Jason Mitchell

Jason Mitchell

Jason is born in San Rafael, California in 1963. He lives on the south and north end of the Bay Area, but spends the bulk of his growing years outside Novato, California in Black Point. From very early on Jason can remember his Dad leaving to go deer and duck hunting. Part of his great excitement as a child was seeing what he would bring home. As Jason gets older his Father begins taking him on a number of these trips. Later and greater memories include trout fishing and deer hunting at a family friends ranch in northern California. But Jason's greatest childhood obsession certainly is duck hunting.

In the early 70's Jason begins regularly braving the sometime violent waters of San Pablo Bay with his father. They will set up in the tulles in his fathers hand made 12 foot skiff. It really did not matter if it is a dive bombing flock of Bluebill or a darting group of teal, Jason misses them all with his early shotgunning. But then after one lucky shot, a Greenwing Teal falls and he is hooked! There is a toast of course at the train bridge.. No one tells me I am not supposed to get a "horn" of Wild Turkey from my Dad's good friend Dave! But it makes that cold ride back to the boat dock a bit warmer for a moment.

In 1974 Jason gets his first job as a paper boy. Much to his pleasure, his last set of mailboxes that need delivery overlook a pond just off San Pablo Bay that hundreds of Canvasbacks call home. After simply too much temptation, Jason breakdowns his brothers Winchester Model 1897 shotgun into two pieces. He will place a piece in each half of his paper boy bags, stack the papers on top and be on his way. After finishing his final delivery he will hide his bike in some nearby berry bushes and make a regular sneak on those Canvasbacks. After finding out that successful sneaks included the dreaded "swimming" after the downed birds on the pond in the dead of winter, this will not become a long held tradition.

In 1975, at the age of 12, Jason walks into Abercrombie & Fitch retail store. He isn't looking for a pair of hip, low riding jeans, but a duck call for his father, Emery. He finds an Iverson Duck Call, hand made in Rosewood. He purchases and gives this call to his father for Christmas, and has no idea that one day he will become the owner of this very company.

Only a few short months after receiving that duck call for Christmas, E. V. Iverson befriends, and ultimately sells the Iverson Company to Jason's Father. Mr. Mitchell brings the business to Novato and Jason starts immediately working in the shop. Despite the comedy of errors on the drills, saws and lathes, Jason grows to become in charge of nearly all the production of Iverson calls as early as his high school years. Jason begins a fascination with duck calls and calling. Jason pours over any sound of a mallard or recording that he can get his hands on. He becomes quite good at mimicking the sounds of live ducks.

During his sophomore year of high school, Jason's mom surprises him by giving him a puppy she picks out of a box in front of our local drug store. His brother Matt names the dog Sprig. Jason falls in love with his new dog and would find that working with and hunting with a dog brought a whole new level of enjoyment to the outdoors.

After graduating high school in 1981 Jason begins working for his dad full time while pursuing a degree at a local community college. Two years later he helps co-write, co-produce and co-record Duck Calling Instructional Cassette that is still available from the Iverson Duck Call company. He will go on to graduate with honors from California State University, Sacramento with a degree in business. As one last gasp of freedom before real life sets it, Jason travels through Russia, Mongolia and the Gobi Desert with three friends.
The late 80's sees Jason settle into full time management of operations and production at Iverson. His fascination with the duck call turns competitive as he begins throwing his hat into duck calling contests. In 1987 he is the West Coast Regional Duck Calling Champion and a World Duck Calling Contestant. In 1988 he takes first place Open Class in the Suisun Marsh Duck Calling Contest. He wins the West Coast Regional Championship again in 1990 year but waives on his opportunity to go to Stuttgart again.

The 80's ends with Jason heading off to Seminary. It would be the first time he would move without his hunting gear. Much to his surprise a good friend of his Dad's would find out that Jason is now in Southern California. Jason becomes a regular guest at an incredible duck club near Prado Dam just 30 minutes from Los Angeles. Jason sees some of his greatest hunts here during the next few years, guiding a number of times and is grateful to make some tremendous friends. Needless to say, that Thanksgiving, Jason loads up his hunting gear and takes it south! In 1991 he becomes the North American Duck Calling Champion and again competes at the World's.

In 1992 Jason marries Cheryl Denise Foust. Just a few short months later he graduates from Talbot School of Theology, Master of Divinity, Pastoral Studies. He and his new wife Cheryl move to Vancouver, Washington to start a new church. Together they found River Heights Church that is now pastored by their good friends Mike & Staci Boehlke. Besides enjoying the great northwest offering of waterfowling, Jason founds the River Hoop Fest 3 on 3 Basketball tournament and community event, Assists in design & development of Northwest Church Planting Center, serves on the Columbia Baptist Board of Overseers. Overseeing District Mission & Vision, climbs Mt. Adams and coaches soccer.

In 1995 Jason and Cheryl adopt a back yard dog named Jack. He is half Golden Retriever and half Labrador Retriever and he has retrieved nearly every duck for Jason since. Five years later Jack will go on to star in a film "Summer Job". Jack receives only accolades and no awards for his stellar performance.

In 1999 Jason and Cheryl move to Dallas, Texas where Jason works for a nationally organized church supporting non profit organization. Jason designs & directs a national network young church pastors.

Jason fulfills a long standing dream of going back to Russia after 15 years and takes his wife Cheryl. They design and direct a camp for 100 orphans & 50 volunteers in Kostroma, Russia. the following year they design & direct orphan aid tour of 6 orphanages in both the Vladimir and Kostroma regions of Russia. Jason continues to serve weekly for on the Leadership Design team of a local church called Journey in Dallas.

Jason Assumes the helm of Iverson Duck Calls in 2002.

"I am honored to assume the responsibility of a company whose soul encompasses over 75 years of history and which for the last 25 years I have helped to shape," said Mitchell. "I am excited by the challenge of taking this art and craft that my father has so carefully developed. Working closely with him, we have ensured that the Iverson calls that hunters have grown to love and collect will continue to be proudly held and used in the field for generations to come." -Jason Mitchell 2002