Final Glide Championship Calls
What was the first duck you ever shot, where did you shoot it, and what kind of gun did you shoot it with?
RHINE
My very first duck was a drake mallard. I shot it in my neighbors pond in Quarryville, Pennsylvania. I was shooting a Remington 1148, which was the first gun I ever owned.
FLYWAY
What is one duck you haven't shot but really want to?
RHINE
I would really like to shoot a Common Eider.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite duck or goose hunt and why?
RHINE
I really enjoy hunting Canada Geese because of the years I've spent learning to read them, call them and how they respond. From this experience, I have perfected my Canada Goose call which has shown to be very well liked by the geese. My favorite ducks to hunt are Divers because they come in low and follow the decoy lines which provides you "in-your face" action, which is always fast and furious!
FLYWAY
How and when did you discover you love and passion for waterfowl hunting?
RHINE
At age 20, a friend of mine invited me to go duck hunting. We took 12 mallard decoys in a burlap sack, set them up in a creek and we were able to harvest a mallard and a wood duck. From that day on I was hooked on waterfowl hunting.
FLYWAY
Do you believe in strategizing your decoy placement, or do you believe you can just throw them out there and be successful?
RHINE
I'm a firm believer that you need a strategy to your decoy spread if you want to experience success. Whether it be a "V", "J", "U" or family group patterns, the wind direction plays the most important role to any strategy.
FLYWAY
his year for your birthday I will be inviting 3 of your favorite bands or singers to perform for you at your birthday party. Who will I be inviting?
RHINE
Kid Rock, Aerosmith and Disturbed.
FLYWAY
Tell us about Final Glide Championship Calls and how it all got started.
RHINE
It all got started 7 years ago when I drew my first blueprint of a goose call. My dad, who was a machinist and owned his own machine shop, helped me turn my first call from the prints I drew. Through trial and error we developed a call design; through sacrifices, calling contests and waterfowl hunting experiences, we were able to perfect the sound that "puts the birds on their Final Glide".
FLYWAY
If you were teaching a class or giving a seminar on what it takes to be a successful duck and goose caller, what would be some tips and advice that you would offer?
RHINE
First and foremost, stick to the basics and stick to what notes you know: the field is not a time to experiment. Knowing how to read the birds is huge and most important, practice, practice, practice!!
FLYWAY
You can go on a dream hunt with any 3 people of your choice, alive or deceased. Who will you be taking, where will you be going and what will you be hunting for?
RHINE
I would be heading to Canada hunting duck and geese with my son, who is currently 3, my dad and my grandfather who is deceased. To bring all those generations together and enjoy our family tradition of hunting waterfowl would definitely be a dream come true.
FLYWAY
What is your greatest hunting memory or the one that stands out the most?
RHINE
Shooting my first drake mallard with my dad and seeing him strip down to his underwear in November to retrieve it from the middle of the pond is definitely unforgettable.
FLYWAY
What are some things as owner of Final Glide Championship Calls that you look for when picking and choosing your pro staff? Are there certain qualities or areas of expertise that you look for when deciding who you will take on your staff?
RHINE
I like to choose people who are dedicated, experienced and respectful of the sport. Having guys from different regions that are willing to promote Final Glide by leading seminars, working shows, attending banquets and entering calling contests plays a large role in my choices as well.
FLYWAY
Your favorite movie and your favorite television show would be....?
RHINE
My favorite movie, by far, is The Hangover. No matter how many times I have seen it I can still laugh. I enjoy any television show that involves hunting. A couple of my favorites are D3TV, No Fences and Interlock Outdoors.
FLYWAY
Do you enjoy any other kinds of hunting or fishing? What are some of your other hobbies that do not involve a gun, bow or fishing pole?
RHINE
I enjoy archery hunting, offshore and trout fishing.When the gun, bow or fishing pole is removed from my hands I enjoy call making, calling in and judging calling contests and the outdoor bar-b-que of course!
FLYWAY
Your favorite meal is...?
RHINE
Seafood, pretty much any kind of seafood but I definitely enjoy cracking crabs!
FLYWAY
What would you say is your proudest moment, or moments, in relation to your time spent in the waterfowl hunting industry?
RHINE
Taking 1st place in the Barnegat Bay Open Duck Contest and 1st in the Barnegat Bay Open Team Duck Contest rank very high in my proudest moments, as well as appearing on a few hunting shows and doing D3TV's tip of the week this year.
FLYWAY
Do you prefer hunting on the water or in the field and why
RHINE
I like to watch the ducks and geese come into the corn stubble while laying in the Beavertail Destroyer Layout Blinds amongst a large spread of Canada Goose decoys and some duck decoys. The excitement of popping up at the sound of "take 'em" and watching the back peddling of the ducks and geese when they realize they have been fooled is priceless!
FLYWAY
Describe Dave Rhine in one word.
RHINE
Generous.
FLYWAY
As you start to look ahead to 2011 do you have anything new and exciting in store at Final Glide Championship Calls?
RHINE
We are working on a new duck call and a new goose call. We will also be offering some new color options. That is all the details I am giving at this time so check my website for updates and details as they progress.
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Dave Rhine for taking the time to answer our interview questions. To see more about Final Glide Championship Calls check them on Facebook, at Final Glide Championship Calls, and their website www.finalglide.com or feel free to email Dave anytime at dave@finalglide.com.
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