title two years later, & his 3rd title two years after that, Hunter Grounds was no longer allowed to compete in the World Goose Calling Championship. Episode 22 takes us back in time to the prime of Hunter‘s competition calling career & what he’d like to accomplish to cement his legacy as the GOAT.

What happens when you are traveling across North Dakota & come across a pile of birds? You get a room at the nearest hotel of course! On our last road trip, we ran into Donny Ottaway, Zach Martin, & Ryan Applegate, three avid Dive Bomb users who were also hunting the same area. After a quick introduction, it was evident we were going to enjoy each other's company. Listen along on Episode 21 as we talk about joining forces with Donny & the guys for one awesome hunt & one not so awesome hunt. We had a great time working together toward a common goal while making new friends along the way. Hear Donny's side of the story & what his thoughts were before & after hunting with the Dive Bomb crew.

Can you imagine waterfowl hunting in Canada 30 years ago? That is what Fall 2020 COVID Canada was like with the border closure. Our friend Kolby Keith just got back from guiding in Saskatchewan for the past 6 weeks, listen along as he explains what it was like hunting huge concentrations of waterfowl with zero competition. Going weeks at a time on the prairie without ever seeing another waterfowl hunter sounds pretty amazing, right?

The #1 question that we see over & over again... "Can you mix Dive Bomb silhouettes with full bodies?" On Episode 19, Nick Costas & I sat down with our toughest sell yet, Mr. Alex Russo, owner of Flatland Flyways. Being an outfit that was exclusively running the most premium full body decoys on the market, how was Nick able to convince Russo to give Dive Bomb 2-D decoys a shot & what has been their experience since doing so? Russo is a humble man with a great story running a premium outfitter, you guys are going to love this one!

With the amount of competition on social media, it's now harder than ever to get recognized by reputable brands in the outdoor industry. In Episode 18, you will learn from 3 guys that all took vastly different paths that ultimately led to a full-time paid position with Dive Bomb Industries. Listen along as Nick Costas, Forrest Carpenter, & Cade Trickey explain what it takes to set yourself apart from others to get your foot in the door!

The molt migration has been an increasingly popular topic for waterfowlers over the last few years, especially in the upper states of the Mississippi Flyway. With more hunters taking to the field in September & increased social media exposure, the fall molt migration is becoming recognized as an incredible early season opportunity. Listen along as we talk with Jordan Kiel of Reaction Waterfowl about understanding molts & what to look for. Located in Southern Minnesota, Jordan has plenty of experience with these early migrators, so you definitely don't want to miss this one!

Want to learn more about how to effectively hunt waterfowl from inside the spread? This is the episode for you! Will Riddle & Trevor Bennett of Crooked Wing Outfitters join us to talk all about how to increase your odds of a successful hunt while laying underneath the S5F Canadas & S5 Snows. We also discuss some common misconceptions, overlooked aspects of the hunt, & devastating mistakes many guys make while attempting this method of hunting. Hunting inside the spread can be one of the most magical experiences in all of waterfowl hunting when it comes together, but it must be done right!

Normally, when we sit down with Jeff Stanfield & Andy Shaver on The Big Honker Podcast, they are the ones asking the questions. This time, it's a little different as we get to put them on the hot seat! Learn how Stanfield Hunting Outfitters relationship with Dive Bomb came to be, the evolution of the Big Honker Podcast, thoughts on the nation's current events such as kneeling for the anthem, & the waterfowl season outlook. We wrap up with some great memories about the late Ron Stanfield & the wonderful legacy he left.

Episode 14 was an awful lot of fun! Did you know Northern California's local nesting population is 1/4 to 1/2 million birds? Brian Huber, 12 year waterfowl biologist with the California Waterfowl Association joined us to talk about the the ins and out of waterfowl banding. We discuss band hunters, tracking migrating birds with solar collars, hybrids, band stories, & many more interesting topics. There is a lot more that goes into that little piece of jewelry than meets the eye!

In Episode 13 we visit a topic we were hoping to avoid & that is the reality the Canadian border will likely not open before waterfowl season. To help me with this topic, we sit down with our good friend Ryan Reynolds, owner of Apex Waterfowling in Ontario & Saskatchewan to talk about how this will effect the waterfowl industry. While there is a lot of negative that comes from the border closure, we're going to do our best to focus on the silver lining. Listen along & be ready to make the necessary adjustments to your fall schedule!

Episode 12 is a little different. A few weeks ago in our closed Facebook group, "Dive Bomb Industries Forum & Fan Page," we stated we wanted 4 Dive Bomb customers across the 4 Flyways to join us on the podcast to talk about how running Dive Bomb decoys have helped them become more successful in the field. This episode features 4 friends of Dive Bomb who were voted in from their respective Flyway by their fellow waterfowl hunters: Brandon Moyer from the Atlantic Flyway, Cody Shimer from the Mississippi Flyway, Loren Whiting from the Central Flyway, & Tyler Bush from the Pacific Flyway. Hope you guys enjoy!

Kristian Lilley, owner of Aberdeen Wild Wings in Northeast Scotland joins us on Episode 11 for a deeper look at Scottish waterfowling. From decoying massive wads of pink footed geese in front of 3500 year old stone walls to what it's like hunting with no limits, we're sure you're going to enjoy this one!

So you want to be a waterfowl guide… Did you know you normally don’t get to shoot, or you spend more time scouting than in the field hunting? In episode 10, we sit down with Hunter Pickett to talk about the ins, outs, good, bad, ugly that comes along with being a full-time waterfowl guide & what it takes to be successful!

At over 45 minutes long, Episode 9 is a dream come true for those anticipating the release of a number of different products Dive Bomb will soon be offering. From the highly anticipated mallard floaters to the G-Frame ground blind, there are no new products skipped in this episode. We also briefly talk about Flop Industries & what's cooking there!

You football fans are gonna love this one! Episode 8 features NFL quarterback, "Duck" Hodges who took Steeler Nation by storm with an impressive showing in his rookie campaign after Big Ben went down with a season ending injury. We talk about his hunting background, high school & college days, making his NFL debut, & of course how he got his nickname! Devlin is a great dude & we're thrilled to have him involved with Dive Bomb Industries.

Episode 7 features our very own, very talented, Forrest Carpenter. He is hosting our new YouTube Q&A Series, "Field Facts with Forrest." In this podcast, we will be talking about the new series & how Forrest will be tackling some of the most common waterfowl related questions we receive. We're here to help you become a better waterfowl hunter & Forrest is the perfect man for the job!

You guys are going to enjoy this one. Ep6 features YouTube sensation, Bobby Guy. We talk to Bobby about his upbringing, getting paid through YouTube, & his new outfitter "Sandhill Flyways." We also asked Bobby the tough questions about the keyboard cowboys & what he has to say to his haters!

This episode features Charlie Summerville, one of the true pioneers of Alaska's sea duck hunting. Not only is Charlie an expert on the Bering Sea, but also runs a first class operation out of Cold Bay for black brant, canada geese, & ducks. Learn all about Aleutian Island Waterfowlers & how you can be entered into a bucket list giveaway to join the Dive Bomb Crew on the 1st annual Dive Bomb Cast & Blast Sweepstakes!

Episode 4 features Geoff Irvine & Hunter Morrow, our Kiwi friends to join us in recapping our week in New Zealand chasing High Country honkers. We had an incredible time hunting, fishing, & exploring this outdoors paradise, truly the trip of a lifetime. If you ever have the opportunity to visit New Zealand, jump on it, truly the trip of a lifetime!

We are joined with Cameron Hekele, co-owner of Wingchaser Outdoors to discuss the current snow goose migration in the Central Flyway. We discuss overall bird numbers, juvenile bird numbers, what's working, & what's not working. If you are a snow goose hunter in the Central Flyway or just a white bird fanatic, you don't want to miss this one!

In this episode, we sat down with Jonathan Olson, the owner of Snow Addictions Guide Service, & one of the most successful spring snow goose hunters. We discuss Jon's background, what it takes to be a successful snow goose hunter, the future outlook of this sport, & much more! If you are passionate about whitey, you will love this episode!

This first episode we introduce a few of the guys you'll be hearing from regularly on this Podcast. You'll learn about the origins of Dive Bomb Industries from our founder & what you can expect from us moving forward.