Tony Vandemore Interview

Tony Vandemore, a well known personality in the waterfowling industry, resides in the state of Missouri and is a co-owner of Habitat Flats, a premier waterfowl outfitter in the Midwest. Tony is also a flyway manager for Avery Outdoors and a member of Zink Call Z-Unit.

Well I've had the pleasure of interviewing two of your partners previously, Ira McCauley and Field Hudnall, so let's start out with how you came to meet and go into business with these guys.

Tony: We have all pretty much come to know each other through our common interests in waterfowling. Ira and I had properties that were close to each other and were both active in the management side of the game. It continued to grow with other properties and we realized we were spending a lot of money on managing and pumping properties that we didn't even have time to hunt come the fall. Habitat Flats was conceived at that time, as a way to utilize the resources we put our efforts into and a way to let others enjoy the fruits of our labors. Field has always worked with us in the past on various projects. When he said he was going out on his own, the wheels in all of our heads started turning. With Field being one of the best videographer/editors in the business and having an avenue like Habitat Flats to work with, it was kind of a no brainer for all of us!

Habitat Flats and Habitat Flats Productions have both been in business over a year now and from things I've heard, it sounds like you've grown a lot in a short time. What's new?

Tony: We have been pretty fortunate in that the ideas we all have had, have come to reality in such a short period of time. The new Habitat Flats Lodge was opened up with the start of the Fall 2009 duck season here in Missouri. It's been a great addition for us and a major highlight in all of our hunters' trips. From the five star meals being catered in, to enjoying a cocktail by the fireplace over looking Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, it's all helped a bunch in enhancing the overall experience of our guests. On the production side, Field is currently hard at it, importing footage from the fall/winter and working on our Duck/Canada video that will be coming out!

Habitat Flats Productions released its first video "F5: Buried in Snows" during the summer of '09. What were the differences you experienced in being a part of a full video production versus being involved in a hunt or two of someone else's video or TV show? Are there plans for additional videos for 2010?

Tony: Absolutely! Along with the new waterfowl video, we will also be starting the filming of our new snow goose video in the immediate future. As for the differences in the full video production versus just a hunt or two, there aren't a lot while you are actually hunting. However, it allows you the flexibility to do things any way you want to and show the type of stuff that you want to. We aren't any different than any other hunters out there, with the exception of having a camera around most of the time. What we would like is for that to come across in our productions, more of a reality-based look at it. We all know it isn't always peaches and cream so to speak, there are a lot of ups, downs and in-betweens. When things are going right, it's nice to see what went into it, to help it be a good hunt when the hunting isn't that good, it's all part of it!

Spring snow goose season is right around the corner, which I know is a busy time for Habitat Flats and one of your passions. What kind of "pre-season" preparations go into being an outfitter for spring snows?

Tony: Preparing for spring snow geese isn't a lot different than getting ready for ducks and Canadas...the exception being, it requires a lot more equipment. You have to get the decoys lined out, make sure all the blinds are in good working order, check all the e callers and speakers, make sure the ground is lined out, etc. With snow goose hunting having liberal limits (if any) there isn't a lot of down time to fix equipment that breaks. Having extra is key, as is fixing everything that got destroyed the previous season prior to the snows showing up this year.

Once the spring season gets into full swing, describe a typical day for yourself or a guide at Habitat Flats?

Tony: Typically the alarm goes off early in the morning, way too early some mornings. Get the coffee going and wake up all the guys in guides' camp. Try to eat a donut or something while loading e callers and batteries into the truck, get the dog a couple cups of food, load up water and what not in the truck and then head to meet the clients. After getting the clients to the field, now you have to get everybody to the spread, touch up blinds, set e-callers up, and hopefully finish up in just enough time for one more cup of coffee before the first flock of the day gets there. Days are long in the spring and we typically hunt all day. Your scouts are out in the afternoons finding places you need to move decoys to that night. By the time you get stuff packed out of the field, clients dropped off and you are finally back at guides' camp, it's often times 8 PM or after. After a short meeting with all the guides, a plan is made as to who is going to pick up which spreads and where they are taking them to set them out. When the last decoy is set for the night and you get back to camp, it's oftentimes well after midnight before you get to jump in bed. Those 4 AM wake up calls seem like they get earlier everyday!

So once the snows get through, I know you enjoy hunting turkeys. Do you guide spring turkey hunts at Habitat Flats or just fun hunt? What states do you typically travel to each spring chasing Toms?

Tony: I am a turkey nut, that's for sure. After messing with the mud and all those decoys in the spring,there is nothing I look forward to more than just grabbing a vest and hitting the woods. We have talked about guiding for turkeys in the spring, but it is not something we currently offer. Loading up the cook box and turkey fryer into the truck and hitting the road is one of my favorite times of the year. The places I head to change a little every year, but Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Kentucky, South Dakota as well as others have all been places I like to go. I generally try to get to 7-8 states every year.

Now one of the many things people in the industry know you for and one of the foundations of Habitat Flats is your habitat management practices. Now that you have been in operation for awhile and laid the foundation, what are you annually doing each off season to manage your properties?

Tony: The biggest thing I like to do is to sit down and prepare a management strategy every year well before it's time to actually implement it. I keep a lot of notes and photos throughout the year, every year and like to review them to help me come up with a solid management place. It's always something different every year; gambling on floods, trying new things, changing water levels, developing new properties. The management throughout the year is something that I truly love. It's a great way to keep the "season" going throughout the year...I guess it's more of a lifestyle than a hobby. We always say "sweat equity" goes a long way when it's hot and you are working long hours in the summer setting that table for the fall, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing the thousands of fowl in the fall that are showing up to the dinner table!

If you don't mind, let's hear a little about your black lab, Ruff. His fame has grown with yours over the last few years and he even has products named after him. What's your favorite thing about him? How many seasons have you been hunting with Ruff? How many retrieves would you say he's made in his life time?

Tony: Ruff dog is 7.5 years old now, it's absolutely flown by! I am a little biased obviously; it's hard to name just one favorite thing about him. I'd have to say it's his overall personality or demeanor for lack of a better word. I like that when he is in the field he is all business and only has one speed...HIGH! No matter how tired he is, if it's cold, he is sore, whatever he is going to do his job and he loves doing it. That being said, I like it that when I let him in the house it is like flipping a switch, he is a very mellow and relaxed dog, great in the house or camp. He.s been fortunate in that he has had the opportunity to go a lot, he has picked up right around 18,000 birds in his career. They say you only get one good dog in your lifetime and I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't scared to death he is mine. I.ve been lucky that some of my close friends and guides have sons of Ruff out of litters he has studded, getting to see how these dogs are turning out has made it a little easier. He has been through a heck of a lot and will go through a lot more, but I am studding him again in April and am planning on keeping one out of this litter. My fingers are crossed!

We've talked about everything except you, so let's jump back to you, before we wrap this up. Where did you grow up and who got you started with waterfowling?

Tony: I grew up in a little farm town in West Central Illinois, right between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. I used to hunt, fish and trap with my Dad, uncles, and grandfather. For as long as I can remember it's been a huge part of my life, those days were the building blocks for which my lifestyle was built on.

What was it like growing up in Illinois, a state very well known for its goose hunting and deer?

Tony: For the most part, it was great. The goose hunting was excellent most every year and my grandfather had a couple duck clubs he belonged to on the Illinois River that provided pretty good duck hunting back then. Deer hunting was something I always did with buddies, but it was more for the camaraderie of it than the actual hunting. I enjoy managing for deer, but hunting them is something I don't hardly do at all anymore.

What is it about waterfowl versus other animals that drives you to put so much effort into hunting them?

Tony: That's probably the hardest question you have asked yet! I thoroughly enjoy the management, all the calling and what not. However, to me, there is nothing like watching the world wake up in a duck marsh. The sun popping over the trees, the steam coming off a cup of coffee, a wet dog shivering from excitement despite the cold, all the sights, sounds, and smells. I don't know what to tell you, it's what keeps my heart beating everyday!

What species of waterfowl is your favorite to hunt and why?

Tony: Whew, that's a tough one as well. I am pretty lucky to live where I do here in Missouri. When it's duck season, that vast majority of my concentration is on ducks. After duck season closes, Canadas are still open another 5 weeks or so and I can shift all my focus to them. Canadas close and the spring snow goose hunting starts. Thank God, I don't have to choose! Honestly, give me a 15 mph wind and sunshine and I'll be tickled with whatever is in season at that particular time!

And before I let you off the hook, would you be so kind to provide our website visitors with a tip or some advice on planting food plots for waterfowl?

Tony: I think most folks think that managing properties is something that is very expensive, or you have to have your own land to do and that's not the case. Any piece of property can be made better through a little bit of management. From something as small as a farm pond broadcasting a $25 bag of millet on the edge can make a big difference.

Thanks for your time Tony! Good luck with the upcoming snow goose conservation season.

For more information about Tony Vandemore or Habitat Flats, check out his website www.habitatflats.com. You can also see Tony in the Habitat Flats F5: Buried In Snows Video, the Zink Calls 24-7 Video Series and in several television appearances including Ducks Unlimited TV.