Jim is the Producer and Co-Host of RNT-V, along with other odds-and-ends at RNT Calls Inc. As a competitive duck caller, Jim won the 2006 World Duck Calling Championship. He was presented with Ducks Unlimited's Conservation Communicator of the Year award in 2019, and has been a judge of hunt tests like the Super Retriever Series and AKC Retriever Field Trials. When he's not hunting or fishing, he's chillin' and grillin' with friends and family.

THE ONE DOG YOU'LL NEVER FORGET?

Can't just say one, how about two? An old lab named Katie and her successor, Tank... Katie for her grit and toughness and ability to find cripples, and Tank for his solid professionalism and marking ability.

FAVORITE SPECIES TO HUNT WITH YOUR DOG? FAVORITE SPOT FOR THAT?

Mallard Ducks, in flooded woods or a small creek bottom.

WHAT'S A SKILL MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE, AND WHAT'S ONE YOU WISH YOU DID?

I'm a pretty fair chainsaw hand and loader operator. At one time I wanted to be a full-time Cowboy... now I think it might be cool to be a bush pilot in Alaska.

FAVORITE HUNTING STORY WITH A DOG?

Wow, there are so many to choose from. But maybe the coolest retrieve I've ever seen...

I was still in the guide business and we had been having a pretty good morning. We volleyed in to a good bunch and were several down. Ol' Katie got 'em all but a crippled Mallard Hen that she hunted and hunted... She finally came back to her stand and I chastised her about not finding that duck!

Well we continued the hunt and I noticed she kept looking over towards where she had lost that earlier bird... We only needed a couple to finish up so I sent her...

She went over to this submerged clump of weeds and she was sniffing around, then she'd sit back on her haunches and started digging with her front feet, then she stuck her head in the water and with a mouthful of mud and weeds came out with that crippled Mallard Hen! An absolute amazing retrieve!

WHERE DOES YOUR PASSION FOR DOGS ORIGINATE?

My Dad. Growing up hunting and fishing, we always had dogs and I loved hearing Dad and his buddies tell old dog stories...

TELL US A FUNNY STORY WITH YOUR DOG THAT STANDS OUT–

Oh yeah, a bunch of them too... As the TV show grew, folks really liked Tank. People would stop us on the road or pull up at stop sign and say: "Is that Tank?" or "Can take a picture with him?" They didn't care about us but everybody loved 'Ol Tankers!! I'm a little misty eyed thinking of him and Katie.

IF YOU COULD BE ANY DOG BREED (BESIDES THE ONE YOU OWN), WHICH WOULD IT BE?

Some sort of big old mutt – maybe half Labrador and half German Sheperd farm dog – that laid on the porch finding all the shady spots, jumping in the pond cause it just felt good and going everywhere with my buddies. Being care free and making lots of friends!

BEST TRAINING TIP FOR FIRST-TIME DOG OWNERS?

Besides LOTS of socializing, take them with you everywhere you can and talk to them. Be fair, be firm and keep it simple. Sit means sit, here means here and for the retriever people – go, means go.

WHAT'S LEFT THAT STILL WANT TO DO?

Do some more big game hunting out west, and maybe go to Alaska.