Chad's got some thoughts. That's what this series is — Safari Club International's Fowl Thoughts!
He starts where it all began. The toilet business. Portable units, job sites, construction managers, bid meetings. Learning customer service and communication and resilience and when to pump the brakes. And then a duck hunt with some buddies changed everything.
A duck mount on the wall of his toilet office called Strike Up the Band. Nine banded greenheads through flooded timber. A phone call with a production company that fell through. A blessing to go do it himself. And just like that — Bandit was born.
18 seasons of Benelli's The Fowl Life on the Outdoor Channel. Year 15 with Benelli. Year 15 with Federal. Year 20 with Realtree. Year 20 with Mojo. All of it happened because of hard work, resilience, tenacity and the people who showed up along the way.
Chad talks about what this life has given him — the blinds, the musicians, the athletes, the military, the sick kids who got to hold a mallard for the first time. The moments that don't make the highlight reel but mean everything.
Season 18 is getting ready to air. Season 19 starts filming in September. Banded Drake Ranch is growing. Seth Van Dover is playing the Silent Valor Project event at Caspians in Vegas on June 24th. There's a lot in motion.
But at the end of the day it's still all because of a mallard duck, and Chad wouldn't have it any other way.
This episode of Safari Club International's Fowl Thoughts is proudly presented by Nutrien Ag Solutions, and brought to you by Benelli, Federal Premium Ammunition, Banded Brands, Gatr coolers, Corning Ford, Hi Viz sights, Jack Link's Protein snacks, Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels, and Avery Outdoors!