Big Sean's Championship Calls
Tell us a little about Sean Hammock. You were born in Michigan and now call Minnesota home. Give us a little history on your journey from Michigan to Minnesota and tell us about some of the impressive people and companies you worked for along the way.
HAMMOCK
I was born and raised in a small town called Edwardsburg, Michigan. I grew up on my Uncle's farm bailing hay and working in the fields. I had access to a lot of land to hunt from my Uncle and other farmers in the area. In my opinion, that's what helped make me a successful waterfowler. I was killing ducks and geese in my own backyard at the age of 12. When I was 17, I got bored during the summer and decided to start contest calling. I loved hunting ducks and geese so much and I really wanted to stay involved all year long. Contest calling and winning several championships is what took me to the next level in the industry. I started winning contests and traveling the country representing Zink Calls and winning some money along the way. Fred Zink has always been the guy I have looked up to since back in the Mossy Oak Whistling Wing days. When I got the chance to pro staff for Zink, it was a dream come true at that point. Freddy helped me in his basement in his old farm house in central Ohio. He critiqued me and got me on the right track in becoming a championship caliber caller. After 5 years of working with Zink and starring in a couple of his 24-7 DVD productions, it was time for me to move on. I left Michigan and all of my family and moved down to Illinois to work for Foiles Migrators. I worked for Jeff Foiles for 3 years tuning calls, taking orders, running the pro staff, ect. It was a great opportunity for me to dig deeper in the industry and learn more about the business. I left Foiles almost 3 years ago and moved here to Stillwater, Minnesota. I now reside here and have started my own call company, Big Sean's Championship Calls. I have learned a lot from all of the guys in the industry on what to do, and what not to do. It's now time to grow my business and create my own style in the waterfowl world!
FLYWAY
What is one duck you haven't shot but would really like to?
HAMMOCK
Oh geesh...this is a hard one. I have shot so many kinds of ducks in North America, and South America as well. I haven't shot any Sea Ducks and don't have
much of a desire to. Other than that, I have killed about every species I can think of, but, I have never killed a "NICE" Drake Canvasback. I have killed
them, but never a big bull to get mounted. I guess that would be the only duck but the problem is I'm a field hunter and I don't ever hunt diver ducks. So, who
knows if I will ever get one.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite duck to hunt and why?
HAMMOCK
The Mallard. It's hard to beat a big, fat greenhead dumping into your decoys. I like all puddle ducks to be honest with you. Mallards, Blacks, Widgeon, Gadwall, Teal, ect. What I like most about Mallards is calling them. They are a duck that responds to a call unlike a Diver duck or other puddlers. I like hunting birds that I can call in.
FLYWAY
You and I have talked about our preference for goose hunting in the fields. What is it about hunting geese in the fields that you find so appealing?
HAMMOCK
The main reason for hunting waterfowl in the fields is simple. I don't like blowing up a roost spot!! The only way you will find me on the water is either late in the season or on a small pond that the birds are using for a daytime roost. When guys hunt water, all they are doing is messing it up for everyone else out there. UNLESS they hunt the water smart, which most guys don't. By hunting the birds in the fields you are letting the birds get up on their own, go feed with no pressure and return back to a safe place. If you are on the water, you will mess up some part of that process for sure and educate the birds, thus making it harder to kill them down the road. Also, field hunting is a little easier and more friendly for a guy like me! I am too big to be in waders or in a little canoe going down a stream!
FLYWAY
You can go on an all expenses paid dream hunt with any 3 people you choose, alive or deceased. Who will you be taking on your hunt, where will you be going and what will you be hunting for?
HAMMOCK
I would go with the core guys that got me serious about waterfowling back when I was a kid. But, there are five guys, not three. Jeff Went, Mark Nelson, Jeff Glaser, Colin Clark and Chris Marrow. We would probably just go to Alberta or somewhere in Canada and just have a good time shooting the birds we love. All these guys had an influence on me for sure. Thank God I was able to be around good hunters and most of all, good people.
FLYWAY
For your birthday this year I will be inviting 3 of your favorite bands or singers to perform especially for you at your birthday party. Who will I be inviting?
HAMMOCK
Eminem, Blake Shelton and Kid Rock!
FLYWAY
Talk to me a little about your passion for turkey hunting. You will travel thousands of miles and cross many borders to hunt turkeys. How and when did you discover your passion for turkey hunting and would it be fair to say you prefer turkey hunting over waterfowl hunting?
HAMMOCK
I started Turkey hunting when I was 15. I needed something to do in the Spring time! I fell in love with chasing Turkeys right off the bat! I love calling big Gobblers in and shooting them in the face! I have killed Gobblers in 14 states. I absolutely love it! If Turkeys gobbled in the Fall, I would have a hard decision to make on what to hunt. I like Turkey hunting the best in the Spring, but I like Goose hunting the best in the Fall.
FLYWAY
Your DVD, The School of Waterfowl Session 1, is quite impressive. It's refreshing to watch a hunting DVD that has more substance to it than just birds falling from the sky and loud music playing in the background. You focus on the how's and why's and come at it from an instructional angle, I think the waterfowl hunters are clamoring for more of this type of DVD. What made you decide to make this DVD and when will we see Session 2 and what should we expect to see in Session 2?
HAMMOCK
I just listen to what people are saying and what they want to see. I know I will never please everyone and I doubt I will ever have the "best" DVD out there. That is not the point for me and my company. I want to help people and show them how I do things. I'm not saying I am always right, or what I do always works, but it's what works for me on a certain day. I will just keep doing my thing and making hunting instructional DVD's in my style. Next year in Session 2 you will see several different camera angles on the actual hunts and of course more tips on those hunts. I will place some calling tips in there as well. I may even put that shock collar on my leg and see how bad the pain actually is!
FLYWAY
I want to focus our attention on decoy placement for a moment. How important is strategising your decoy placement to you? I know some guys who lay awake at night devising a decoy strategy, they pay attention to every little detail and act as if they are going into battle with their battle plans at the ready.
Others simply throw their decoys out with no rhyme or reason whatsoever and their spread looks like a complete disaster, yet they still seem to have success most of the time. Your thoughts?
HAMMOCK
I'm like the first guy. I can't sleep at night most of the time thinking about the next morning. I think about wind, roost area, sun, ect. Decoy set up is very critical in my opinion. Not always, not 100 percent of the time, but 99 percent of the time. It all depends on the birds you're hunting and how pressured they are. It also depends if you are out filming or just on a fun hunt with the guys. There is a different situation everyday when I go out. The main deal is to look real, hide, and put the sun to your back!
FLYWAY
This might be a tough question but I believe each of us has a "greatest hunting moment" or memory. Is there one that sticks out for you or has left a lasting impression?
HAMMOCK
The first hunt I ever went on with my dad, I was 7 years old. We were Woodcock hunting in Michigan on the land I grew up on. I can tell you the exact tree we stood by and talked. I had my old black lab, Drew with us and he flushed one bird and my Dad winged it with one shot. That was the first time I ever saw something get shot! I thought it was the coolest thing ever!! That was actually the first and last time I hunted with my father. Hopefully someday we can get out together again for a shoot. He used to hunt when he was young, but he got out of it once I was born. That Woodcock stayed in the freezer for years...dog training for Drew I guess!
FLYWAY
Your time and credentials on the contest stage is impressive. To be the #1 Ranked Goose Caller in the world and have more championships and top fives than any other caller in contest history has to feel pretty special. When did you decide to hit the stage for the first time and did you experience your share of "lows" before you experienced the "highs"? What is your proudest moment on the competition stage, is there a certain win or championship that you hold near and dear to your heart?
HAMMOCK
I was the #1 Ranked Goose caller for two years back when I was traveling like crazy. I have won lots of contests for sure. I have over 60 championships and 120 top five finishes...or something crazy like that. I started when I was 17, I won my first that year. I never really experienced a "low". I just kept trucking and practicing to win. I have lost my share of contests too, anything other that first place is a loss in my opinion. My most memorable would be when I won the World Open Championship for the first time. I practiced my butt off for that win and I wanted it so badly! The next year I came back to win it again! I'm the only caller in history to win the World Open two years in a row.
FLYWAY
Mr. Big and The Big Kahuna are incredible goose calls. They both offer different sounds and have different designs. What was your thought process when designing and making these calls?
HAMMOCK
I like a goose call that is fast and high pitched. Most guys like a deep call that sounds real "goosey". I wanted to make something to fit everyone's needs. The Big Kahuna is super low sounding and very true to life in sound. Mr. Big is a KILLER! It's fast, high pitched and powerful!
FLYWAY
Do you plan on offering a duck call in the near future? If so what should we expect from it and have you given it a name yet?
HAMMOCK
Yes, I'm almost done with the duck call now. Duck calls are unlike Goose calls and take A LOT more work and time to get right. The name of the duck call is BIG MAMMA. It will come in single reed and double reed.
FLYWAY
What are some of the keys to being a good caller? Everybody says practice is critical and one of the most important ingredients in becoming a good or great caller, that is a given and goes without saying. What would you say are some important things to remember for the beginners out there? What tips, advice or words of wisdom would you offer them?
HAMMOCK
Have faith. Have confidence. Believe in what you want and go fricken get it! Oh yeah, one more thing, try to have a little fun and not take everything so serious!
FLYWAY
Your favorite movie of all time is...?
HAMMOCK
Wedding Crashers.
FLYWAY
Your favorite TV show is....?
HAMMOCK
Deadliest Catch.
FLYWAY
Your favorite meal is....?
HAMMOCK
Sushi.
FLYWAY
Describe Sean Hammock in one word.
HAMMOCK
Hungry. That can be taken in a couple different ways!
FLYWAY
What are some of your other interests or hobbies?
HAMMOCK
My life is a hobby. Hunting and being outdoors is all I like, and everything that goes along with it.
FLYWAY
As a call maker, do you find yourself keeping an eye on what the competition is doing or do you not care either way? What are some of the stresses and difficulties you encounter and experience as a call maker that the general public would be unaware of? I have to believe that owning and operating a call making business can be both fun and stressful at times.
HAMMOCK
I do look at what others are doing. I need to keep up with the competition for sure, but I don't really care. I just want to stay true to myself and my company. I need to be who I am and make good products. Yes, it's stressful, but there is medicine for that! The only problem I have is not having enough working capital. Money is key!! I don't have a pocket full of money to blow and spend on everything like some guys do. I have to grow slow because I have no other choice.
FLYWAY
What was your thinking process in starting Big Sean's Championship Calls? Was there a drive or desire to start your own call company years ago or was it a decision that was made rather quickly?
HAMMOCK
Because it's all I know really, and it's the only thing I really enjoy. I had no other choice, construction work sucks!
FLYWAY
What is your schedule like as far as trade shows and fairs during the course of the year? Do you enjoy some more than others? All of them provide you the opportunity to interact with your fans but are there things about attending these shows that you don't like?
HAMMOCK
I like them all. I have done so many in the last ten years, it really doesn't matter. I enjoy talking to guys and helping them with their questions and concerns. As of right now I have eight weekends in a row lined up to work shows. I'm looking forward to it for sure! It gets me out of the house!
FLYWAY
Are there things you see or hear about in the waterfowl industry that bother you? What are some things you would like to see change or things you would like to lead the charge in as far as things you see hurting the industry. Or do you believe all is well and no changes are necessary?
HAMMOCK
All is well??? NOT. There are too many big egos out there and guys thinking they are Top Dog. I wish guys would stop taking themselves so seriously and just have some fun. It would not hurt if a handful of guys would open up the good book and read a bit. Keeping God first and realizing how we got here on earth would help everyone. I'm not saying I'm the best because I am not! Our life here on earth is short, why take it so serious? Help others, be kind to others, have fun.....and kill stuff!
FLYWAY
What calls would I find on Big Sean Hammocks lanyard right now?
HAMMOCK
All of my calls right now, and a Zink duck call I used last year.
FLYWAY
Who are some of the people who have helped you and supported you in your journey to where you are now? As you look back, are there people you credit in helping you obtain the success you have?
HAMMOCK
My mother for sure! She has always supported me. All of my family has been great. As far as other people, here is a short list of guys I owe credit to: Fred Zink, Shawn Stahl, Jeff Glaser, Jeff Went, Mark Nelson, Chris Marrow, Jeff Foiles, Bob Alferi and my fiance' Tara Langford. But most of all, the Man above for putting these people in my path.
FLYWAY
In closing, you recently became the official sponsor of Minnesota Flyway. We are honored and look forward to a fun and exciting future together with you and Big Sean's Championship Calls. How can visitors to this website find out more about you and your products?
HAMMOCK
I am happy to be part of Minnesota Flyway! The future is most certainly bright! I am now a Minnesota man and proud of it. I want to support this state and all of the waterfowlers in it! The best way to keep up with me and know what is going on is to go to my website, www.bigseanscalls.com. Facebook and Twitter are great ways to keep up as well.
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Big Sean Hammock for taking the time to answer our interview questions.
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