CAPE GIRARDEAU ARTIST RECOGNIZED AS ANTIONAL DUCK CALL CARVING CHAMPION

Kent S. Freeman has become the 1992 national duck call carving champion. The Callmakers and Collectors Association of America sponsors the event, which is held annually at St. Charles, Ill.

Freeman's Studio is located in his home in Cape Girardeau. His work may be seen at his studio or in galleries in Springfield and Branson in Missouri and in Vail, Colo.

Freeman, a duck call maker for over 25 years, entered the contest for the first time this year with a duck call and a goose call. He won first prize for the matched set. The duck call of the set went on to win best-of-show.

This winning call will be featured on the association's 1992 promotional items.

A professional wildlife artist, Freeman also competed recently with his bird carvings at the World Wildfowl Carving Championship. Two of his decorative waterfowl decoys received honorable mention honors. He entered the professional or open class with carvings of a black duck and a wood duck.

He also competed in world class with a pair of blue-winged teal. The teal were still being considered for honors after all but five pairs were eliminated, but did not win one of the top three places.