Live Stages

Friday
1 PM — Duck Hunters Trivia / Delta Communications Team
Test your duck knowledge with the Delta pros by playing a round of Duck Hunters Trivia
2 PM — Outside the Box Duck for the Whole Family / Mark Merchant
Professor Mark Merchant demonstrates how to make duck po’ boy, duck egg rolls, and duck ramen
3 PM — NOT your Grandpa’s Duck Dinner / Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois
Join Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois as he puts together a new kind of spread with Dad’s Duck Dinner
4 PM — Duck Blind Breakfast / Chef Jay Holcomb
Duck Blind Bistro shows you a simple way to whip up the ultimate morning meal in the blind
 
Saturday
10 AM — Outside the Box Duck for the Whole Family / Mark Merchant
Professor Mark Merchant demonstrates how to make duck po’ boy, duck egg rolls, and duck ramen
11 AM — Venison + Cheese = YUM / Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois
Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois poses a new solution to clear cravings by combining venison and cheese
Noon — Duck Blind Breakfast / Chef Jay Holcomb
Duck Blind Bistro shows you a simple way to whip up the ultimate morning meal in the blind
1 PM — Duck Hunters Trivia / Delta Communications Team
Test your duck knowledge with the Delta pros by playing a round of Duck Hunters Trivia
2 PM — NOT your Grandpa’s Duck Dinner / Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois
Join Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois as he puts together a new kind of spread with Dad’s Duck Dinner
3 PM — Outside the Box Duck for the Whole Family / Mark Merchant
Professor Mark Merchant demonstrates how to make duck po’ boy, duck egg rolls, and duck ramen
4 PM — Duck Blind Breakfast / Chef Jay Holcomb
Duck Blind Bistro shows you a simple way to whip up the ultimate morning meal in the blind
 
Sunday
10 AM — Duck Hunters Trivia / Delta Communications Team
Test your duck knowledge with the Delta pros by playing a round of Duck Hunters Trivia
11 AM — NOT your Grandpa’s Duck Dinner / Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois
Join Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois as he puts together a new kind of spread with Dad’s Duck Dinner
Noon — Outside the Box Duck for the Whole Family / Mark Merchant
Professor Mark Merchant demonstrates how to make duck po’ boy, duck egg rolls, and duck ramen
1 PM — Duck Blind Breakfast / Chef Jay Holcomb
Duck Blind Bistro shows you a simple way to whip up the ultimate morning meal in the blind
2 PM — Venison + Cheese = YUM / Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois
Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois poses a new solution to clear cravings by combining venison and cheese

Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois

Duck Camp Dinners

The outdoorsman in Bourgeois is in many ways the heart and soul of who he is, though living in New York as a chef does not easily allow him to nurture the wild blood that runs through his veins. He often catches himself daydreaming about walking the woods hunting squirrel or freezing to his core in a duck blind in hopes of shooting a limit. Luckily, he can make yearly pilgrimages back home to Louisiana and around the United States to “feed” the wild side within. There are few more satisfying moments in his life greater than the ones he has of cooking gumbo following duck hunts with friends and family.

“I have called kitchens my safe space since I was a little boy. I have run kitchens all around the world—from beach bars to Michelin stars—but it’s the hunting and fishing camps that have taught me my foundation. And, if I’m being honest, they still teach me even today. Although, I don’t consider myself a wild game chef; I simply cook with what is around me. But over the last 30 years, my kitchen has been filled with pursuits fallen victim to rod-and-reel or trigger.“

Each one of these recipes I am presenting I have cooked a hundred or more times, and I don’t believe that I have ever cooked a dish the same as one prior. I am continually changing and tweaking how I cook, and, in that spirit, I encourage you to do the same with the recipes I demonstrate. Follow them to a tee if you’d like—or don’t. Like food itself, these recipes are meant to be shared, so make them yours, have fun with them, and switch it up! If there is one thing I’ve learned about sitting around the dinner table, it would be this: it’s not the food that I remember, it’s the company, so share it with those that count.”

Chef Jay Holcomb

Duck Blind Bistro

Chef Jay Holcomb is a co-owner of Duck Blind Bistro, an idea that came together in 2012. Holcomb and co-owner John Paul Lambert have been duck hunting together for more than 24 years, and cooking in the blind or on the bank has always been a big part of their outings. The one thing that was missing? A hot biscuit. You could always cook bacon, sausage, eggs, etc. but were forced to put it in a cold biscuit, a tortilla, or an English muffin. So they took an idea and worked to equip duck hunters with the ultimate tool to create prime cuisine in the duck blind. Learn from these pros how to create your own Duck Blind Bistro in your favorite honey hole!

Mark Merchant

Waterfowl Cuisine: From Field to Table

As a professor of biochemistry at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mark Merchant has travelled around the globe studying the immunology of crocodiles in Africa, Australia, Central and South America, and southeast Asia. Throughout his travels, he has accrued a wide variety of recipes from an extensive expanse of locations. His love for hunting and knowledge of international cuisine sparked a desire to prepare a wide variety of nontraditional culinary dishes using waterfowl. His newly published book, “Waterfowl Cuisine: From Field to Table,” has changed the way that we think about waterfowl as table fare.

“Are you tired of cooking ducks using the same three or four recipes over and over again? Join me to explore a new way to think about waterfowl as table fare. You’ll expand your horizons as we prepare several nontraditional dishes (duck ramen, egg rolls, and duck po’boy sandwiches), learn about different ways to stretch your harvest, and master the ability to make a broad variety of diverse dishes that will delight your friends and family.” 

Delta Waterfowl

Communications Team

This year, Delta’s witty wordsmiths take over Delta Duck Trivia, and promise to bring you engaging and entertaining duck facts from the four corners. Grab a spot and see if your duck knowledge verges on mastery or if you need special waterfowl courses from our Drs. Chris Nicolai and Frank Rohwer.

Friday
1 PM — A Gun Dog’s First Season / Chris Akin
Learn from legendary pro trainer, Chris Akin of Webb Footed Kennels, as he talks about the “dos and don’ts” of a retriever’s first season in the blind.
2 PM — Hunting with Multiple Dogs in the Field/Blind / Mossy Pond
Hunting with more than one dog can be a dream or a nightmare. We will look at some things to do to make sure it’s a dream and everyone enjoys the hunt!
3 PM — TBD
Description coming soon. 
4 PM — Systematic Retriever Training / Barton Ramsey
Join Barton Ramsey of Southern Oak Kennels as he discusses a systematic approach to breaking down and simplifying each aspect of retriever training, setting your dog up for the best chance of success in the home and the field.
 
Saturday
10 AM — A Gun Dog’s First Season / Chris Akin
Learn from legendary pro trainer, Chris Akin of Webb Footed Kennels, as he talks about the “dos and don’ts” of a retriever’s first season in the blind.
11 AM — Systematic Retriever Training / Barton Ramsey
Join Barton Ramsey of Southern Oak Kennels as he discusses a systematic approach to breaking down and simplifying each aspect of retriever training, setting your dog up for the best chance of success in the home and the field.
Noon — Hunting with Multiple Dogs in the Field/Blind / Mossy Pond
Hunting with more than one dog can be a dream or a nightmare. We will look at some things to do to make sure it’s a dream and everyone enjoys the hunt!
1 PM — Tales and Tips From the Field / Al Arthur
Al Arthur, one of the top pro field trialers in the country, shares tips and stories from his years of experience in the field.
2 PM — Team Eukanuba Panel Q&A / Chris Akin, Brad Arington, Al Arthur, Josh Miller, Barton Ramsey
Have questions about training your dog? Need tips on what to look for when choosing your next dog? Want to share an experience with one of the pros? Whatever the reason, Join us for an open forum!
3 PM — Training Your Retriever / Josh Miller
Josh Miller of River Stone Kennels breaks down getting your dog ready to hit the field this upcoming season. With tips, drills and breaking down actual hunting situations, you are sure to take away some information that will allow both you and your dog to be successful this season. 
4 PM — Competition Panel / Chris Akin, Brad Arington, Al Arthur
Learn from the best when it comes to testing and trialing your dog, and what it takes from the handler to make your dog successful.
 
Sunday
10 AM — Systematic Retriever Training / Barton Ramsey
Join Barton Ramsey of Southern Oak Kennels as he discusses a systematic approach to breaking down and simplifying each aspect of retriever training, setting your dog up for the best chance of success in the home and the field. (30 Min)
10:30 AM — Tales and Tips From the Field / Al Arthur
Al Arthur, one of the top pro field trialers in the country, shares tips and stories from his years of experience in the field. (30 Min)
11 AM — Training Your Retriever / Josh Miller
Josh Miller of River Stone Kennels breaks down getting your dog ready to hit the field this upcoming season. With tips, drills and breaking down actual hunting situations, you are sure to take away some information that will allow both you and your dog to be successful this season. 
Noon — A Gun Dog’s First Season / Chris Akin
Learn from legendary pro trainer, Chris Akin of Webb Footed Kennels, as he talks about the “dos and don’ts” of a retriever’s first season in the blind.
1 PM — Hunting with Multiple Dogs in the Field/Blind / Mossy Pond
Hunting with more than one dog can be a dream or a nightmare. We will look at some things to do to make sure it’s a dream and everyone enjoys the hunt!
2 PM — Team Eukanuba Panel Q&A / Chris Akin, Brad Arington, Al Arthur, Josh Miller, Barton Ramsey
Have questions about training your dog? Need tips on what to look for when choosing your next dog? Want to share an experience with one of the pros? Whatever the reason, Join us for an open forum!

Josh Miller

River Stone Kennels

Josh Miller is the owner of River Stone Kennels in New Richmond, Wisconsin where he trains retrievers and, alongside his wife Whitney, breed British Labradors. Josh is also the owner of Retriever Roadmap, the online program that helps guide you in training your own dog at home. Whether it is finding the right puppy or tips on how to take your dog to the next level, Josh will have the information you are looking for.

Chris Akin

Webb Footed Kennel

Chris Akin has been training dogs for over four decades. He learned by shadowing his father who was a professional dog trainer, and by the time he was 19 Akin was widely considered to be one of the best gun dog trainers of his generation. Akin has trained more than 3,800 dogs leading his training program to evolve into one of the most accomplished hunt test programs in the country. Since opening his Webb Footed Kennels, Inc., his program has produced more than 350 Hunting Retriever Champions, 175 Master Hunters, and 80 Grand Hunting Retriever Champions. Akin’s personal titles include two Super Retriever Series Championships and an ESPN Great Outdoor Games Gold Medal.

Barton Ramsey

Southern Oak Kennels

Barton Ramsey, a native of Mississippi, is the owner and founder of Southern Oak Kennels, a Labrador Retriever kennel which focuses on importing, breeding, and training field-bred British labs. Barton has been training dogs for waterfowl and upland hunting since 2009. He is also one of the founders of Cornerstone Gundog Academy, and online video resource for do-it-yourself gundog training. Barton’s goal is to make a lasting impact in the realm of gundogs by providing not just well-bred Labrador Retrievers but also a route for all lab owners to achieve the highest levels of success with their dogs, both in the field and at home.

Al Arthur

Sandhill Retrievers

From the very beginning, dogs have played a prominent role in Al Arthur’s life. As an adult, his father’s influence inspired Al to make his own name in the dog training business. After working for several industry leaders, Al joined the team at Sandhill Retrievers in 1997. Since then, Al has won the 2015 National Field Trial Championship, and he is currently ranked in the top 3 US Open Handlers.

Brad Arington

Mossy Pond Retrievers

Mossy Pond Retrievers was developed in 2003 by Georgia native, Brad Arington, with just one dog and a dream. Over the years, Mossy Pond Retrievers has expanded to its current size of 130 dogs in training and 18 employees. Arington has earned hundreds of master passes and many QAA titles and SRS wins. He’s also placed many dogs on the National Derby List. Mossy Pond Retrievers has a second training and boarding facility located in Marlboro, New York. Mossy Pond Retrievers is an Orvis-Endorsed training facility and has relationships with Banded and Avery dog products. When not running dogs across the country in four different retriever games and competitions, you’ll find Arington at his Mossy Pond Lodge, filming episodes for The Fowl Life television show, or spending time with his wife Ellen and their four children.