Buck Gardner makes duck calls that have the qualities that Allen J. "Cajun" Airhart first incorporated in his "Cajun Calls"
Buck Gardner grew up duck hunting.
About Buck
Buck Gardner, of Germantown, Tennessee is recognized as one of the top duck callers in the nation. He won the 1994 World Championship, and in 1995 he captured the ultimate duck calling trophy, “Champion of Champions”, which forced him into competition retirement. He now participates as a judge in contests around the country, and every 5 years in Stuttgart, AR for the “Champion of Champions Contest” , as well as occasionally for the “World Contest.”
Buck recalls his first duck hunt at the age of six, which was with his father. While picking up two ducks his father had shot, he stepped into a stump hole and went under water over his head, but proudly emerged with both ducks in his hands. As soon as he was dry and warm, he was ready to go out again. He says, "You might say this was my ‘baptism into duck hunting’. I continued to hunt with my dad at that very spot until he was 80, and could no longer go. We always talked about the day I got dunked."
In 1980, Gardner entered his first duck calling contest - and finished last when he was disqualified for talking during his routine. The Mike McLemore, a many times over champion caller, encouraged Buck to keep at it, that he was good and could win. He developed his own style of routine, and practiced diligently. In 1981, he came back and won the first of three Alabama State Championships. In 1982, Gardner won the Mississippi Delta Regional, defeating 47 contestants from 17 states, including six former world champions.
After much persistence, twelve years, and many high placing finishes, he triumphed to secure the coveted World Champion title, and the next year the “Champion of Champions”, and a place in duck calling history. He attributes his success to lots of practice, persistence, and the support of good folks like Sonny Kirkpatrick, Butch Richenback, his rival callers/friends with whom he practiced, and his family who listened to his endless quackin’.
A hobby started by Buck in 1986 with a few basic duck calls soon became a growing concern and profitable business. Buck Gardner Calls, LLC now includes a full line of duck, goose, predator, deer and turkey calls, as well as accessories and clothing. Buck is recognized by consumers, retailers and other manufacturers as an innovator. BGC was the first call company to: produce an compact disc re: duck calling, use Santoprene@ wedges instead of cork, put camo coating onto duck calls, and to utilize clam shell packaging. In 2003, BGC made available the first injection molded calls that were “laser polished.” In 2005, Buck introduced Interactive Displays to the retailer, which enables a customer, with the touch of a button, to receive audible information about his products. 2006 brought the personal Digital Calling Coach, sold with a call, which reproduces life-like calling sequences. Buck considers “Spit Tech” his greatest achievement. “Spit-Tech” is a unique design in his calls which guarantees it will never fail or stick, no matter how full of spit the call gets. If it does, Buck will refund your money! As of this printing, no other company makes that guarantee.
A priority for Buck is to pass along the love of the outdoors which his father gave him. He does this by participating in kid’s events throughout the country each year. His greatest joy comes in mentoring a young hunter or caller in the techniques of the sport. His company generously donates on average 20,000 calls to kid’s and other events each year. In 2005, he was recognized by his peers for his humanitarian contributions, as well as his positive impact on the industry, when he was inducted into the “Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame.”
Buck is a Delta Waterfowl Life Sponsor and Ducks Unlimited Life Sponsor, and helps conduct the U.S. Open and Tennessee State Duck Calling Championships. He has partnership deals with Briley, Hot Hands, and Hodgeman. They use Buck to help promote and design some of their products. Buck also has strong ties and sponsorships with, Mossy Oak, War Eagle Boats, Remington, Gerber/Brunton, Tri Tronics, Mud Buddy Motors, and Timex.
Buck and his wife, Marlene, with whom he works, were married in 1972 and have three children, Brad, Elaine, and Patrick.
The term "Cajun Calls" originated with the maker of such calls in the mid 1940's, the maker, Allen J. "Cajun" Airhart.
Below is a link to the man responsible for the term "Cajun Call"...homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lynnbran/ps11/ps11_011.htmIf you can get a hold of Brian McGrath's book on game calls you will find Cajun Duck Calls. They're made by Allen J. "Cajun" Airhart of Lake Charles.
" Allen Airhart was the owner and maker of "Cajun" duck calls. Mr Airhart still lives in Lake Charles in the same house where he started his duck call business.
The calls are all made in a classic Two Piece style. Mr Airhart made duck calls for himself as a teenager about 1917. He didn't start to make and sell calls commercially until 1944. In 1940 cane used for fishing poles, normally imported from China, became unavailable due to the war.
Mr. Airhart, seeking an opportunity, started to harvest and cut the cane to make fishing poles. When cutting the cane to the correct size, the but ends of the cane were picked up by "Patin" Faulk and other call makers so they could make duck calls.
Seizing on another opportunity, Mr. Airhart started his duck call business. That winter he had his wife made six hundred cane duck calls. That spring Mr Airhart and his wife packed all the duck calls and visited sporting good stores in the surrounding states.
All the calls were sold and this success has continued with the Cajun Call Company today. A few years ago Mr. Airhart sold the business to Richard Harrell. The first Cajun calls were rubber stamped "Kajun" because Airhart was not sure he could trade mark the name "Cajun" Duck Calls.
When the trade mark was received he changed the stamp to read "Cajun." The early calls came in a white cardboard box the the company address of "608 Cottage Lane." This address was later changed to "1520 Cottage Lane." The later boxes were yellow, blue and red. When all markings are gone, Cajun calls can be differentiated from Faulk's calls by looking closely at how the trough or groove is cut. If there is a small mark or indentation in the trough the call is a "Cajun." This was made by the machine that cut the trough. Faulk's troughs are smooth.
Mr Airhart designated goose calls by dipping in black lacquer either the end of the stem, the of the barrel or both. Cajun made some "peanut shaped" duck and goose calls for the Scotch Game Call Company for use as part of their rubber calls. The Cajun calls are rated common although the early cane calls are quite desirable for collections. "
