MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Aug. 7, 2018 - This week on Ducks Unlimited TV, co-host Field Hudnall is outside New Orleans, Louisiana, hunting ducks with decoy carver Cal Kingsmill and DU Volunteer Mike Benge. The trio hunt in a classic Louisiana marsh setting over Kingsmill&squo;s hand-carved, custom decoys.


7 - Creole Carver from DucksUnlimited on Vimeo.

"As soon as you get (to Kingsmill&squo;s shop), he opens up the door and everything is heavy equipment designed to take a beating,&dquo; Hudnall said. "Then you turn the corner around these big trucks and you see this little corner where all the magic happens.&dquo;

And all that decoy magic is created with a skilled and experienced hand.

"I&squo;ve established a little carving shop where I make all my decoys,&dquo; Kingsmill said. "One minute, I&squo;ll be working in the front on a truck. The next minute I&squo;ll be going back in the back to try and steal away. Every moment I have for hard work is a stolen moment.

Kingsmill carves beautiful duck decoys, but they&squo;re made for hunting - not just collecting.

"Cal carves decoys he wants people to use,&dquo; Hudnall said. "Yes, you can put it on the shelf and admire it, but he wants you to take it out, put it in the water and shoot ducks over it. He spends countless hours carving decoys that sell at auction at DU events. That money goes back into wetlands just like the ones we have been hunting.&dquo;

And rescuing our wetlands is what Ducks Unlimited does best.

"The devastation of coastal Louisiana is hurting duck migration,&dquo; Benge said. "As my good friend (late co-host of DU TV) Wade Bourne used to say, rest his soul, 'More habitat on the ground means more ducks in the air.&squo;&dquo;

Also on DU TV this week: DU CEO Dale Hall talks about the importance of Gulf Coast waterfowl habitat and what DU is doing to save it and DU Magazine Shotgun Columnist Phil Bourjaily helps you follow through when shooting your duck gun.

DU TV airs Mondays at 1:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m., Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. (all times Eastern) on the Pursuit Channel. All episodes, plus bonus content and classic episodes, can be found at www.ducks.org/dutv.

DU TV is sponsored by Drake Waterfowl Systems, Higdon Outdoors, Federal Premium Ammunition, Purina Pro Plan, Mossy Oak Camo, Mossy Oak Properties, Mossy Oak Biologic, Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries and SecureIt Intelligent Firearms Storage.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 14 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:
Gregg Powers
901-758-3774
gpowers@ducks.org