World champion duck callers to judge contests, demonstrate techniques

KENNETT, Mo. -- World champion duck callers Butch Richenback, Christian Curtis and Rick Dunn will once again be on hand to assist in the Duck Calling Contest when the second annual Missouri Waterfowl Festival gets underway this weekend.

Dunn, who was born in Jacksonville, Ark., began duck hunting at the age of 12, along with his brother, Danny.

In 1975, years after he began hunting, Dunn decided to try to make his own duck call.

Dunn said his first duck call attempts were "poor, to say the least." He didn't give up, though, because every time he wore one, somebody wanted to buy it.

This prompted Dunn to name the call and to try selling a few. The first name he thought of was "Echo," and he stuck with it.

In 1983, Dunn decided to try competitive calling, and after winning a regional contest, he was hooked.

Dunn finished in the top 10 at the Stuttgart World Championship nine out of 11 times, finally winning the competition in 1997.

Curtis, of Sikeston, Mo., was born and raised in Southeast Missouri and is a waterfowl hunting guide and call maker whose favorite hunting is duck hunting in flooded timber.

Among other things, Curtis is known for creating and manufacturing Timbre Duck Calls, which was later sold to Rich-N-Tone, Richenback's company. He has been published in several waterfowl publications and has participated in various waterfowl videos.

Curtis is a 2003 Missouri State Duck Calling champion and a two-time World Duck Calling Finalist.

Along with helping judge the Duck Calling Contest, Curtis will be presenting his seminar, "Rice Field Duck Hunting A to Z," along with Hunter Johnson.

Harold "Butch" Richenback of Stuttgart, Ark., is the 1975 Champion of Champions Duck Calling Contest winner.

Richenback also won the 1957 Junior World's Championship Duck Calling Contest, the 1972 World Championship Duck Calling Contest, and 1972 Arkansas State Duck Calling Contest. He was also the runner-up at the 1973 World's Championship Duck Calling Contest.

Richenback has been involved in duck calling for many years and teaching the art of the call to youths for more than 30 years.

"I had 80 kids [in 2007]," Richenback said. "We start in October and meet for 20 minutes a day, four nights a week until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. That's when we have our contest, which is really more of a test."

Richenback began making his first calls in 1976, which established the foundation for Rich-N-Tone Duck Calls.

The Missouri Waterfowl Festival will be Saturday and Sunday at the American Legion Building and Delta Fairgrounds in Kennett.

The event will kick off at 8 a.m. Saturday with the 5K Run.

For more information, visit the festival's website, www.missouriwaterfowlfestival.com, or contact the Kennett Chamber of Commerce at 573-888-5828.