Certified Grand Master Waterfowl Hunter

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

JAMES STARR
UWC ID: WF-000-281 (GOLD MEMBER) | MINNESOTA

OFFICIAL START DATE: October 10, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: March 13, 2019
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 44
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: MEXICAN MALLARD, ERUASIAN WIGEON, MALLARD HYBRID

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

CLARENCE CUSHING
UWC ID: WF-000-255 (GOLD MEMBER) | ILLINOIS

OFFICIAL START DATE: July 11, 2015
COMPLETION DATE: February 27, 2019
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 41

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

SCOTT SPRENGER
UWC ID: WF-000-289 (GOLD MEMBER) | WISCONSIN

OFFICIAL START DATE: December 19, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: January 27, 2019
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 42
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: MEXICAN MALLARD

What an awesome experience! A couple years ago I would have never imagined that in such a short time I could travel to all these different places and experience so many different waterfowl hunts. I met so many passionate hunters, guides and outfitters in the process. It’s definitely not all about the kill, some hunts I spent more time looking through binoculars trying to find the perfect bird to shoot, and the next hunt I’d spend hours just praying I would see a drake. In the end, the most rewarding feeling was holding those drakes in your hand and seeing the true beauty of so many different species. I am definitely looking forward to signing up my 2 kids and I’m also excited to see what the next part of the challenge is. Thank you Dan and the whole UWC team, great challenge!

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

DAN MARSCHKE
UWC ID: WF-000-274 (GOLD MEMBER) | GEORGIA

OFFICIAL START DATE: JUNE 28, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: January 22, 2019
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 42
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: MEXICAN MALLARD

I grew up in Northern Wisconsin at my folks’ hunting and fishing resort so you could say hunting was in my blood. I started the challenge in 2016, made a plan, and have enjoyed harvesting ducks in many different states, including Alaska, as well as Mexico. I have joined with many outfitters (13) and some good fellow hunters, including my son who is also pursuing this challenge. I have made many new friends in the duck blinds and those fellow hunters will be friends forever and hold many special memories for me.

I want to thank UWC for having a such a challenging duck hunting program for duck hunters. At age 70, as of January 21, 2019, I have reached my goal of 41 in the North America Grand Slam. Thanks to to the many friends, supporters and fellow hunters who have encouraged me in this effort. My trips have been experiences of a lifetime, especially Alaska in the winter, which I would not have pursued had it not been for this program. Best of luck to my fellow hunters, and may your quest be as meaningful and as enjoyable as mine has been.

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

GINA SADOWSKI
UWC ID: WF-000-898 | MINNESOTA

OFFICIAL START DATE: October 10, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: January 10, 2019
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 43
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: MEXICAN MALLARD, EURASIAN WIGEON

What a true privilege it has been to be able to participate in The Ultimate Waterfowlers Challenge! I have been able to hunt in many incredible places and meet many just as incredible people. To be the first woman to complete this challenge is also an honor! It was not about the latter that motivated me, however, but it was the desire to experience the amazing adventures with my family and friends while hunting the different waterfowl. Some were definitely easier and accessible than others, but it was the more difficult ones that made it more challenging. I hope to hunt more species of waterfowl in different places of the world in the future. I am very thankful for how wonderful everyone has been to me throughout this challenge!

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

STEVE SADOWSKI
UWC ID: WF-000-897 | MINNESOTA

OFFICIAL START DATE: October 10, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: January 2, 2019
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 43
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: MEXICAN MALLARD, Hybrid Duck

After fulfilling the 41 North American Waterfowl Challenge, I look back at the pictures of all my adventures with great memories of all the fun times I’ve had. Waterfowl hunting has always been a passion of mine, because it allows me to spend time with my family and friends, as well as experience the great outdoors. In my lifetime, I will probably hunt these ducks again and again, and I hope to hunt ducks all around the world in the future. This sport allows me to forget the daily grind in the rest of the world and relax in the beautiful settings, where I can think only about duck hunting and being with friends. I have been truly privileged to enjoy duck hunting with my wife, my son and my great friends.

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

JASON VAN DYKE
UWC ID: WF-000-149 | TEXAS

OFFICIAL START DATE: November 24, 2014
COMPLETION DATE: December 31, 2018
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 43
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: MEXICAN MALLARD, EGYPTIAN GOOSE

Completing the slam has been the most enjoyable experience in my lifetime. I am a strong believer in goal setting and challenges such as this are important to the future of waterfowl hunting because they push people to take hunts that they might not otherwise consider. My favorite part of the challenge has, without a doubt, been the sea duck hunting. Opportunities for that type of a hunt simply don’t exist in my state and it has been an absolute thrill going to the East coast, the West coast, the Bering Sea, and elsewhere to hunt these beautiful birds. The friendships I have made during the challenge, both with guides and other hunters, will hopefully last a lifetime.

Finishing a task such as this is always bittersweet because, for the past several years, the various hunts that I would schedule to knock another species off of my list were always events that I have looked forward to. I have gotten many of my friends involved in the challenge and I am hoping that my next adventure in waterfowl hunting will be to accompany them while they complete the challenge themselves. Being a species oriented hunter has also turned my attention to similar challenges – such as the National Wild Turkey Federation’s “World Slam” – as well as waterfowl hunting opportunities on other continents. I am particularly interested in completing a slam of Shelducks, which would require travel to Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

It is my hope that the UWC expands to provide additional challenges as more of its members complete the challenge. Until then, I will continue to enjoy hunting waterfowl and to broaden my horizons into hunting other types of animals.

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

CHRIS DECKELMANN
UWC ID: WF-000-136 | WASHINGTON

OFFICIAL START DATE: November 7, 2014
COMPLETION DATE: February 13, 2018
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 48
BONUS SPECIES INCLUDE: BLONDE MALLARD, HYBRID DUCK
INTERNATIONAL SPECIES INCLUDE: AUSTRALASIAN SHOVELER, PUKEKO, BLACK SWAN, GREY DUCK, PARADISE SHELDUCK

Bio Coming Soon….

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

ROBERT BREWER
UWC ID: WF-000-633 | NORTH CAROLINA

OFFICIAL START DATE: February 29, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: February 10, 2018
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 42
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: MEXICAN MALLARD

My name is Robert Brewer and I’m from central North Carolina. I am an avid outdoorsman that began hunting, fishing and trapping at a very early age with my grandfather. My grandfather taught me many important things about the outdoors but most notably he taught me to respect the sport and the game that I harvest and that preservation of the sport was of the upmost importance.

As I grew into young adulthood I followed in my grandfather’s footsteps, joining the Army at 19 years old. I spent 5 years as an Infantryman in the Army and made many brothers through the close bonds the military provides. During the course of my military service I became involved with an organization called The Fallen Outdoors that takes other Veterans and active service members on hunting and fishing trips at no cost to them. I now am the East Coast Regional Director for this wonderful organization. In addition to my role with TFO I’m proud to call myself a father, a law enforcement officer in a local jurisdiction and the owner of Southern Waterfowl Company.

The Fallen Outdoors has provided for me the unique opportunity to be able to share the outdoors with brothers and sisters in service and by far my favorite aspect of the outdoors to share with them is waterfowl hunting.

Waterfowl hunting is much more than a TV show or a sticker on the back of your truck, it’s a sport with arguably more tradition and more dedication than any other. The camaraderie shared in a duck blind doesn’t compare, to me at least, to any other sport in the outdoors. The early mornings, the cold, the rain, the wind: it’s all worth it to watch those birds work into your decoy spread.

The Ultimate Waterfowler’s Challenge provided me the opportunity to achieve something greater than I had planned, the chance to harvest all registered species in North America. I set out on this quest with a goal of completing the challenge in two seasons and I am proud to say that I was able to achieve that goal.

WThe Ultimate Waterfowler’s Challenge took me to 9 different states and Mexico on a journey that totaled 34,028 miles.

WI could not be more proud to have had the help and support of many friends and family along this journey and I am thankful to the Ultimate Waterfowler’s Challenge for creating such an adventure.
Thank you!

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

CARY SIMONDS
UWC ID: WF-000-269 (GOLD MEMBER) | WASHINGTON

OFFICIAL START DATE: February 29, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: JANUARY 29, 2018
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 46
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: BARNACLE GOOSE, MEXICAN MALLARD, EMPEROR GOOSE, EURASIAN TEAL, EURASIAN WIGEON

INTERNAIL SPECIES HARVESTED: 1
(NOT INCLUDED IN NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWL CHALLENGE)
INTERNATIONAL BIRDS INCLUDE: COMMON POCHARD

I began collecting waterfowl species just recently and have found that I LOVE this sport. I have collected big game species my entire adult life, all with a bow and arrow. After 25 trips to Africa and many other travels, I decided that I would stop that sport, except on our ranch, where we hunt deer, elk, moose, cougar, bear and turkeys! I began my waterfowl pursuits with” sea duck hunting”, and that type of hunting is still my favorite type of waterfowl hunting! I love the “Social Aspect” of duck and goose hunting and particularly, I appreciate being able to talk and laugh while hunting. This is quite a contrast with the “Silence expected in Bow Hunting”! I’ve learned so much while in the blind with other hunters and guides, it’s really been a pleasure, I consider myself a conservationist, and I believe we sportsmen have the responsibility to care for our wildlife and wild lands. I’ve found that most of the waterfowl hunters I’ve met feel the same about conserving these Beautiful bird species. I feel privileged to be a small part of UWC. I think that the effort of collecting different species of Ducks and Geese is a great way to become educated about these wonderful birds. Therefore I fully support UWC and I hope that all we waterfowl hunters become a part of this rapidly growing Organization.

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

SEAN TOMLIN
UWC ID: WF-000-272 | VIRGINIA

OFFICIAL START DATE: January 5, 2016
COMPLETION DATE: JANUARY 5, 2018
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 49
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: HYBRID DUCK, MEXICAN MALLARD, EURASIAN TEAL, BREWERS DUCK, EURASIAN WIGEON, TUFTED DUCK, PINK FOOTED GOOSE, BARNACLE GOOSE

INTERNATIONAL SPECIES HARVESTED: 19
(NOT INCLUDED IN THE NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWL CHALLENGE)
INTERNATIONAL BIRDS INCLUDE: BRAZILIAN TEAL, WHITE FACED WHISTLING DUCK, ROSY BILLED POCHARD, GREYLAG GOOSE, AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE, HOTTENTOT TEAL, YELLOW BILLED DUCK, SPURWING GOOSE, EGYPTIAN GOOSE, AFRICAN SHELL DUCK, WHITE BLACKED DUCK, BLACK RIVER DUCK, SOUTHERN POCHARD, RED BILLED TEAL, CAPE SHOVELER, KNOB BILLED DUCK, ZULU DUCK

Wow!! What a journey it has been! This challenge has taken me places few ever get to experience. It helped me to make new friends and build stronger bonds with old ones. It caused me to set out on a 3 week expedition to hunt all 4 flyways in one season, to hit the road with just a little equipment, mans best friend, hard work and a lot of luck. To endure the defeat of some days and the success of others. Some people think this challenge is all about “the trophy”, it’s not!! It’s about seeing what all our great country has to offer, the sunrises and sunsets, the freedom to carry our guns to every diverse habitat the birds we love enhabit, the extremes in which they adapt, to find a little something more in ourselves, to test our resolve, our wits and our skill. Some of my greatest memories on this challenge doesn’t even involve killing, exempi gratia, a small group of 8 Longtailed Ducks banking 4 yards in front of me in a layout boat and chatter laughing at me, Stellars Eiders swimming in my decoys 10 yards away, listening to children in a blind discuss there duck hunting careers, the dog looking up to the sky anticipating falling ducks, watching someone have a meltdown over best laid plans falling through, the scratching my head in amazement as to where in the hell the ducks get their Kevlar vests and the wonder of what’s going to come in next. I tip my hat to all who reach the pinnacle of this challenge, you have been weighed, you have been measured and you have not been found wanting. Good luck in your pursuit!

CERTIFIED GRAND MASTER WATERFOWL HUNTER

DAN WENNERLIND
UWC ID: WF-000-001 | MINNESOTA

OFFICIAL START DATE: AUGUST 14, 2014
COMPLETION DATE: DECEMBER 12, 2017
TOTAL SPECIES HARVESTED TO DATE: 43
BONUS BIRDS INCLUDE: HYBRID DUCK, MEXICAN MALLARD

Looking back from when I first decided to take “The Challenge” to complete the North American Waterfowl Grand Slam, the journey has been far more incredible then anything I could have ever imagined.

Solid friendships have been formed and enhanced during this 3 ½ year journey with fellow waterfowlers that will be in my life until I depart from this earth. I feel that along the way my faith was strengthened. The breathtaking mountain views from Alaska and Washington were truly amazing! The first sunrise off the California coast was absolutely gorgeous and so was the last sunset over the coastal marsh in Mexico. There were so many cool moments encountering God’s incredible creation! many times I felt His presence with me along the way.

The best way I can describe The UWC Challenge is comparing it to training and completing my first and only marathon. At first it was just fun. Each time out was just an exciting time to try and knock off as many new species as I could. As it progressed, it got harder and harder to knock off the missing birds on my list and thus the journey became more and more intense. Towards the end, extensive time and effort went into planning each hunt for the desired birds, and with it distant travel to remote locations across the continent as the pursuit ensued.

The feeling I had when I pulled the trigger for the last time and watched a big drake Barrows Goldeneye plummet into the waters of the Puget Sound in Washington on December 12, 2017 was indescribable. Much like crossing the finish line in my marathon many years ago, it was surreal. I felt a sense of inner peace and personal satisfaction. It was almost like, I can’t believe it’s really over, I DID IT.

I highly encourage anyone that has started or is thinking about taking “The Challenge” to Just Do It. Whether it takes you 5 years or 50 years to complete it, The Journey will change your life forever!