Jase Robertson
Follow up interview
Duck Commander
We talked about a year ago and I thought it would be nice to catch up and see what you have been up to. What has the past year been like for you? Were you able to do anything new or exciting?
ROBERTSON
I was able to design my first two "triple reed" duck calls this year. It is exciting to design something from scratch, especially something I think will help me get more ducks. One is called the "triple threat" and the other is an acrylic version called the "mach 3". I also was able to travel the country doing various appearances and speaking engagements in cities I have not ever visited. It is awesome to meet so many duck hunters in places I have never been.
FLYWAY
I've introduced my 8 year old son, Max to waterfowl hunting and he is hooked for life. It took one time out in the marsh and he became obsessed. How important is it to you to get our youth out hunting at an early age and teach them respect and responsibility for the sport you and I both love?
ROBERTSON
I was also 8 when I went on my first hunt and, outside of my relationship with God and my immediate family, it was the most exciting thing I've ever done (except for the part when I shot the decoys 3 smooth times because I thought they were real.) Seriously, I think it teaches our young people about "God's grocery store" (Genesis 9:1-4), responsibility about the environment, and the overall fun of hunting. My most special hunts these days involve taking my two sons and this year I plan on taking my 8 year old daughter Mia.
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?
ROBERTSON
Ha, that's funny. #3 would be Lynard Skynard. That might be a tough one though. You could get Jason Aldean if the one-day resurrection pass falls through. #2 would be the Zac Brown Band. The dude is a hunter, and I love his catchy tunes. #1 would be my wife Missy. Although she doesn't sing for money, she uses her beautiful voice in various ways at our church functions and has always seemed to make me a bit "misty-eyed".
FLYWAY
We touched on living a Godly life briefly when we last spoke and it got me thinking, if God truly loves us and wants us to be happy then am I to assume that we will be able to duck hunt in Heaven? Maybe once we get there we won't care to hunt ducks anymore, your thoughts?
ROBERTSON
I have thought about that a lot in my life. I used to proudly proclaim that we would get to duck hunt in heaven and there would not be a game warden anywhere around (well, maybe a couple). However, now, I tend to view it as it's not so much what we will do but who we are with and for how long. If I am with the Lord and my family and friends forever, I really don't care what we do. It will be fun.
FLYWAY
Your favorite Bible verse and why?
ROBERTSON
It is constantly changing, kind of like life. For years it was Matthew 19:26. Lately, it has not been a verse but a chapter - Luke 15. I love the fact that God made the world but he pursues every individual.
FLYWAY
About a month ago I shot a pintail. It was my first pintail ever and I have been walking on clouds ever since. I don't think I could be more pumped up about it! Have you ever shot a certain duck or made a great shot and got so excited you couldn't contain your excitement?
ROBERTSON
Many times, but the most excited I ever got was also shooting a pintail. We hunt the woods mostly and pintails are a bit rare. I have traveled and shot a lot, but there is something special about shooting one at our hole. I once was on an evening hunt with my brother's son-in-law, Jay, and I took a long shot on a pintail drake right before shooting hours ended. He sailed roughly a quarter mile and landed in a cut-over. I searched until dark with no luck. The next morning I went back and, even though the brush was over my head, I found him in less than an hour. He was a beauty. Jay mounted him, and he is in his living room today. He loves telling the story of the 14-hour retrieve.
FLYWAY
It's deer hunting season up here in Minnesota. I know Willie deer hunts, do you? Do you like to hunt anything besides ducks?
ROBERTSON
I like to deer hunt, but I love to eat deer. I consider the best "shooter" a young doe when I have an unfilled doe-tag. I love dove hunting, frog hunting and fishing more than deer hunting though.
FLYWAY
What is your biggest pet peeve? What makes you mad or angry?
ROBERTSON
I am pretty easy-going. I guess if I had to pick something, it would be someone shooting over my head, especially if it is only one duck. I think it is a form of mistrust. They ring my ears and subliminally say they don't trust that I would have gotten him.
FLYWAY
You and I are in a duck blind together. As we look to the right we see a flock of Teal coming in and as we look to our left we see a flock of pintails coming in. You really want the teal and think we should set our sights on them. I really want the pintails and think we should take them down. We have about 10 seconds to make a decision and we are only going to get a shot at one of the flocks. Is it going to be the teal or will it be the pintails? How are we to come to a friendly resolution?
ROBERTSON
In our blind, to prevent that scenario from happening, we have one captain who makes the call. That is usually me or Phil because we hunt on the ends of the blind. We determine the "quarterback" based on the wind direction and which end needs to make the call. Right or wrong, it is his decision no matter the circumstance and everyone else goes with it. I will admit that most arguments in duck blinds arise from this set-up. Everybody wants to be the QB and it's so easy to criticize when things do not go well or someone prefers one duck over another.
FLYWAY
Describe Jase Robertson in one word.
ROBERTSON
Simple.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite movie of all time and what are a few tv shows you enjoy watching?
ROBERTSON
The Outlaw Josey Wales. I think I could quote that movie from start to finish. I am a sports nut, so most of the TV shows I watch revolve around sports. Duck season = the Weather Channel.
FLYWAY
In your opinion, what has been the best Duck Commander dvd so far? If you were to try and sell me on just one of them, which one would you tell me to get and why?
ROBERTSON
Honestly, it is the new DVD every year. From my perspective, we try to improve each year with our production quality and footage. It is quite a project every year, and I am involved in every aspect until it is done. I see it about a hundred times before it is released. Once it is released it is almost dead to me, and I am ready for the next one. That's why, to me, the excitement is all about the new one. This year, Duckmen 16.
FLYWAY
How do you deal with all the snakes you have to watch out for when you are hunting? Have you ever had any close calls with any of them while hunting? The biggest nuisance we have up here when we duck hunt are Coots and Blackbirds, I can't imagine dealing with poisonous snakes.
ROBERTSON
I have had numerous encounters. The way we deal with them is "shoot 'em!" This place is covered with snakes, but actually you get used to it. The culture forces you to instinctively know where they hang out and how to spot them. I immediately change course.
FLYWAY
What were you doing before you got involved with Duck Commander?
ROBERTSON
I worked a few jobs. Construction, roofing, logging and commercial fishing and crawfishing. I also did some ministry. I worked as an intern at a local church and traveled the globe a bit sharing Jesus and participated in some humanitarian trips. I still share Jesus now, but for free. I always say I am not a preacher, I am a believer.
FLYWAY
I want to thank you for taking the time out to catch up with us. I wish you the best on your hunts and be safe out there! One last thing, I'm sure you did but I would be remiss if I
didn't ask you, did you watch the LSU/Alabama football game?
ROBERTSON
Thanks so much for having me again, I hope we can catch up again sometime soon. And of course I watched LSU/Alabama. I did a lot of yelling six inches from the TV. I'm a HUGE LSU fan! No gloating here. I would rather them win the last one in New Orleans this year, then I will start gloating! GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Jase Robertson for taking the time again to answer our interview questions. To see more of Jase visit www.duckcommander.com
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