Iverson Web Journal

This Story Must Be Told

GW is a very good friend of mine and one the best hunters and callers I know.  We have hunted together for almost 10 years now.  So it is very personally satisfying and unbelievable at the same time that things would come together in such a fashion.

I will let him tell the rest

I bought a ring and was planning on proposing some time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. However time was flying by and I had not had a chance to ask her yet. My goal was to propose somewhere out in the duck blind( for those of you that don't know she is as avid a duck hunter as I am). On the night prior to our  hunt I buried the ring in the inner Velcro pocket of my chest waders.  I was doing it the next day for sure. That morning was especially cold (about 17 degrees).  Tiff and I were in  Eastern Washington hunting  it was sunny and gorgeous out. We were half way thru our limit and a flock of about 15 mallards flew in our face...there were two drakes (males for the non hunters) I took one shot and she took one shot, both fell... my dog  retrieved her bird and her dog retrieved my bird...My dog  Jake had brought her drake to me and I saw it was banned ( to this point Tiff in her 12 years hunting had never shot a banded bird). The first words out of my mouth were nice shoot honey.  My knees and hands are now shaking knowing that this is the ideal time to propose. As  I walk to the blind I hear Tiff yell out "honey, you got a banded bird!" (again for the non hunters, it's a big deal to get a banded bird about 1 in 400, so you do the math what are the chances of two drakes in one flock ). In all my planning of an ideal proposal  it had entered my mind of how awesome it would be to ask on a really special day of hunting even  the day she shoot her first band. Did I think it was happening on this particular morning well no but I am the luckiest guy in the world. ..... We walked away  with two beautiful banded birds and I couldn't have dreamt of  a better way for us to get engaged! So, we are having the two birds mounted with the bands and I've attached the picture that will accompany the mount.

Here's to Duck Hunting!

Jason

Shawn shot the hen~!

Here are my good friends who nailed 30 mallards with their 5 Iversons.  That would be 29 drakes and well one hen for Shawn.  That is a 6 bird per Iverson average.  Not bad. 

Here's to the Goldsberry clan.  Everyone should be as lucky to have friends such as these.

happy holidays

jason

When I first started hunting, we used live decoys

Well, you don't hear THAT everyday!  I had the privelege yesterday to hunt with a friend and his grandfather who was 86 years old.  They had spent a pretty useless opening day on another pond on their North Texas property.  But they did see a lot of ducks working the north side of the property so we arrived to hunt the larger and rarely hunted northern lake.

We set up on a brisk but absolutely calm and clear morning that frankly had me doubting we would get a bird to work our set up.  After all to take adavantage of the supposed north wind coming we had to set up with the sun in our face.  We did not even have time to get the trucks moved before over 200 widgeon, teal, gadwall and mallards were grinding our pond.  My buddy erik was returning with the last bit of brush for the blind and grandpa and I were left to watch in awe at the all the birds . .  .oh and I had to keep a head lock on my dog Jack to keep him in the blind :)

After we got setted and took our shots at the main early flock we settled in to constant and regular flights of returning birds in spite of the "weak" hunting conditions.  My Iverson was working like a charm and we got our birds. My dog Jack who is starting to look 86 had to navigate quick sand like mud to get in and out of the water.  After about the 5th time in, I thought it was his last.  But he was not NOT going to get the birds we dropped.

I cannot tell you how meaningful and great it was to hunt with my friend and his grandfather.  This was a priceless morning.

happy hunting

Jason

The Day You Know . . .

your kid will turn out ok!

Here's to my nephew Mateo!

An Iverson First!

The Iverson name has been a name in duck calls for 75 years and counting.  But never to my knowledge as ANYONE named their puppy after Iverson!  What a day.

It is with great joy I introduce you to Ivee! Ivee is the new Chesepeake Bay Retriever who has joined the household of my cousin Justin and his wife Shannon.  Their older dog, Bear, will be training little Ivee in the ways of pooping and peeing on the floor along with some of the more advanced duck/goose retrieving techniques. 

Ivee could not have been adopted into a better home.  Justin and Shannon are the best kind of people.  Happy, smart, kind, outdoor types and dog lovers.  Congratulations you two.  I cannot wait to see him retrieve my banded mallard in mid January in the Sacramento Valley this coming year :)

Here's to puppies and future retrievers!

happy day!

Jason

Look at those ladies!

Ok I am just quoting mom on this one.  But it's true.  Oh yeah, and Dad is there too!  How great of a shot is this.  The whole Hammon family were kind enough to visit and run around my shop this last Thanksgiving.  They have family here in Texas.  They are big Iverson Duck Call fans and wonderful people.  I had fun that day helping each of the kids take turns turning on the lathe and getting Teak Wood chips on their nice Thanksgiving cloths.  Sorry mom. 

Here's to a great hunting family!

Jason

Who Says It doesn't rain in Southern California?

And who says "you cannot shoot ducks in Southern California"?  I did before I moved south in 1989.  I did not take my shotgun or hunting gear.  "Oh, ye of little faith . . . ".  That was before a family friend Ralph Goldsberry (the grey bearded guy in back of boat giving off that patented "I am up to no good grin") called my dad to get reeds for one of his 27 (approximate) Iverson Duck Calls.  My Dad said, "Jason just moved right down by you" . . . Five minutes later . . .my phone rings and its Ralph "come hunting with us".  I say ok and the rest is history.

For the next 3 years I enjoyed some of the most memorable hunts ever . . . just a short drive from downtown LA!!??  Who would have thought.  The Goldsberry family became like family to me and I have never forgottern their love and extraordinary generosity.  Here are some pictures from this last year and from the looks of it, not a bad one. 

It is kind of ironic that Sean and Troy are holding geese here.  I still have Troy's Honker Shells "he loaned me" as a departing gift when I moved to Washington.  These are good people.  I miss them and have threatened to show up one morning and surprise them.  Shawn said:  " . . .the key still works and we'd just put your right to work" . . . they would!

Good Times

jason mitchell

Junior Hunt weekend 2005

First Honkers

A box of shells...$10.00.
Goose call...$100.00.
Two honkers, feet down at 10 yards...PRICELESS!

Anything greater than this?

Jason Mitchell

Iverson On the road

Dad and I just got finished with the International Sportsman's Exposition in Sacramento last week.  We go on to the Shot Show in Vegas tomorrow followed by ISE San Mateo next week.  If you are in Vegas, come see us at booth #7554 . . . 

My favorite part of these shows is meeting and greeting people who I get to know from afar in this business.  I get to hear first hand some great stories, affirmations and the occasional challenge :) 

The best stop down of this last show show was a 31 year old guy who had his kid with him.  He told me how he loved his Iverson Duck Call and how he acquired it.  when he was a kid he got it in his head he wanted a duck call . . not just any duck call, the best one money could buy . . . an Iverson of course.  His Mom told him he needed to save his money.  So, every day for two years he saved his lunch money and allowance. When he had enough money he told his mom and she took him down to a local shop and proceeded to buy him the call with HER money.  I was tearing up for that story.  This guy was so genuinely happy about telling us how much that call meant to him.  At times like these I am reminded of my place once again.

Happy Hunting (for those of you who still can!)

Jason Mitchell

Father and Son

Is there a better way to spend the day?