Owner/Founder of Molt Gear
Winner of 30 Major Calling Championships
Creator of "The Goose Society", "Bad Grammer", and "Stage Grammer" DVD's
FLYWAY
Where were you born and raised?
THREINEN
I was born in a Mantorville, Minnesota which is a small town just outside of Rochester. I was raised in Rochester and still call it home.
FLYWAY
What was the first duck you ever shot, where did you shoot it, and what kind of gun did you shoot it with?
THREINEN
Boy, that is a great question. I don't have any idea! My first goose I remember like it was yesterday, but duck...no clue! I think it might have been a one-legged Ruddy taken on the mississippi river with a pump wingmaster twelve.
FLYWAY
What is one duck you haven't shot but really want to?
THREINEN
A banded duck of any kind...never shot one before!
FLYWAY
Tell us about shooting your first goose
THREINEN
I was twelve years old and had hunted for a couple years with total failure. Then it all came together, this flock of five decoyed in perfectly and I raised and smoked the lead bird and I knew I had! Instead of continuing to shoot at the rest of them I started yelling to myself - "finally, finally, I got you, you little...(fill in the blank)!. While I was doing that I ejected the next two shells out of my gun! It was a morning and a moment I will never forget.
FLYWAY
What is your greatest hunting memory?
THREINEN
I would have to say the first time I got to hunt in Rochester, Minnnesota. The number of geese we seen that morning and hunting out of the pits for the first time was awesome. Up until then we would lay in fields with no blinds until 11 in the morning just for one flock of geese to show up in the cold and snow. It was really an eye opener for me.
FLYWAY
Do you believe in strategizing your decoy placement or do you believe you can just throw them out there and have success?
THREINEN
I strongly believe in strategizing your decoy placement. What you are doing with your decoy spread is sending information to the birds in the air. Just like your call, they process information to make up their mind. I always try to match my spreads with what the geese are doing and what my field presents as far as cover and location. I think this is something most guys don't put enough thought into.
FLYWAY
When did you become so passionate about goose hunting?
THREINEN
When I heard my first goose call, I thought it was the coolest thing in the world that some little peice of wood could make the sound of a bird. I was hooked from then on!
FLYWAY
What is it about the Canada Goose that drives your passion for hunting them?
THREINEN
There are so many things I enjoy when it comes to hunting these birds. I love to call them first and foremost! I also enjoy the variety. I really like that every day is different. I like hunting different fields and watching the geese coming in from different directions. I enjoy everything from the scouting, the different setups, the decoys, my concealment, working the flags, to figuring out how to finish them off. The friendships you make and the camaraderie you share with those you hunt with is special, that is another thing I really like about it.
FLYWAY
What is your favorite gun to hunt with?
THREINEN
I would say it's the gun that I've been hunting with for the last six years...my Winchester Super X2.
FLYWAY
If you could go on a dream hunt with any 3 people, who would they be, where would you go, and what would you be hunting for?
THREINEN
Funny! I was just thinking about something like this the other day! I would go on a TURKEY hunt with Abe Lincoln, Tom Kelly (the turkey author, not the former Twins manager), and Toxi Hass. Turkey hunting is my favorite and those guys are legends in that sport.
FLYWAY
As a champion caller, do you have any tips or advice for the rookies or beginners out there? Any words of wisdom??
THREINEN
The best calling tip I could give you is to learn the basic fundamentals in calling first. Learn how to properly hold the call, learn the proper air flow. That is 50% of calling right there! I would also say learn when to use it and when not to use it. Don't call to the geese, sound like geese! Learn from the geese, they will be your best teachers. These are simple and basic tips but they are very important if you want to experience success out there.
FLYWAY
How many calling championships do you currently have and is there one that stands out as being your personal favorite?
THREINEN
I have won 30 Major Calling Championships. I won the World Live Goose Calling Championship in 2007, 2008, and 2009. I won the World Team Calling Championship in 2005. I'm a 3-time Northern National Champion, a 2-time Northern Open Champion and I also won the I.W.A. North American Championship. I was runner up 3 times for the World Main and I have won the Minnesota State 3 times. There are others and I am proud of them all, but these are the main ones. As far as having a personal favorite, that is a tough question! I would say my personal favorite would be the 3 World Live titles simply because you get credit for actually sounding like geese, it's more than just your average or standard routine. There is somewhat of a structure with a standard routine, not so with a live goose routine. With a live goose routine you don't have to follow a routine and I like that because it
allows me alot of freedom and creativity, I can use my imagination. The goal is to sound like a goose or a bunch of geese.
FLYWAY
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment and your biggest disappointment?
THREINEN
When I open up e-mails or get phone calls from people telling me how much my product has helped them and brought them success, nothing can possibly beat that! Opening peoples eyes to different things and different ways of thinking, helping them become better callers and better hunters is a great feeling and I would say my greatest accomplishment. I don't really have any disappointments at all. Being involved in the hunting industry can be very time consuming which in turn takes away from my hunting time, that can be a little disappointing at times but I wouldn't change anything. Things are good!
FLYWAY
What would you say to a future interview where we can discuss your Molt Gear website, your "The Goose Society", "Bad Grammer", and "Stage Grammer" DVD's as well as your time spent in the Cleveland Indians organization playing baseball?
THREINEN
I would say that sounds great! I really enjoyed the interview and look forward to talking again very soon on the topics you just mentioned. Take care and thanks again!
Minnesota Flyway would like to thank Scott Threinen for the time to answer our interview questions.
