JASON RUSSELL

Where are you from?
I live in Gadsden, AL

When did you start?
I carved my first decoy in 1995 while in college.

Why did you start?
I would read old stories about hunters who carved and hunted over their own decoys in the early 1900's and before. I could not afford to buy a wooden decoy, so I decided to try and carve my own.

Favorite specie to carve?
Gadwall, coots, and Canada geese are my favorite decoys to carve.

Favorite specie to hunt?
Gadwall and Golden Eye are my favorite species to hunt.

If you compete, what level (Novice, Intermediate, Open, etc.) and Category?
I compete in open divisions of hunting decoys.

Most memorable win?
Most memorable win would be my first BOS which was at Havre De Grace, another would be winning the Louisiana show.

Favorite Show?
My favorite shows would include Westlake, the Worlds, The Chessie Challenge, our show- Southern Wildlife Festival, and the New Orleans show when it was around.

Most influence on your carving style?
Hunting in itself has the most influence on my hunting style. I carve birds that I will use in my rig for certain locations( big water hunts, walk in hunts, or layout .)

Who started you - mentor(s)?
I consider myself as self taught. Two carvers that have encouraged and helped me the most would be Bill Kell in Pennsylvania, and Mark Costilow in Ohio.

Favorite medium? (Type of wood and paint)
Tupelo and Acrylics are my favorite mediums.

What are you working on now? Future plans?
I am currently working on gunning decoys for the Worlds, along with a goose for myself. I plan to make a rig of mallards to hunt over for the 2009-2010 season.

Favorite style of carving ( Decorative, antique, gunners, IWCA, shorebird)
My favorite style of carving would be gunning decoys, dove decoys, and shorebirds-especially snipe. I like to look at interpretive and miniatures.

If you could add three birds to your collection, what specie and from whom?
I would like to have a Tom Christie hen mallard, Todd Wholt's swimming grebes, and Jean Mininduer mini wood duck on the shell box.

Most difficult part of carving in your mind?
The most difficult part of carving is the discipline of not settling for good enough too early.

What, or who, inspires you?
I am inspired by God- he created all of the natural things that we carve, and gave us the talent to do so. I am inspired by a good hunt, maybe a specific behavior of a bird that I witness while hunting, bird watching or taking photos.

Name 5-10 essentials for carving
The tools that I need the most would include a band saw, a good sharp knife, Foredom, small ruby flame bit, 2 inch red Foredom medium coarse sleeve, epoxy, Tuff-Carve, surform rasp, and lots of time.