Christian Waterfowler Magazine - Fall 2019

Christian

FALL 2019

WAT E R F O W L E R

PRESERVING OUR CHRISTIAN AND WATERFOWLING HERITAGE | THECWA.ORG

THE SITES & SOUNDS

OF WOOD DUCK HUNTING

SAFE WATERFOWL HUNTING 7 BOATING TIPS

HOW TO PROPERLY INTRODUCE THE E-COLLAR

TABLE

of

CONTENTS

OUR HISTORY

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THE SITES AND SOUNDS

9

OF WOOD DUCK HUNTING

SAFE WATERFOWL HUNTING 7 BOATING TIPS

13

SIMPLE GRILLED DUCK BREAST 20 H OW TO P RO P E R LY I N T RO D U C E 2 1 THE E-COLLAR

BLIND BAG: SOUL GEAR FOR WATERFOWLERS

29

CHOOSE NOW

33

FAKING IT

SENIOR EDITORS Ti m & R a c h e l l e S a l l e e CREATIVE DESIGN & EDITING Va n c e K l e m p l e COVER PAGE PHOTO Kyle Lopez

CONTACT INFO INFO@THECWA.ORG 479.957.3033

PHOTO BY DWIGHT EDDINGTON C H R I S T I A N WAT E R F O W L E R |

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OUR HISTORY

“Preserving our Christian and Waterfowling Heritage” The Christian Waterfowlers Association was formed by Tim and Rachelle Sallee in September of 2009. However, the idea for the CWA originated back in 2002 while on a duck hunt with his brother Anthony Sallee on the banks of the Arkansas River.

Tim was first introduced waterfowling while serving as a youth minister in Fort Smith, Ark. almost thirty years ago. One of his youth members demonstrated using a duck call during a “Gong Show” talent night. He was fascinated with the call and after inquiring about the call and duck hunting was invited to go on a hunt by the youth and his older brother.

The hunt experience was incredible, with awesome weather and the perfect sunrise.

Right after daybreak about fifteen mallards flew over our backs and circled back with their wings cupped and feet down. “Take Em,” yelled the youth, as Tim raised his gun to shoot. He was so moved by seeing ducks decoy, that he shot three times and did not hit one duck.

However, a few weeks later on his second hunt he bagged his first ever mallard and was hooked on duck hunting for life.

Tim then introduced waterfowling to his older brother Mark Sallee, his younger brother Anthony Sallee and Mark’s sons Mitchell and Matthew. He always looked forward to spending time in the duck blind with his family and friends each year.

Anthony moved to Nashville, Tenn. in the 1980’s and early 1990’s to play bass for the Christian band “White Heart.” He went on to play for Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant and Matthew West to name a few. While taking a break from the road, 3

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he drove in to spend time with family as well as some time in the duck blind.

While on a hunt in 2002, Tim and Anthony first brought up the idea combining a passion for Christ with the passion for waterfowling, as well as the idea of a Fellowship of Christian Athletes for waterfowlers, but the idea didn’t get much further than Anthony designing a sample logo or two.

After hosting a Wild Game Dinner in September of 2009, Tim saw firsthand the impact of bringing sportsmen together for fellowship and introducing them to Christ. The idea for CWA resurfaced.

After much prayer and consideration, he felt it was time move forward with the launching of the CWA website and forum as well as crafting the CWA mission statement: Since that time the CWA has launched close to fifty chapters in fifteen states and continues to add new chapters each month. Chapters meet monthly for food, fellowship, pro-tips, devotion and an invitation to know Christ. Chapters also hold annual outreach/fundraiser dinners, along with various youth hunting, conservation and CWA Wounded Veterans Waterfowl Events.

The CWA also hosts an annual meeting and festival. In 2014 the CWA celebrated its 5th Annual International Waterfowl Festival & Outdoor Expo. Over the past eight years, thousands have attended from nineteen states and Canada, with many accepting Christ during the two day event.

The event features many competitions including the CWA International Duck

Waterfowler’s Trap Shooting Competition, 3D Archery Competition and Wild Waterfowl Cook-off Competition. Other activities include our Blue Wings Youth Kidz Zone featuring a fishing derby, seminars, Outreach/ Fundraiser Dinner, Sportsman’s Chapel, concerts and more.

In 2012 the CWA held its first Blue Wings Youth Waterfowl Hunting Event during the Oklahoma youth waterfowl hunt. After receiving requests to organize a Wounded Veteran’s Duck Hunt, the first ever CWA Wounded Veteran’s Waterfowl event took place in January of 2014 at the Crooked Slough Hunting club in east Arkansas.

Since the beginning of CWA, hundreds of lives have been impacted by the Gospel of Christ. We invite you to join the Christian Waterfowlers Association today in preserving our Christian, waterfowling heritage. To become a member visit www.thecwa.org or call 479-957-3033 for more information.

(The Christian Waterfowlers Association is incorporated in Arkansas as a non-profit religious organization. The Christian Waterfowlers Association is also registered with the IRS as a 501 (C)(3)non-profit religious organization. All donations are tax deductible except for any gift items and magazine received with your support membership)

CWA Founders Tim & Rachelle Sallee

Anthony Sallee (Left) Tim Sallee (Right)

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS 2009 - 2019

PHOTO BY JOEY MELVIN

THE SITES AND SOUNDS OF WOOD DUCK HUNTING

BY ANTHONY SMITH

SITES Habitat is key to hunting Wood Ducks consistently. An analogy I use for any waterfowl hunt is, “90% of your success depends on 90% scouting.” The more you scout and locate birds, the more successful you will be as a waterfowler. Wood Ducks are one of the great success stories of conservation. Wood Ducks can be found in just about all of the lower 48 states. They love backwater potholes, buck brush, duck weed, saw grass, cattails, cypress swamps, oak bottoms, and every hard-to-get-to pocket or pond you can find. So take the time to locate areas near rivers, swamps, lakes, and marshes. A good starting point for this is to use the off-season to find where Wood Ducks nest or fledge. To do this, start by using tools like Google Maps, OnX Hunt, or any app that shows aerial maps of marshes or potential Wood Duck habitats from the list of areas above that they tend to frequent.

The best way to know and understand these habitats is to go get a good pair of binoculars and hit the woods or water. Spend time in the early morning or late evening near these areas to see flight patterns and how many ducks are using that particular location.

Use mapping services to mark isolated landing, loafing, and feeding areas as well as to look for areas that may only hold water in the early season. Then look for areas that could also maintain water in the late season. Knowing water levels during early and late season is vital. The important thing is to spend time getting to know where the ducks are and where they are going. As September approaches, this will help you predict where ducks may go when the pressure is high. If you’re not afraid to hop a few logs and to go to the places nobody has been, your chances of having a great Wood Duck hunt in the near future will be much higher.

SOUNDS Wood Ducks always seem to respond well to the sounds of other Wood Ducks. Use your time afield to learn the sounds of the Wood Duck. Ducks Unlimited and several web sites offer recordings or videos of Wood Duck sounds. Wood Ducks consistently make several sounds on the water and while flying.

The most common sound associated with the Wood Duck is the alarm squeal. This sound is made when a Wood Duck is flying.

It is a squeal that rises and flutters as the duck rises to get away from whatever predator they need to escape. According to John Godwin, “If you are making the alert squeal and the wood duck is making the alert squeal, then what are you doing? Racing?” Some of the most successful calls for hunting Wood Ducks are 9

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contentment calls. Contentment calls may be made by sounding “VVVVVooootttt” across the reed while fluttering your uvula with medium air. Another contentment sound made by Wood Ducks is by sounding “DEE’ wwwooottt” across the reed.

The DEE’ sound is hit hard with air and then suddenly stops.

Applying medium air across the reed will help you sound the “wwwooottt.” All of these calls cannot be made unless you have a good, natural sounding Wood Duck call. There are many great call makers out there. Take the time to test calls out to find the one that works best for you. You can also have the maker instruct you on the proper use of the call. Taking the time to find the call that sounds good to your ears helps to build confidence in your calling. Don’t be afraid to let the inexperienced hunters in your group use Wood Duck sounds to add to your team calling techniques as well. Team calling adds to their adventure as well as your own. The last sound that is critical for Wood Duck hunting is water. If you find yourself hunting in flooded hardwoods or swampy marshes use water to your advantage. I have had Wood Ducks hide in natural vegetation like saw grass. One of the ways to lure the Wood Ducks out is to combine calling with subtle water movement. You’ll be surprised when Wood Ducks just seem to pop up out of nowhere as a result.

Build a future for better hunting. Colossians 3:23-24 instructs, “and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” If you don’t have a large number of Wood Ducks in your area, take the time to invest in building Wood Duck boxes and putting them up.

Then take the time to inspect and monitor them yearly. If your state has a Wood Duck nesting survey, consider taking part in a biological endeavor as such. When you are surveying nesting boxes, take fellow hunters with you to check the boxes or get a local youth program involved. Our end goal may be to enjoy a great Wood Duck hunt, but please remember to do whatever you do “heartily, as unto the Lord.” Let’s reap our rewards for years to come and maybe even into eternity.

Anthony Wade Smith Owner - American Waterfowl Systems Ambassador - Rig’Em Right Waterfowl CWA - Pro Staff

PHOTO BY DWIGHT EDDINGTON

SAFE WATERFOWL HUNTING 7 BOATING TIPS

BY ALAN BLAND

Waterfowl season is finally here. That being said, I just wanted to remind everyone of some things that can and will save your life this season. Here is a very interesting fact everyone should remember: the leading cause of death among hunters is not by firearms, but, you guessed it, by drowning. Hunters already know that firearm safety is one of the most important things to be mindful of when they head out to the water. Just as important though is strapping on a Coast Guard Approved Life Jacket while on the water. It can mean the difference between life and death, especially when hunting in cold water.

5 Transport firearms safely with the action open, unloaded, and cased whenever possible. I also highly recommend a gun case that floats.

6 Cold-water immersion can be deadly, so dress appropriately.

If you fall overboard, climb back into, or on top of, your boat.

If you cannot, stay near the boat and use decoys, paddles, or anything floating nearby to help stay afloat.

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PHOTO BY COUNTY LINE BOATS

Here’s a checklist of 7 great tips for boater safety to think about before heading out for your next hunt:

1 Leave a float plan with a family member or a friend that includes where you are going, how long you plan on hunting, if you launch a boat, where you plan to launch, etc.

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Make sure to check your boat lights including the Bow, Stern, spotlights etc. Do you have extra bulbs, fuses, and batteries?

Do you have flares of any kind, for example, hand held flares that generate smoke for rescue? I highly encourage you to get them when possible, and know how to use to them before you need them.

According to U.S. Coast Guard figures, 37 hunter-involved watercraft accidents resulted in 13 deaths and over 20 injuries nationwide last year. Drowning was the leading cause of death in 78% of boating fatalities. Have you ever tried to put on a Life Jacket while in the water? Very difficult indeed.

So please wear at all times, there is a reason it’s called a LIFE JACKET!!!!

Don’t overload the boat. Look at your capacity plate; it includes how many people are allowed on the boat at a time as well as weight restrictions. Remember that all of your gear, dog, etc. adds to this weight limit. Do not exceed your boat’s limits. Decoys, guns, and waders really add up in a hurry.

3 Use care while loading and while moving around in your boat.

Most boats used during hunting are flat-bottomed and tend to tip over quite easily.

4 Always wear a life jacket. The fairly new inflatables are excellent as well. Also consider putting one on your dog, as cold water can cause their muscles, and yours, to cramp while in the water.

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PHOTO BY COUNTY LINE BOATS

Alan Bland Retired Park Ranger CWA - Member

KEVIN HUTCHESON 479.601.1299

PHOTO BY CORNERSTONE GUNDOG ACADEMY

SIMPLE GRILLED DUCK BREAST

INGREDIENTS •

4 large duck breast half fillets (skin removed)

•

HOW TO FIX

1 large onion cut into 4 slices

1.

In a large bowl, whisk together garlic, butter, brown sugar, olive oil worcestershire sauce, tabasco, salt and pepper.

•

3 bell peppers different colors if available – seeded

2.

Add duck, peppers and onions and toss to coat evenly.

and quartered

•

3 garlic cloves minced

3.

Cover and refrigerate for 2 – 3 hours.

•

4 tablespoons melted butter

•

1 tablespoon brown sugar

•

2 tablespoons olive oil

4.

Remove duck, peppers and duck from marinade and grill on a medium-hot grill until duck breasts are medium-rare and vegetables are lightly charred.

•

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

•

1 teaspoon Tabasco

5.

Let duck rest for a few minutes before slicing and arranging with peppers and onions on plates.

•

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

•

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

•

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves or sub Italian parsley

Scott Leysath The Sporting Chef

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HOW TO PROPERLY INTRODU CE THE E-COLLAR

BY KEVIN ERDMIER

This is not to say that you ever have to use a higher level of stimulation. If you are giving your dog a command they know, but are refusing to obey, you should increase the level until they obey your command. After you get the desired results, return the e-collar to normal operating level. If you continue to see refusals, re-train in this area. Do not shortcut training! Make sure you’ve put in the time and that your pet understands what you are telling them to do before you just start shocking them.

When training your pet, the electric collar should not be your first step. The first thing you should teach your pet is every command that you want them to perform. Walk your dog through drills to make sure they understand what you are telling them to do. Add distractions and make sure your dog still listens and understands your commands. Like children, some pets learn rules and routines more easily than others. You can introduce the e-collar after you are certain that your pet recognizes the commands, but is having difficulty obeying them.

I introduce the e-collar in a relaxed atmosphere, and I always start with the lowest stimulation level. For example, I’ll have the dog sitting or healing and hit the momentary button. All you are looking for is a response. This can be something as small as an ear twitch or a blink. If your pet gives any reaction, this is the stimulation level where you should begin. If there is no reaction on level one, move to level two and so on until you find a working level.

Once I find the proper stimulation level, I start training using the e-collar regularly. I start with commands that the dog is used to with no distractions. As training continues, I use the e-collar more and manual collars less until I completely transition to e-collar. This may take one session or ten. It depends on your pet! I am continually watching the pet’s actions and reactions to make sure they are not getting too tired or changing their temperament. Once I have the dog completely transitioned to the e-collar, I start adding distractions. Always remember to use the e-collar judiciously and never when angry!

I use SportDog Brand e-collars. SportDog has many models for small to large dogs. They also have short to long range models, models for upland and waterfowl hunters, and GPS tracking and training units available.

Kevin Erdmier Owner - Southern Pine Kennels CWA - Member www.southernpinekennel.com

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PHOTO BY JOEY MELVIN

PHOTO BY JOEY MELVIN

BLIND BAG: SOUL GEAR FOR WATERFOWLERS FAKING IT

BY TIM SALLEE

About six weeks after the first duck hunt I had ever been on, I was ready to venture out without my mentors and give it a go on my own. After inviting a friend to join me, mainly to help carry in the decoys and gear, I was so excited that I could not sleep the night before.

The next morning, I was awakened to the sound of my phone ringing and noticed it was already the time I was supposed to meet my friend at the gas station to pick him up.

In a rush, I loaded up the gear and headed out to pick up my friend to drive out to our hunting spot.

After arriving, we began building our blind and setting up the decoy spread as the sun was already rising.

A few minutes later, we could hear ducks in the distance so I reached in my bag to grab my lanyard and duck calls only to discover that they were not in the bag. I began to retrace where I had left them and remembered that I had left them at home hanging on my closet door where I had placed them to dry after practicing the day before.

Great, here we are on a duck hunt without a duck call. I tried to fake it and imitate a duck with my mouth, but it ended up sounding awful. The only call in my bag was a snow goose call I had purchased on sale when I bought my first duck call and that I still wasn’t sure how to use.

Every duck we saw that morning that looked like it was headed towards us heard the sound of the duck calls from the blind down at the other end of our slough and circled back that way.

I think back and laugh about that morning often.

I also think about how we can get so busy that we jump out of bed in the morning, grab a shower, eat a quick breakfast, and bolt out the door on our way to drop off the children at school then go to work. While driving, we turn on the latest talk radio or sports show, then arrive at our job to face the challenges of the day.

So many of us forget the most important thing that will guarantee success, and fake our way through life without spending time in the Word and prayer asking for God’s wisdom for the day.

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As a result of faking it, we end up depending on our own wisdom or understanding.

The Word tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

Notice that there are four verbs in these sentences; trust, don’t lean, acknowledge, and direct.

The first three are things we’re supposed to do and the fourth is a promise that God says He’ll do if we do the first three.

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“Trust in the Lord with all your heart” That means depend on Him. When? All the time, even when it doesn’t make sense. Abraham trusted God when it didn’t make sense for God to instruct him to sacrifice his son, his first born, seed that would allow the promise of God that Abraham would be the father of many nations to come to pass. Yet he obeyed, and before he could complete the sacrifice, God stopped him and provided a ram to sacrifice instead.

We may ask, “Why did I lose my job, God?” Even when we don’t know the answer, we still trust God knowing that when everything’s out of our control, it’s not out of His control.

To trust here means to put our full weight upon. God can handle the full weight of any of our problems or circumstances in this life. He is bigger than any problem that we will ever encounter or face. It is our own understanding that cannot handle or support our weight.

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“Don’t lean on your own understanding.”

This is one of the number one reasons why even Christians don’t have the wisdom of God. This comes from trying to figure everything out by leaning or placing our weight upon our own understanding.

Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us why we often don’t understand what God is doing: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

When we lean on our own understanding, it is inferior to the knowledge and wisdom of God. Our own understanding is also not able to support the weight of our problem, difficulty or circumstance.

3

“You acknowledge”.

This means admitting some basic facts. For example, acknowledging God is a good God and not a mean, angry God ready to pounce on us the moment we make a mistake. This also means recognizing that He cares and knows all about our circumstances & situations. He not only knows all about our problems, but also has the power to change them. God knows what He’s doing, God has a plan and purpose, and He does not make mistakes.

4

“I will direct your paths.”

When we acknowledge, we trust, and we don’t lean on our own understanding, God will direct our paths.

God will direct us in that business decision, in our education, in leading our families, in our finances, and in what He has called us to do. He will give us wisdom for whatever task is at hand.

Before your next hunt, make sure you have all of your gear, including your calls, and before you begin the day, make sure you spend some time with God, placing your trust in Him. As a result, He will direct your path.

He wants to help you, direct you, and give you the wisdom and understanding that you need to be all that He created you to be.

Whenever you take the time to listen and hear His voice, His Word, He will speak into your life and His word will empower you to live the way that He intended for you to live.

Tim Sallee Founder - Christian Waterfowlers Association

CHOOSE NOW

BY CHUCK MCALISTER

In the outdoors you will see the greatness of God and in Jesus you see the grace of God There is a reason why the hair stands up on the back of your neck when you watch the ducks as they prepare to land in your decoys or even when the tip of your fishing rod snaps down towards the water. God made you to know Him and is seeking you through the outdoors...And through His Son Jesus. In the outdoors you will see the greatness of God and in Jesus you see the grace of God.

WE HAV E ALL MIS S E D T H E M A R K Romans 3:23 - “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” It’s like trying to make a clear shot when the sight of your rifle is off. No matter how hard you try - you are going to miss. We have all missed the mark of the perfection that is required to get into heaven.

YOU ARE BE IN G H U N T E D Hunting, as we know, involves pursuing game.

The Bible tells us that we don’t have the ability to pursue God, but He is pursuing us!

Romans 3:10-11 - “As is it written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.”

HE PURSU E S YOU BE CAUS E H E L OV E S YO U Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

However, you are also hunted by another!

1 Peter 5:8 - “Be self-controlled and alert, your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

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You are being pursued by Satan as well as by God. You get to choose who captures you.

W E H AV E AL L MI SS ED TH E MARK How do I let God capture my heart?

Romans 10:9-10 - “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scriptures say, anyone who trusts Him will never be put to shame.”

TO CONFESS JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR OF YOUR LIFE AS WELL TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR TRUST IN HIM, YOU CAN PRAY THIS SIMPLE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I want You to capture me. I believe that You are God’s Son. I believe that You gave your life for me on the cross and was raised from the dead to save me. I surrender control of my life to You. I invite You to come into my life. I will follow You for the rest of my life.

Thank you Jesus for saving me.

If you prayed that prayer, please contact us as (479) 957-3033 or email tim@thecwa.org and we will send you some information about the decision you just made as well as where to go from here.

Chuck McAlister Founder Adventure Bound Outdoor TV Program Founder Promise of Hope Ministries Board Member CWA

Blue Wings is our initiative to teach and engage young people with the great recreation that is waterfowl hunting. We all have a call to pass on the knowledge and heritage of our pasttime to the next generation. At the Christian Waterfowlers Association, we do that through our Blue Wings events.

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