Teen wins big at world goose calling contest

What began as something to fill time is reaping rewards today for an Ottawa teen with many relatives and friends from Seneca to Morris.

Robbie Iverson, 17, utilized the talent he spent three years perfecting to win last month's 2009 World Championship Goose Calling Contest in Easton, Md.

About 600 spectators flocked to the competition to watch the youngster capture the coveted title and cash prize. No live geese are involved in the World Goose Calling competitions, however. The judges base their decisions on the high score and low score, and average the other scores.

The contest's cash prizes range from $250 to $10,000, and attract the best duck and goose callers in the world. The playing ground is level, which means anyone, whether novice or master caller, can enter the competition. 

"There's definitely a talent involved in goose calling," noted Robbie's grandfather, Robert E. Iverson of Ottawa.

"It's not something that you just pick up, like you and I would pick up a goose caller and blow through it. It takes a lot of control, like with any kind of musical instrument."

Robbie also is the grandson of Morris native Carol Amundson Sand, now of Ottawa. His parents are Ottawans Krista and Eric Iverson.

There are two basic types of goose caller instruments. The flute call resembles a small wooden flute musical instrument, and is similarly played. The other, a short reed call, looks like a squat barrel and is held in the  palm of the hand.

Hunters use goose calls to lure the birds within range. Because flying geese will investigate goose calls from the ground, the caller attempts to reproduce the sound of geese feeding and squabbling.

The more realistic the call, the more successful the hunter in luring flying geese to the ground.

Robbie started goose calling at about the age of 12, and at end of his first season of hunting, he just never quit, said his father.

"Robbie blew  his goose caller all through the seasons because he got the bug so bad," said his father. "It's the kid's love for hunting - that's where he's at."

As Robbie became more serious about goose calling, he practiced three to four hours a day to perfect his ability.

Robbie hit a level in goose calling to where he and his father decided to go watch a contest. They then decided Robbie should enter the next contest, his dad noted.

"He was doing very well at it, and last year, won the Intermediate World Championship in his age group in duck calling," Iverson said. "He then started blowing in the open classes, which are open to all age groups."

Robbie won both the Illinois State Championship Goose and Duck Caller titles this summer.

"It's the first time we know of in history for one person to win both titles in one year," said Iverson of the Intermediate and World Championship goose calling competitions.

Robbie placed second in the 2008 Junior World Goose Calling Contest in Easton.
 
Then to vary the pattern a bit, he placed fifth runner-up in the World Duck Calling Championship in Stuttgart, Ark., during the Thanksgiving Weekend this year.

Father and son do a lot of hunting together. His grandfather said Robbie's goose calling talent "really brings the geese down."

A junior at Marquette High School, Robbie would like to become involved in professional guiding for hunters at some point. He also plans to attend college, but has not yet decided which school.

Robbie could not be reached for comment.

"He's out chasing wild geese," his father said with a chuckle Wednesday.