Pro Staff : KES Waterfowlers

Matt Canterbury

Matt Canterbury After graduating from high school, I joined the Army National Guard and took advantage of the G.I. Bill. I earned my Associates Degree in Applied Science in the Medical Laboratory field from Columbus State Community College. This degree allowed me to work as a Medical Lab Technician for eleven years at Lab Corp of America.

I married my wife, Karen, in 1995. We had our first son, Matthew, in 1999. Our son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 18 months.

I decided to leave the medical lab field in 2000 to pursue a career in golf course maintenance. In 2003 I started classes at Clark State Community College for Golf Course Maintenance. I earned an Associates of Applied Science in the Golf Course Maintenance option. With this degree I became an Assistant Superintendent at private golf course.

I love the outdoors and enjoy hunting and fishing. I met Neal Piotrowski and Chris Wright with KES Waterfowlers in 2007 and they introduced me to waterfowl hunting. Both Chris and Neal spent time teaching me how to blow goose and duck calls. I am spending time in their shop learning the process of call making.

In 2009, I attended a Ducks Unlimited banquet in Madison County and purchased an American Water Spaniel at the auction. Brandy is a lively addition to our family. She loves to swim, play fetch and play with Matthew. Hopefully by next season she will be able to go on hunts with us.

Matt on the Crusher Goose Call:

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Gene Gremminger

Gene Gremminger was born in the waterfowl rich area of North Eastern Ohio. He began hunting early in life as a child and has continued that love of the hunt. Gene has hunted in 11 states and 2 Canadian Provinces honing his skills as an avid waterfowler and outdoorsman. He not only hunts ducks and geese, but enjoys the thrill of the chase of a Spring Gobbler and those elusive fall Rocky Mountain Elk.

A die-hard KES man, Gene and Chris have shared many a blind and good times together over the past four years. Whether it’s hunting the Canadian Provinces or the river bottoms of Southern Ohio and Illinois, Gene is an expert waterfowler with decades of experience.

Gene on the Crusher Goose Call:

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Weston Devore

Weston Devore Born in Hilliard Ohio in 1991. Weston graduated from the waterfowling school of hard knocks. A self taught waterfowler, Weston has honed his skills has a caller, shooter and guide by practicing his skills and adding to his arsenal with focus and dedication. A full time student at Ohio State, Weston spends most of his fall listening and following the Buckeyes in between hunts and guides.

When you see Weston in the field, plan on meeting his good hunting buddy Rocky. Rocky a five year old black lab lives to work the fields with Weston. Both have a love for chasing late season mallards. Weston is what most would consider a mallard-holic and will go anywhere in pursuit of those late season redlegs. Weston’s call of choice is his “Corn Cutter” and you will never find him without it. He believes that if you truly want to be an expert caller than you have to practice daily and scout birds and listen to them in there natural habitat. Although young, Weston is beyond his years in experience and dedication.

Weston on the Corn Cutter Duck Call:

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Shane Eisenhauer

Shane Eisenhauer Hometown: South Charleston, WV

Occupation: Electrical Lineman Superintendant

Area of Hunting Experience: Ducks, Geese & Deer

Shane Eisenhauer, both a loving husband and father of a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters. He was born in 1973 in Southern Illinois (Go Salukis) where he cut his teeth some 25 years ago chasing waterfowl in flooded corn fields, farm ponds and strip cuts with family and friends, it became a passion of his from the first morning on a hunt with his father in a muddy corn field. He also chases the big deer of Illinois when time permits. After having an avid sports life growing up and in school, he ventured of to the NAVY after high school where he spent his time serving overseas and in the 1^st Persian Gulf War. Upon returning, he picked right back up with his passion for chasing waterfowl and has earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminology. His job brought him to West Virginia where he is currently active in the West Virginia Ducks Unlimited, holding positions of District Chairman, Kanawha River Chapter Chairman and State Chairman Elect. His passion has grown to where his love to educate others of what knowledge he has of the outdoors, of waterfowling, especially the youth, since they are the backbone of the continuance of this heritage and sport of waterfowling. Shane has been part of a few calling contest around Southern Illinois and judged several contest around the Midwest and East Coast. Shane is currently a member of the KES Waterfowlers team, (TEAM MIGRATION ENDER). Knock Em Stiff!!!!!!!!!!! IKE

Shane on the Snub Nose Duck Call:

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Peter Hanley

Peter Hanley Age: 20

Live: North East Ohio

Peter has been hunting waterfowl for three years but has been an avid deer and turkey hunter since the age of ten.

A strong self learner, Peter has taught himself everything he knows about the outdoors through trial and error and observation. Pete is an accomplished duck and goose caller and prides himself on working with novice callers and hunters in order to give them the tools to be more successful and confident in the field. Pete is a self proclaimed “HUNTING NUT” when not in school or work, rest assured Pete will be in the field or on the water doing what he loves most.

Pete is a member of multiple 2 Ducks Unlimited Chapters, and is currently in the process of starting a Ducks Unlimited chapter at Kent State University. Pete is also a strong supporter and member of Delta Waterfowl, he believes in supporting the groups that fight the everyday battles of preserving our heritage and rights.

Pete’s favorite part of waterfowling is working birds and getting those late season weary birds to commit and finish. For Pete there is no better reward than decoyed birds!

“Lock’em and Drop”em”!!!

Peter on the Puddle Smacker Duck Call:

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Justin Tackett – Pro Staff

Age: 28
Hometown: Yawkey, WV
Favorite KES Call: Lil Bro
Email: jutackett@hotmail.com

I was born and raised in Southern West Virginia, and I have been hunting all my life starting at an early age with my father. I didn’t start waterfowl hunting until I was 25, when I was introduced to it from a friend who attended college in Arkansas. It all started then, I found myself addicted. I am constantly scouting, looking for new places to hunt year round, and practicing my calling. Being from West Virginia, I have found that it is a virtually untapped sport and it grows each year. I find myself helping to begin a tradition within my home state, by taking an active role within the WV Ducks Unlimited Kanawha River Chapter, whether it be hanging Wood Duck Boxes, or raising money for the ducks. I started competing in duck calling contests in 2009, where I placed 3^rd with Chris Wright at Cabelas Waterfowl Weekend in the Two Man Duck Meat Competition in Wheeling, WV.

Justin on the Little Bro Duck Call (Single Reed):

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Adam McSparran – Pro Staff

My name is Adam McSparran and I’m from the Carolinas. I grew up duck hunting since I was 9 in South Carolina. Since I have been stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC in the 82nd Airborne, I have focused on hunting the fields, marshes, and coast of NC. I try to get into every calling competition in the area, but the real competition is calling in the field. I love the chess match with a group of ducks or geese, trying to give them the right amount (if any) of coaxing to come into my spread and into the kill zone. I am the President of Ugly Duck Lanyards, and we do are best to give our customers the best American made waterfowl products that we can. I am still serving in the Army at Ft. Bragg, and I live in Raeford, NC with my wife, Heather, and my chocolate lab, Charlie. God bless, stay safe, and see ya’ll out there!

Jesse Ewing – Pro Staff

My name is Jessie Ewing: aka “Bubba.” I was introduced to hunting at the age of eight when my father took me deer hunting for the first time. I have to thank my dad for introducing me to the world of hunting and getting me involved in the outdoors. I was an avid deer hunter and still am, but a friend of mine took me on a waterfowl hunt for the first time in 2003 and I have been a HARDCORE WATERFOLWER ever since. In 2007 I started guiding for youth groups during the youth season as a way to get kids involved with the outdoors. My goal is to get these “young guns” involved in the outdoors the way my father did for me. In 2008 I stepped on the contest stage for the first time. I have been hooked since and practice daily with a title in my sights.

Nolan Cox – Pro Staff

I was born and raised on a farm in Southeastern Ohio. I still live there today and spend most of my time working on the farm. I am currently working on completing a business degree from Ohio University and plan to continue my education by obtaining a master’s degree in finance. I was first introduced to hunting by my father when I was five years old. My first taste of waterfowling came when I was seven years old; my first hunting experience was mainly goose because it was the species that my father was most interested in chasing at the time. I am currently an avid deer hunter and have taken several trophy whitetails on the farm. Also, I have begun to become involved in competition goose calling with Jesse Ewing who first taught me how to blow a short reed and has been a great friend and fowling partner since day one. My conservation efforts have been mainly focused on the introduction and running of the Noble County Ducks Unlimited chapter that was formed last year. I also have spent some time over the last few years banding ducks as a volunteer with the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Brett Bayer – Field Staff

Age: 25
Hometown: Neenah, WI
I was born and raised in Northeast Wisconsin and have been here all my life. I graduated from Hortonville High School in 2004. I attended Fox Valley Technical College for a couple years to further my knowledge in Natural Resources.
I started following my Dad into the woods and duck blinds when I was 7 years old. I shot my first duck, a young drake woody, at the age of 12 and was sucked in to the waterfowling world. I have always been awed by working birds and enjoy the challenge of getting them to decoy exactly where I want them to.
I feel that Im lucky to live in a state that is rich in waterfowling history both past and present. I enjoy jumping shooting potholes, skiffing marshes, laying in fields and chasing big water divers. I am a proud member of Ducks Unlimited and believe if it wasn’t for organizations like this, we would not have the hunting opportunities we have today. My Dad and I have built, put up and maintained woodduck nest boxes for years.
If Im not after ducks and geese, Im in the deer stand chasing white-tails in the fall and big gobblers in the spring. Fishing keeps me busy during the summer and winter months. I am lucky to have friends and family who enjoy many of the outdoor activities that I do. Even though I have learned a lot on my own by trial and error, I credit much of my success to my father who has taught me a lot about the outdoors.

Kevin Wilbur – Field Staff

My name is Kevin Wilbur and I was born and raised in the Black Swamp, also known as Vickery, Ohio. I have been an avid hunter of all game from the age of 12 and could not imagine a season without hunting. I have been employed at Christy Machine Company for ten years where I work as a machinist. I received a Career Diploma from
Penn Foster as a Gunsmith.

I took my first deer at the age of 12 with a shotgun and took my first deer with a bow two years later. I have taught myself various hunting tactics though trial and error and watching other avid hunters. I have honed in my shooting skills to become a proficient shooter. I have self-taught myself on duck and goose calls.

I used to hunt Pickerel Marsh as a teenager for waterfowl. I took a break for a few years and dedicated my full focus to deer hunting. Then three years ago, knowing I loved the area and could never imagine living anywhere else, I bought a piece of property across the road from Pickerel Creek marsh and built my first house.

Knowing I wanted to get back into hunting waterfowl, I began looking for a new hunting partner. Buck came into my life and was out fetching up Doves at the age of 7 months. Since then, he has accompanied me on all my hunting endeavors. After having an amazing dog, I have begun to breed labs who are great hunters and wonderful family dogs.

I feel that I represent the honest working man who doesn’t have a lot of private property to hunt, maintains a low budget on supplies and still ends up with a successful hunting season each year. Being that type of hunter, I feel I can relate to the majority of hunters out there. Every hunter has his own tricks and skills that he is good at. Being a part of the KES team allows me to contribute my knowledge of this area and open the door to a new region of hunting territory. I love to represent a company that has the same passion and dedication as I do. I love being a part of KES Waterfowlers and look forward to building a future together.

Virgil Held – Field Staff

Age: 31
Years waterfowling: 18
Hometown: Grand Island, Nebraska
Favorite waterfowl to chase: Snow geese
Favorite waterfowl situation: Spring snows in flooded corn with high winds
Having lived throughout the whole state of Nebraska I have hunting just about everything this wonderful state has to offer, from ducks and geese to varmits and deer this state is truly a sportsman’s paradise. I currently live in south central Nebraska where I have the opportunity to chase waterfowl from early September to early April. I start my season with the early season honkers/teal in the eastern half of the state, then off to Canada for 12 days chasing snows, specks, ducks, and honkers, after that we come home and hunt the famed rain water basins and platte river, when those all freeze up we turn to big honkers that winter in the area, and also I hunt a warm water slough for some great mallard action. Come late January (weather permitting) the cacklers start to show back up from the south and we hunt them till the season ends in mid February. Typically we get about 2 weeks off before we start chasing spring snows. After they leave Nebraska we head up to South Dakota for one more week to end out our season. My goal is to stay mobile with all my gear so I can try to be were the birds want to be. But don’t count me out when the big bucks of western Nebraska come into rut in mid-November, as I will put down my shotgun and chase the trophy whitetail and mullie bucks around for 9 days. I have been employed by Union Pacific Railroad for 10 years. I have a very loving wife and two wonderful daughters Jacinda and Ivy we also have two dogs my black lab Babbs and my Golden Retriever Kara. During the off season I enjoy fishing and camping with my family and even some husker football. I am a firm believer in taking kids hunting and fishing. I support my local DU chapter and also volunteer my time for the banquets.