Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear
Give us a little history on yourself and tell us how and when did you discovered your passion for waterfowl hunting?
BIRD
I grew up in southwestern Minnesota in the country, the middle son of three kids. I had hard working parents that owned and trained thoroughbred race horses so I spent most of my time as a kid working and was never home in the summer, but I did get to see a large part of the Midwest and Canada. When I was 11 I bought a half dozen traps and started trapping, the next year I saved my money pickin’ rock and bought my first gun, a single shot 20 gauge. There were very few ducks and geese where I grew up so I chased upland game, trapped and was a sports nut. I got into waterfowling once I got to college in South Dakota, that’s when I got the bug.
FLYWAY
What was the first duck you shot, where did you shoot it and what kind of gun did you shoot it with?
BIRD
My first duck was a drake green wing teal. I jump shot him off the creek that ran through the field where I lived near Kenneth, MN. I didn’t know then what kind it was, but I remember cleaning it and using his head for mink bait. I don’t think it worked. I Killed him with my 20 gauge single shot.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite duck or goose to hunt, and why?
BIRD
I don’t really have a favorite. They all present a great challenge and that’s what I enjoy the most. I still love walking into lakes and water holes, just my dog and me. The quiet, early mornings on a muskrat hut are pretty tough to beat.
FLYWAY
What is one kind of duck you haven't shot but would really like to?
BIRD
I’ve been lucky enough to shoot all the ducks I’ve wanted to, but something with a reward band on it would be cool
FLYWAY
You can go on a dream of a lifetime hunt with any 3 people you want, alive or deceased. Who will you be taking with you on your dream hunt, where will you be hunting and what will you be hunting for?
BIRD
I’d take my dad, my little boy, and my great grandpa, Blake. I didn’t get a chance to know him much as he passed away when I was very young but he was the epitome of what we picture when we think of hunters back in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s. Knee high lace up boots, wool from head to toe, and Model 12’s. The pictures I have of him are amazing. We’d be after mallards in the sloughs where my dad grew up hunting in the Madelia, MN area and I’d want it to be cold enough to bust ice.
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?
BIRD
Glen Campbell, Ronnie Milsap and Michael Buble.
FLYWAY
Let's talk about Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear for a moment. Tell us how and when Heavy Hauler got it's start in the industry and what the inspiration was behind it.
BIRD
Heavy Hauler Ooutdoor Gear got it’s start as a company in 2002 when I was working for an outdoor retailer. I was simply inspired by a lack of product in a couple of areas and me looking to make a little money on the side. After good sales success the items were put in their catalog and all stores. A year later I had other retailers looking for the same products and away we go. I don’t know as I ever had plans for it to become what it is now. I’d like to look at HHOG as a testament to the good things that can happen to anyone with the willingness to work hard and the ability to ignore the word NO.
FLYWAY
In your opinion, what sets your lanyards apart from the competition and makes them the best?
BIRD
#1-comfort, always has been and always will be. #2 -customization. Previous to the introductions of The Limit Supreme and The Swap Out, no lanyard allowed the user to double loop calls while swiveling and remaining tangle free. One also could not customize by moving calls around or making a one call lanyard a 2,3,4, 5 or more call lanyard and no other allowed you to convert your lanyard into a duck strap. That is all possible with these two.
FLYWAY
Tell me about some of the frustrations you encounter owning and operating Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear. How stressful is it and what are some of the things that cause you stress and anguish that the general public might not be aware of?
BIRD
Developing a product for any length of time only to have a buyer deny the customer the opportunity to buy it drives me nuts. Ultimately in most occasions one person decides if your product stays or goes. Verbal agreements often get overlooked and written purchase orders often get cancelled. I’ve been lucky, for me the reward has outweighed the stress every year.
FLYWAY
What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment so far with Heavy Hauler and who are some people within the industry who have helped you out and encouraged you along the way?
BIRD
My biggest accomplishment would have been quitting my “real” job to run Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear full time.That was just about 10 yrs ago, way back when I first met Rick Payne, a sales rep with Pentax optics. He was extremely helpful in getting me on the right road for large scale production. All the managers I worked with in retail were great. Had they not allowed me to “test” sell product I’d never have gotten an opportunity to see if Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear would ever amount to anything.
FLYWAY
Besides lanyards, what other products do you offer hunters at Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear? Give us an idea of some hot items you are currently offering that hunters might be interested in as our season approaches.
BIRD
The Big Top decoy bag is an outstanding new “Hot” product for this year for those using sliding anchor Texas rigged decoys, long line set ups, or any type rig for that matter. I’ve also introduced The Puddler decoy bag for the walk in guy with a small spread. Also available I’ve got duck straps in braided cord, a leather strap you‘ll never destroy, and the neoprene Strandle-the only duck strap with a handle is my best seller. Heavy Hauler OG also makes 2 types of gun slings, goose flags and The Goose Tube - the best investment one can make to manage, and protect goose flags when not in use. Every waterfowler also needs one of the mini duck call key chains. Two years ago I introduced the first and only neoprene neck strap Fly Fishing lanyard and last year a Deer Drag harness designed to be strong and comfortable, it’s not a spindly little harness but a real brute.
FLYWAY
Let's talk about your DVD, "The Band Wagon...Just Gettin' Started" for a minute. I was impressed by it and thought it was very well done. What made you decide to make a DVD, how long and tedious of a process was it to produce and what has the response and feedback been like for you so far?
BIRD
Marketing and brand promotion was my intention when I decided to put together a DVD. We filmed for 5 months and spent another 3 or 4 before it got wrapped up, edited, and the packaging designed. Matt Keller did a tremendous job editing the DVD. The tedious part? Wow, difficulty finding cameramen, had a brand new high end camera quit working after two days of use and lost some great footage to bad tapes. Hunting and editing seemed to be the easy part. I'm certainly hoping the jinx is gone when I head north in September.
FLYWAY
What calls would we find on your lanyard right now?
BIRD
Lynch-X factor, Grounds-Triple Crown, Mafia Crew-Band Grenade, all goose calls and a duck call by Addicted calls. I swap out calls a time or two during the season. I’ve managed to “collect” a bunch and really like using them all.
FLYWAY
Your favorite movie of all time is....?
BIRD
Wizard of Oz.
FLYWAY
Your favorite meal is....?
BIRD
That would be any one of the killer hot-dishes my mom used to make when I was growing up and she still does. Even though I like to cook I really miss that great home cooking all the time.
FLYWAY
Are there things you see or hear about within the waterfowl hunting industry that bother you? I'm sure we all have things we would like to see change that would help all of us out more. Competition can be fierce out there and it seems loyalty and looking out for one another is falling by the wayside as time goes on. What are some things you would like to see change or do you think things are good right now?
BIRD
I wish a handshake still meant something other than trading germs. I think consumers still maintain brand loyalty as much as their wallet will allow these days. Brand loyalty by endorsees doesn’t exist, no integrity or credibility when guys jump ship any time a bigger pay day comes along. No one’s getting rich and famous from the waterfowl industry. There is plenty of room for different products and brands. I’m all for being the best or making a great product but I wish R and D still meant research and development and not research and duplicate.
FLYWAY
I always like to pick the brain of a waterfowl hunter in regards to decoy placement. Some guys construct a massive, detailed plan and lay awake the night beforea hunt thinking about it. These guys are meticulous and have to have everything perfect or they feel they won't have success. Then you have the guys who prefer to get a late start and just throw their decoys out anywhere, it looks more like a soup sandwich than it does a decoy spread. There is no rhyme or reason to it whatsoever yet even these guys have success at times. Your thoughts?
BIRD
If you think you’ll succeed you probably will, if you think you’ll fail you absolutely will. I don’t set up decoys like it’s a jigsaw puzzle. I’ll know going in how or where I need to be set up. From there the wind is going to dictate the rest, just keep it at your back. Once the birds start showing up I’ll know then if I need to move some decoys. Geese tend to want a hole to land in, ducks don’t care, they’ll land on one another. A decoy set up is nothing I’ve ever lost any sleep over though.
FLYWAY
I'm a firm believer that all of us have one hunting memory that sticks out above all others. For me it wasn't a duck or goose hunt, it was shooting my first buck with my dad watching proudly. What is your favorite hunting memory?
BIRD
My favorite moment and best hunt ever was last fall. It was still around 50 degrees. I took my 4 yr old little boy out just a mile from our house with 6 goose decoys and a blind. He had his plastic side by side along just in case. After we got set up he laid on my lap until the geese got up. “Shoot em dad, shoot em dad” is all he kept saying. A three pack locked up and came right in. We sat up, I shot three times and dropped three geese. I’d never done that and he’d never been on a hunt before. He had to drag the geese to the truck by himself, no help was allowed. I can’t tell you who was more excited but when I heard “dad, this is the bestest day ever” I felt the joy I hope every dad one day gets to feel.
FLYWAY
Tell me about the Big Top Decoy Bag. I was checking it out at the Waterfowl Expo at Scheels in Mankato when you and I were talking and was very impressed by it. For those who may not be familiar with it, shed some light on what it is designed to do as oppossed to the regular decoy bags you seeon the market.
BIRD
A few years ago I started using the sliding anchor decoy rigs (Texas rigs, Rig em Right). The quick and easy part of using this system stopped once it was time to put them back into a decoy bag. I came up with a design that allowed me to take 12 rigged decoys, pick them up and just drop them in a bag. It is the easiest and fastest to load decoy bag on the market. It has 5 built in fiberglass legs so it stands on it’s own, a band around the top to keep it open, and a drawstring closure top keeping things in place. No more “stuffing” decoys, simply load and go. Easily drop in a dozen decoys at a time, no help needed. Perfect for boat, truck and it is the best way to utilize trailer space by hanging them from the inside rafters. It easily holds 3-4 dozen duck decoys or 12 floating goose decoys. Remove the legs and The Big Top collapses allowing you to stack numerous bags for storage. It's built extremely well and costs $20-$30 less than other bags that hold half as many decoys.
FLYWAY
Do you have anything new and exciting coming up for Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear in the near future? What are you currently working on or in the process of developing for this year or 2012?
BIRD
I’ll start filming in September for the second installment of “The Band Wagon” DVD series. Mums the word on products for 2012, you’ll have to stay tuned but there are a couple of great items nearly finished already for next year.
FLYWAY
Describe Jason Bird in one word.
BIRD
Persistent.
FLYWAY
Who or what inspires you?
BIRD
5 years ago my true inspiration came along and that was when my son was born. Kids just make us want to be the best we can be and do more everyday for them. It may sound cheezy and cliché but it’s the truth.
FLYWAY
What are some of your other hobbies? What would we find you doing in your spare time, assuming you have any!
BIRD
I dig movies. I enjoy going probably just for the popcorn. Fortunately for me most of what I do for a living is still fun and pretty much my hobbies. With a little guy legos, puzzles, coloring books, and Transformers are becoming more and more a hobby I guess.
FLYWAY
How many trade and sport shows do you average a year and do you enjoy doing them? Do you have any personal favorites and what do you enjoy most about attending them? Will we see you at Game Fair this year?
BIRD
I do 4 or 5 shows a year. I enjoy meeting all the guys using my products and people in general. I’m a talker once I get going. Seeing all the guys in the industry at the shows is fun too. Pheasant Season Opener at Cabelas in Mitchell, SD is awesome for retail shows. The Eastern Sports Show in Pennsylvania is probably the one I like the most for consumer shows but I’ve only gone once. SHOT Show is amazing just to see all the products that exist in the industry. Game Fair is always a great time and I’ll be there both weekends again this year.
FLYWAY
In closing I want to thank you for spending a little time with Minnesota Flyway. Tell viewers to this website how they can keep up with you and where they can check out more about what Heavy Hauler Outdoor Gear has to offer. Oh, and maybe you and the Heavy Hauler crew should join forces with the Minnesota Flyway crew for a hunt or two this year, your thoughts?
BIRD
You can follow us on Facebook on the Heavy Hauler page. www.facebook.com Hauler-Outdoor-Gear
“LIKE” us and be in the running for FREE product giveaways. And you can always check out the website www.heavyhauleroutdoorgear.com .I’m always up for a great hunt with the Minnesota Flyway crew, when and where?
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Jason Bird for taking the time to answer our interview questions.
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