Ryan Nolan

- Ryan Nolan

Age: 24
Hometown: Roland, OK
What age did you start hunting: 9
How many days a year do you hunt: 40-60
Favorite Hunting Area: Big water on the Arkansas River
Favorite Style of Waterfowl Hunting: Mallards in the timber
Gun of Choice: Beretta
Favorite Drake Product: Strata Coat
Favorite Duck/Goose call: Anything made by Betts' Game Calls
Proudest Achievement: 2008 World Championship Duck Calling Contest
Email: dclark08@uafortsmith.edu

It was the year 1993, at the age of 9; I was invited on my first duck hunt by a friend from church. It was 30 minutes in, when a flock of 30 mallards circled and hit the decoy. That's all it took, I was hooked!

During my first year of hunting, I learned my hunting buddies were not that good at duck calling; so I got my first call and went to work. I remember being so bad at calling, they would take my calls away and I couldn't blow them until the end of the hunt.

I spent all the next off season listening to tapes on "How to blow a duck call". Next thing I knew, I had passed the level of calling of my hunting buddies. By the following season I was giving advice and teaching them to become better callers.

In 2000, someone mentioned competition calling, I thought why not? So I entered the Intermediate World's in Stuttgart, AR and didn't even make the 2nd round. I went back home and began practicing. In 2003, I thought I had improved well enough to compete in the Oklahoma State duck calling contest and won. I was now the Oklahoma State Duck Calling champion and was qualified to compete in the World's Ducking Calling contest held in Stuttgart, AR.

After winning 5 state championships and becoming a regional qualifier, I completed 2 top 10 finishes in Stuttgart. The road to where I am now was not easy; it took a lot of practice, determination, and support of my family. The state and regional championships were great, but by far my greatest achievement in my duck calling career is walking away with the title "2008 World's Duck Calling Champion".