RNTeam Professional
Minnesota Flyway Contributor
Bio
Ever Since my first hunt on youth waterfowl day at the age of 12, I have been hooked on Waterfowling! Since then it has consumed me, and has grown into much more than just a hobby. Not a day goes by when I am not thinking about being in the field, or competing in different calling contests. 2007 was the first year I start contest calling. Since then I have competed in numerous calling competitions across the Midwest. One of my favorite parts of contest calling, is getting out and meeting new people and hearing different stories from across the country. Contest calling is also a great way to stay sharp on your calling skills, which will help you become more successful in the field. I am ALWAYS open to helping people with their calling. There is nothing better than watching someone you have helped and critiqued for countless hours win their first contest, or call in and harvest their first duck or goose! When the birds start flying, you can find me chasing them from border to border across the great state of Minnesota. I am always open to hunting with new faces, and critiquing people on their calling to help them succeed.
FLYWAY
What was the first duck you ever shot, where did you shoot it, and what kind of gun did you shoot it with?
BENJAMIN
I shot my first duck when I was 12 years old on Youth Waterfowl Day. It was a Green Wing Teal, and I shot it in far northern Minnesota. We hunted a decent sized lake that was covered in wild rice… the hunting was really good that day! I brought it down with a Remington 870 20ga.
FLYWAY
What is your greatest hunting memory?
BENJAMIN
I am not sure if I have a single particular memory that stands out. Every time one goes hunting memories are made. There have been many excellent hunts when the birds came in perfect, as well as many hunts that the birds never showed and we froze our butts off! All have memories I hope I NEVER forget!!
FLYWAY
Have youever had a dangerous or scary experience while hunting?
BENJAMIN
As far as scary or dangerous moments hunting go, we usually don’t do anything too crazy. If the conditions are unsafe, we either change our game plans or if they are too bad we stay home. We have used too small of boats with too many people and too much gear on rivers and such, but I always enjoy living to hunt another day so we keep it pretty tame. Many waterfowl hunters truly think that the best days to hunt is when it is freezing cold and pouring rain and call it a “Ducky Day”, but in all honestly when the weather is poor, the birds change their patterns and will sit on the roost for days or until the weather clears. I prefer a partly cloudy day or bluebird day for waterfowl hunting, and overcast for hunting evenings.
FLYWAY
Have you ever doubled or tripled?
BENJAMIN
I have on occasion got 2 for ones, and only one time have I got a 3 for one on ducks. I don’t think I have ever killed 2 honkers in one shot, but I know I have killed about 5-8 snows per shot once when a buddy and myself shot into a flock and in 10 shots killed 57 snows. One being double banded which was my first bands! Typically on ducks I strive to only shoot drakes, so when you are really picky on what bird your going after, it is tough to get more than one. Same with Canada Geese, I try to pick my side of the flock, or birds that are getting away so again it is tricky to get more than one.
FLYWAY
What do you do for RNT?
BENJAMIN
I am on the Professional Staff for RNT calls. I am responsible to promote RNT Calls at shows, in contests, online, or in person whenever possible. I travel across the country and work at vendor booths at waterfowl expos, as well as give seminars to attendants.
FLYWAY
What is one duck you haven't shot, but really want to?
BENJAMIN
A duck that I have been trying to shoot for years has been a Drake Pintail in full plume. One of my goals is to shoot in MY EYES the perfect drake of every species in the Mississippi Flyway. I would like to get a dead mount of all of them and put it in the living room. This year I did not shoot any that lived up to my expectations, so I am still waiting. I am very picky when it comes to getting ducks mounted because if someone is going to be looking at it for years, I want it to be PERFECT!
FLYWAY
What is your favorite gun to hunt with?
BENJAMIN
I have hunted with a Beretta Xtrema for the last 7 years, and that gun is simply a machine. I have had about 300 cases of shells though it and the gun keeps on going year after year. I wish I could say I treated it kindly, but my gun gets used and abused. I use a Kicks Highflier Modified choke with it and have had excellent success.
FLYWAY
Three things you NEVER hunt without?
BENJAMIN
The 3 things that I will never hunt without would be my lanyard, a Fleece Pullover, and a flag. Those 3 things keep me comfortable and are a huge part to putting birds on the ground!
FLYWAY
Do you prefer hunting on the water or in the field?
BENJAMIN
Depending on the situation, ducks and geese are the easiest to kill when hunting their weaknesses. A goose’s anatomy is built to survive on land better than on water. A goose in my opiion is easier to kill over water, than it is to kill in a field. This is the opposite for a duck. A duck is built to survive on water, and is easier to kill over a field. Now I will say that I hunt fields about 70% of the days I go hunting. But my favorite style of hunt is a water/land setup. Such as a sandbar, pasture pond, or flooded field. These seem to have the greatest success when available.
FLYWAY
Do you believe in strategizing your decoy placement, or do you believe you can just throw them out there and have success?
BENJAMIN
Decoy placement is my favorite subject to give seminars on. There are so many ways to set decoys for so many certain situations that it is impossible to know exactly what to do. There are many decoy sets that I will use throughout the year, but none of them are exactly the same. One tip I can give for goose hunters, is to set your decoys in a way that DOES NOT resemble a letter of the alphabet. 90% of todays hunters set their decoys in a V, J, U, Y, W, H….and so on. Geese are starting to associate danger with flocks of geese that resemble this pattern.
FLYWAY
You have competed in many calling competitions, do you have any tips or words of advice for the rookies out there when it comes to calling?
BENJAMIN
The biggest tip that I can give anyone who contest calls, or would like to start contest calling, is Practice, Practice, Practice! Practice not only is going to help learn new and more notes, but it will also help you become more familiar with your call. Remember it is better to master few notes, than to have many notes that are sub-par. Don’t be afraid of how you sound! Many duck and goose callers are afraid of blowing their calls infront of people they have seen compete, or have seen on TV or in videos. I have not found a single person who is not willing to help someone with their calling. The same goes for contest calling. A lot of people do not think they are good enough to compete with everyone, but you never know until you try, and even if you don’t succeed, keep practicing and try it again!
FLYWAY
What calls are you currently using?
BENJAMIN
I have a lot of calls that I am currently using. For contests I use a RNT G3 Goose Call which will be hitting the market the summer of 2010. For duck contests I use a RNT MVP for main street contests and a Bois D’ Arc RNT Short Barrel for live, and meat duck contests. For hunting I use a RNT MicroGoose, a RNT Short Barrel, a RNT Microhen, and a RNT Kelley Powers Goose Call.
FLYWAY
In your experience, what is easier to call in, a flock of ducks or geese, or a turkey? Do they pose different challenges?
BENJAMIN
All 3 of those species have their own challenges. In my opinion I would rather call at a flock of geese than anything else, as that is what I primarily hunt. Being a successful competition goose caller, the flock of geese would come easier than the others. I enjoy calling ducks as well as turkeys, but if I had to choose just one of those three, I will pick the goose every time!
FLYWAY
Care to name a few "honeyholes" in our great state that you have had success on, or is that classified information?
BENJAMIN
I wish I could name a few honey holes, but with the large amount of hunting pressure that Minnesota receives already I will keep mine in my back pocket!
FLYWAY
Are there things you see or hear about other hunters doing that bother you?
BENJAMIN
I think a large problem that is hurting the sport is hunter ethics and respect towards other fellow hunters. Today’s waterfowl hunter seems to be in such competition with all the others. I cannot understand why some people would go to the extents you see or hear about on tv or read on the internet. Can’t we all just get along? Firing a shot to scare birds going into other groups cause they are where the birds want to be? Setting up down wind of someone who beat you to “your spot” on PUBLIC property? And literally getting in to verbal and physical disputes with others because they are doing better than you, or are harassing you? When these things happen, no hunter or group of hunters wins. Hunting should not be a competition between others. By being in competition, the sport is degraded and hunting privileges are changed, or revoked in some circumstances. I think there would be nothing better than all waterfowl hunters getting along peacefully and sharing stories of success and memories made.
FLYWAY
In your opinion, what makes RNT stand out above the rest?
BENJAMIN
I feel there is no question RNT stands on top of the duck call market. RNT’s staff is made up of individuals who are in the business not to be better than others in a sense, but to help others. There are many, many call companies, all have pros and cons but the staff at RNT are top notch. Anyone can tell someone else what call brand to go buy, but it all comes down to what fits YOU and not your buddies.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite duck or goose to hunt?
BENJAMIN
I prefer goose hunting but I also LOVE to get into flocks of big late season mallards! I rarely hunt divers, but there is just something special watching mallards work vertical that gets your blood going more than any other kind of duck!
FLYWAY
You are a professional guide. Explain what you do, where you do it, and how time consuming it is.
BENJAMIN
I guide for GooseBusters Guide Service. GooseBusters hunts the west metro area primarily. We specialize in both goose and duck hunts. There are never more than 6 hunters in the field which keeps it personal. A huge accomplishment is averaging 15 birds per hunt throughout the season! More info can be viewed at www.goosebustersgs.com
FLYWAY
What does 2010 have in store for Mike Benjamin, both professionally and personally?
BENJAMIN
2010 will hopefully be another successful year in both contest calling as well as hunting. I will be working on my Bachelors Degree in Management through SMSU Marshall. I never really know what is in store until the time comes so it is tough to say.
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Mike Benjamin for taking the time to answer our interview questions. To learn more about Mike or to get more infomation on RNT calls go www.rntcalls.com
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