Field Staff
Jim Dawson
Along with owners Jeff and Eric Sullivan and Brent Stoner, Jim has logged many hours in research and development at Derby City Game Calls. A hunter for over 25 years, Jim has harvested several whitetail deer scoring in the 120-140 inch range. He loves to hunt in his home state of Kentucky, as well as taking yearly trips to Illinois. Spring Turkey is a passion of his. Jim loves to chase longbeards all season long, hunting by himself or calling for others. Several mounts adorn his trophy room as reminders of special hunts with family and friends. One of his greatest pleasures is listening to a pack of beagle hounds running cottontails on a cool, crisp winter day. Jim was raised in a hunting family and has stayed true to his roots. If you are looking for Jim during hunting season, you had better look for him in a blind, treestand, or strolling behind a pack of beagles.
Jim was born in Louisville, Kentucky where he is a High School Administrator for Jefferson County Public Schools. He played college baseball for 4 years and was a High School Coach for 10 years, coaching on two state championship teams at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville. He is happily married to his wife, Tammi. They have two daughters, Courtney and McKenna.
Brent Stoner
Brent had learned very young to hunt and fish on the family farm in Hardin County , Kentucky. He would shoot “whistle pigs” by the pond with his trusty .22 rifle. Today, Brent loves to hunt any type of game especially if he can use a dog to do it. Raising Field Champion Beagles became a part of his life. Going to the field trials gave Brent the opportunity to exercise his beagles and keep them in shape for gun season. Two field champions finished and others had wins and placements all over the country. Brent still breeds a true gun dog today: big noses, line control, and hunt will get your limit every time. Brent’s favorite beagle was Field Champion Birges McGruff (7-2000 to 12-2008). Gruffy was the total package of an awesome rabbit dog. Turkey hunting is Brent’s other favorite hobby. He has taken over twenty longbeards in the last fifteen years. Brent’s biggest bird was twenty-six pounds, twelve inch double beard, with 1 1/2 inch spurs. Brent will be hunting turkey with the newest product line of Derby City Game Calls.
Pro Staff
Richard “Dick” Fust
Dick is a retired home builder of thirty plus years. His passion is spending time hunting and fishing in his home state of Indiana and throughout the United States. Dick has had great success as an avid hunter, especially his favorite, turkey hunting. Dick said “Derby City Game Calls are the best sounding calls that I have heard. I look forward to filling my tag using these calls this spring.”
James “Jimmy” Vangilder
Jimmy is a retired professional firefighter of over thirty years. He enjoys fishing, waterfowl hunting, and upland game hunting. However, Jimmy gets all “fired” up when it’s turkey season. As a matter of fact, he has completed a “World Slam” by hunting in North and South America. Jimmy will be using the turkey calls made by Derby City Game Calls, a Honduran Mahogany Magnum slate over glass, and an “old growth” maple Spur slate over glass. As an old firefighter, Jimmy loves the “flamed maple” calls too.
John Wade
My name is John Wade. As far back as I can remember, my father had always taken my brothers and I hunting. It was something he loved and was his way of bonding with us. I love the sport of hunting. Not only is it a challenge, but a great way to relax. I have had the opportunity to make numerous friendships through hunting, as well as, introducing many others to the sport. There is a great sense of camaraderie between hunters. One of the greatest things I have experienced is teaching my son to hunt and watching his love of hunting develop into a lifelong passion. We’ve been blessed to share some awesome hunts together, like elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains, bear hunting in Canada, and boar hunting in Texas. However, some of my favorites have been right here in Kentucky. -John Wade, 2009
Ben Wade
My name is Ben Wade. I am 14 years old. My dad has been taking me hunting since I was about 2 years old. I shot my first deer when I was 6. I killed my first buck, a nice 9 pointer, when I was 7. I have hunted deer, rabbit, squirrel, dove, and turkey all around the state of Kentucky . I’ve hunted bear and elk in Canada, elk in Colorado, and boar and ram in Texas.
I started turkey hunting when I was about 6 or 7. When I was 8, I shot a tom with 7 beards that measured enough to break the state record in Kentucky. Since then I have been hooked. Hunting is my passion. I just love it. When someone asks me what I want to be when I grow up I always tell them “a hunter”. I just cannot imagine anything else for my future.- Ben Wade, 2009
Nick Inglis
I grew up hunting, trapping, and running the cornfields and small wood lots of Central Indiana. In the days before the Internet, the only entertainment I needed was a shotgun, hand full of shells, and my dog. I learned the tricks of the trade, as most do, through trial and error. Mostly error early on. Thankfully, I have become a better hunter over the years. I am confident that Derby City Game Calls will continue to put the odds in my favor. The buck that I killed in 2006 made the Cover of North American Whitetail’s “Awesome Whitetails” Magazine in 2007. He was a 16 point Non-Typical that gross scored 198 7/8. I am a writer for the American Beagler. I was a former writer for a local outdoor publication called The Gad-A Bout. My hometown is Summitville, IN. I have been married to my wife of 23 years, Anita. We have two sons, Adam and Ryan.
David Berry
For over 30 years I have been hunting & fishing in Kentucky. I feel lucky to live in a state with an abundance of wildlife, streams, and woodlands. As I get a little older, the thrill of the hunt still gets my heart pumping just as it always has. In my early years, I made a lot of mistakes hunting, but those mistakes made me a better hunter and a better person in the long run. Now I enjoy hunting and fishing with my son and hopefully I can help him understand how the outdoors can shape his life. I also hope you give Derby City Game Calls a try, then maybe you can enjoy the thrill of the hunt just as I do.
Rick Denkhoff
I began hunting at the age of 12, starting out with rabbit hunting with my dad and good friends. At 18, I went on my first deer hunting trip and was hooked for life. For years, I would hunt any place that anyone would allow me to. Twenty years ago, my family and I found a piece of property in Casey County, Kentucky and we have been hunting there ever since. The greatest thing about the cabin and property is being able to spend time with family and friends. I watched my nephew take his first deer at 10 years old. My oldest son took his first at 12 years old from a tree stand sitting next to me. I am anticipating that our youngest son will soon harvest his first deer, too. Seven years ago, I was introduced to turkey hunting by a good friend. It is my new passion. The sight of strutting gobblers in the field is truly amazing. I can’t wait for the sound of a gobbler calling back to me next spring.
Scott Crume
I began hunting at the age of 5 in my home state of Kentucky. Following behind my Grandpa and his beagles, I had no idea how under gunned I was with my Red Rider BB Gun. I was very lucky to have family that showed me the world outdoors. From the early days of chasing rabbits and squirrels (and shooting starlings off the bird feeder), the pursuit of game hunting became an obsession that has shaped my life. At 18 I began guiding waterfowl hunts in West Texas, from there, I spent the next 6 years traveling the country guiding for several outfitters. Those seasons packed a lifetime of experience into a short period of time and I feel very fortunate for that opportunity. These days I can be found much closer to home pursuing all that Kentucky has to offer.
John Hall
Hi, my name is John Hall. I was born and raised in Louisville, KY which just happens to be the home of Derby City Game Calls. Due to the influence of my father, I’ve been hunting and fishing my entire life. Being in pursuit of something has always been a passion for me. It’s not only the hunt itself, but who you hunt with and the people you meet, that makes hunting enjoyable. Being part of the N.W.T.F for so many years has put me in a position to hunt alot of places and use a lot of different calls. After getting to know the guys, the quality and the craftsmanship of the calls and strikers at Derby City Game Calls, I have finally found the best calls on the market. I would like to thank the guys at Derby City Game Calls for the opportunity to be on the Pro Staff. They are a great bunch of guys. Their products are of the highest quality and are proven to fill your tags. Try Derby City Calls, You’ll be glad you did.
Rachel Shipley
With three older brothers, I didn’t grow up playing with dolls. As a kid I would wade the creeks in Oldham County with my friends and hunt crawdads. Now, I enjoy spending all my free time hunting turkeys, bowfishing, deer hunting and getting others involved in the outdoors. In 2009, I organized the first Annie Oakley Range Day, a day for women to experience shooting sports for the first time. I also volunteer with the NASP programs in my area. I am excited as always about this turkey season and can’t wait to use my Derby City Game Calls!
Mac Spainhour
I have been an Indiana Conservation Officer for 27 years, assigned to Clark County, just across the river from Louisville Ky. My obsession of wild turkeys and turkey hunting began when I participated in the release of wild turkeys in Clark County in the mid 1980’s for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources when Indiana was trying to expand the turkey range. Turkey hunting has enabled me to meet many great people. Over the years I have hunted with Rob Keck former CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Harold Knight of Knight and Hale Game Calls. Acting as a guide for Harold Knight we were able to put outdoor writer Jim Canada on an Indiana turkey which is on one of Knight and Hales videos. Most of my hunting is with family and friends. I have many fond memories of turkey hunting but at the top of the list was being able to call in my kids first birds. My son Bo harvested his first bird at age 13 and my daughter Alex harvested her bird at age 12. I have harvested birds in several states Kentucky, South Carolina and Indiana to name a few. I love introducing people to turkey hunting and calling in their first birds so they can become as addicted to the sport as I have become. I also am a co-host of a new TV series called Indiana Outdoor Adventures starting July 2010. I have been an NWTF member since 1992. I look forward to working with Eric and Jeff and being on the staff of Derby City Game Calls.
Scott Cronin
I am a high school agriculture education teacher who tries to find as much free time on the water and in the woods as possible. I have been given the nickname, Turkey Assassin, by Derby City’s own Jim Dawson. I have hunted in several states and enjoy filling as many anterless deer tags as I can. I learned how to hunt and fish by spending countless hours in the woods and on the water, not by simply watching television shows and reading magazines. It was an honor when Derby City asked me to become a member of their Pro Staff. I have learned that patience and perseverance are the ultimate tools that a sportsman can possess. I completed my second Grand Slam this year (May 14, 2010). I will be getting married in 2010 to Morgan (Tootie). It has been the highlight of my life teaching her the skills to become successful in the outdoors. I am still torn between a cool fall morning sitting in a stand between a bedding and feeding area, watching ducks light into the decoys, setting down a group of black feet into a spread, and chasing turkeys. Each season tends to lead me into deciding which one I like the most. I truly enjoy my time afield and I know that Derby City’s calls are above and beyond average calls. My favorite Derby City Calls are the Magnum Aluminum and Slate Spur coupled with a hickory striker. The only problem is they keep coming out with calls that sound better and better. It is hard to find one favorite call. Derby City is a new company that realizes the importance of community, youth, and quality.
Turkey hunting success is based upon a variety of tactics and decisions. The only thing predictable about a turkey, is that they are unpredictable. I look forward to may years of good hunting with Derby City Calls.
Jim and Tina Tucker
