Kelly Powers Champion Goose Caller

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WORLD CHAMP GOOSE CALLER STILL FLYING HIGH
(KELLY POWERS FULFILLING WATERFOWLER’S DREAM)
by Steve McCadams
www.stevemccadams.com

Kelly Powers is fulfilling a waterfowler’s dream. For some the season is too short where work, family, and other obligations in life take away the outdoor opportunities spent scanning the skies.

For Powers it’s a different story. In his world the season never stops. In fact, if you look close he’s probably growing feathers. After all, waterfowling is his life.

At the age of 21 he won the World Champion Goose Calling Contest, the youngest ever to take the coveted crown. That was in 1999 in Easton, MD., where the eastern shore has long had a reputation for geese and those who hunt them.

Every five years there’s a Champion of Champions contest where only previous winners can compete. In 2000 he won that too, taking top honors in this test of the best.

He has every reason to be as cocky as a multi-million dollar home run hitter in major league baseball. But you won’t find an ego here.

From his home in Obion County that’s surrounded by a family farm, Powers lives to hunt and hunts to live. While a 5,000-acre farming operation has been the foundation, it’s the call of the wild that really gets his attention.

“I went to school at UTM and got my degree last year in Ag Business,” said the young and humble Powers, who along with his brothers Tripp and Jon Ed, operate Final Flight Outfitters. “I just got back from out west at a calling contest and last week I was at a camp for South Carolina Waterfowl Association. Next week I’m headed to a store promotion at a Chicago Bass Pro Shop.”

His present objective was to complete a catalog for their mail-order waterfowl operation. The four-color page features, among other things, the Kelley Powers Signature Series Goose Call. The acrylic clucker is manufactured by Rich-N-Tone calls of Arkansas.

“We kind of got this business started after attending the Kentucky Lake Waterfowl Festival a few years ago in Big Sandy. We all loved to hunt anyway and started selling a few calls, videos, decoys, clothes and other related items.”

“Pretty soon we were outgrowing ourselves so we started a mail-order to go along with our sales at festivals. Now we utilize our website and do mass mailings too,” continued Powers. “Our plans are now to open a retail store here to go along with it all.”

“Our business has catered more to specialty items for avid waterfowlers. We now ship to 48 states but we know we can’t compete with the Bass Pros or Cabela’s so we accommodate those customers who want calls, blinds, decoys, and other items they cannot find elsewhere.”

Final Flight Outfitters will have a big display at the upcoming festival in Big Sandy and will introduce the new Kelley Powers Power Hunter layout blind by Avery. The have some new decoys too that will catch the eyes of duck and goose hunters.

When asked how he got started and who guided his success story he credits. His late grandfather Bernie Powers got him started. He pays homage to another champion caller Tim Grounds of southern Illinois for helping him in the early years of competition.

“I still blow one of Ground’s wooden super magnum calls and he makes some good ones,” says Powers, his loyalty still in place for those who have helped him.

“Geese have always excited me. I used to look at various calls and take them apart. I’d study the reed and inserts. Even now I shave some of my reeds and hand tune all my calls before they’re shipped.”

Calling tips? The young master of the black foot flocks that visit each winter has this to say to young or novice goose callers: “don’t overcall the birds and begin by listening to the real thing. Go to a refuge or somewhere and listen to the various sounds the Canada’s make. Learn to mimic the sounds and watch their behavior.”

Callers should get a call that’s easy for them to blow where the notes can break easy, he advises.

“What’s it like to be the World Champ,” I asked? With a sheepish grin the tall and lanky farmer turned waterfowler says it’s great. He doesn’t boast nor are the walls filled with pictures and plaques.

“I haven’t had the companies beating down my door for endorsements but some things are beginning to develop and our business is growing. So, with the help of Avery Outdoors, Rich-N-Tone and a few others the future looks bright.”

And then there’s the season ahead! Mention the sight of ducks down wind or a flooded field somewhere in the Obion bottom and the he comes to attention. After all, the season is fast approaching and even for the World Champion Goose Caller from Tennessee the anticipation is high.

(For more information on Final Flight Outfitters check out their Website at www.finalflight.net or call (731)-885-5056.)

Steve McCadams
is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area and host of The Outdoor Channel's television series IN-PURSUIT.

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