JIM ROMIG (Woodwizard)

Where are you from?
I am from Middleburg Pa in Snyder county

When did you start?
I began carving in 2001

Why did you start?
I have an extensive background in woodworking and a love of hunting. I was tired of looking at the same old plastic decoys and felt that with my background, I should be able to make a few decoys to hunt over for myself.

Favorite specie to carve?
My favorite species to carve are Blackducks

Favorite specie to hunt?
Favorite species to hunt is also Blackducks

If you compete, what level (Novice, Intermediate, Open, etc.) and Category?
I compete at the open level and have recently been testing the waters in IWCA gunners

Most memorable win?
My most memorable win would be second and third BOS in the gunning pairs at Worlds in 2007

Favorite Show(s)?
Worlds, Chesapeake Challenge, Clayton Decoy Show, Westlake

Most influence on your carving style?
I think it is hard to name an influence on my style. I admire so many other carvers' work and in some way I think they all have influenced me in developing my own style. Every good carver in time eventually developes elements of their own style and in turn this influences others.

Who started you - mentor(s)?
My first mentor was Caz Russell from Montandon Pa. He invited me to his shop and taught me proper techniques and fundamentals of what is necessary to make a good solid working decoy. Other folks that have taught me along the way would include Ross and Rich Smoker, George Root, George Williams, Keith Mueller with a wealth of information, and many others.

Favorite medium? (Wood and paint)
My medium would include Cork and Cedar an acrylic paint. I am beginning to make more and more wood birds but the majority of my decoys are cork gunners.

What are you working on now? Future plans?
Right now I am working to complete my orders for 2008. I have been taking orders for 2009 for the past month. My future plans.............I plan on winning the Gunning Pairs at Worlds and some day..........the Gunning Rigs! I plan to keep doing what I am doing...........providing clients with the highest quality gunning decoys that I can, and I plan on continuing to improve and evolve and to promote and teach our craft.

Favorite style of carving
(Decorative, antique, gunners, IWCA, shorebird)
Gunners..................working birds!

If you could add three birds to your collection, what specie and from whom?
If I could add three birds to my collection they would be a Miles Hancock Blackduck, Dick Rhode Blackduck, and anything by Keith Mueller!!

Who, or what, inspires you?
Inspiration...tough to answer...I just love carving and creating. I carve or paint each and every day even if only for 15 or 20 minutes...I just love it!

Name 5-10 essentials for carving
Essential to my carving?????????? Breath in my lungs, a sharp knife, cork and cedar, sandpaper and paint!!!