Michigan Wetland Wonders Challenge Winners Take Home Their Prizes
Six of the seven Michigan waterfowl hunters randomly chosen as the first winners of the Department of Natural Resources’ Wetland Wonders Challenge – Triston Bradshaw of Allegan, Michael Schindler of Bay City, James Graves of Rhodes, Isaiah Battel of Cass City, Thomas Bauer of Clarkston and Gary Van Kirk of Swartz Creek – received their prizes March 14 at the regular monthly meeting of the Natural Resources Commission in Saginaw. (The seventh winner, Lupe Martinez of Hamilton, could not be present at the meeting and has since received his prize package.)
“This challenge gave me and my hunting buddies the incentive to explore managed waterfowl hunting areas we probably would not have otherwise,” said Thomas Bauer. “It made our waterfowl season fun, as each new managed area was unique and offered something different. Being a challenge winner was just a bonus.”
The other winners shared similar comments about the challenge giving them the incentive to try other managed waterfowl hunting areas that they haven’t visited before.
To be entered to win one of the seven prize packages, winners had to hunt four or more of the DNR’s seven premier managed waterfowl areas and turn in a punch card as proof of participation this past waterfowl hunting season.
For 13-year-old Triston Bradshaw, the first person drawn, the experience has been a memorable one. This fall was the first time Bradshaw had been waterfowl hunting. His father, Terry, used to duck hunt but had not had the opportunity for a couple of years.
“This contest gave me the incentive to go out again and for me to take Triston,” said Terry Bradshaw.
“It was a great father-and-son experience,” Triston Bradshaw added. “We even slept in our truck at Shiawassee because of rain just to make the morning draw. It was awesome; I can’t wait to go out again next year.”
Each winner received one of seven ultimate waterfowl hunting prize packages, each worth approximately $1,800. Each prize package was unique, but included items such as shotguns, a “golden ticket” good for first choice at a managed waterfowl area hunt, a jon boat, decoys, blinds, calls, taxidermy mounts, guided duck hunts, gift cards, trail cameras and hunting gear. The following companies and organizations were generous sponsors and donors:
- American Waterfowler Magazine
- Avery Outdoors Inc.
- Cabela’s
- Ducks and Bucks
- Ducks Unlimited
- Dunham’s Sports
- Flambeau Outdoors
- Fowl Pursuit
- Frank’s Great Outdoors
- Freeway Sports Center
- Gibraltar Duck Hunter’s Association
- Joseph V. Demski and Terry McFadden
- Lynch Mob Calls
- Mag-na-Port
- Michigan Duck Hunters Association – Blue Water Chapter
- Michigan Duck Hunters Association – Lake Effect Chapter
- Michigan Duck Hunters Association – Saginaw Bay Chapter
- The Michigan Experience
- Naber’s Taxidermy
- Pte. Mouillee Waterfowl Festival
- Quacker Attacker Custom Calls
- Rig’Em Right Waterfowl
- Safari Club International – Livonia Chapter
- Schupbach’s Sporting Goods
- Shiawassee Flats Citizens & Hunters Association
- Taxidermy by Dourlain
- Waterfowl USA – Southwest Lake Erie Chapter
- Wildlife Reflections
- Zink Calls
Consolation prizes were also given out to 93 lucky winners. These winners have been notified, and their prizes will be sent to them in the mail.
“The Wetland Wonders Challenge would not have been possible without the generosity of the many donors and sponsors,” said Barbara Avers, DNR Waterfowl and Wetland Program leader. “They deserve a special thank-you for making this inaugural contest a success.”
