One of the most recognized hunters in history talks about his humble roots in Booger Bottom, Georgia, and how he met Realtree’s Bill Jordan.

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Before Michael Waddell became an outdoor industry icon, he was an air conditioner repairman whose claim to fame was winning local turkeycalling competitions on the weekends. Unbeknownst to Waddell, he’d caught the attention of Bill Jordan, who’d heard about the talented young turkey caller from Realtree pro staffers. In 1994, after watching Waddell win a contest in Perry, Georgia, Jordan approached the 20yearold and invited him to become a Realtree junior pro staff team member.

Waddell says being a face of the industry is a big responsibility, and he wants to use his influence to help fight for the hunting culture and change the perception of hunting so that it’s celebrated on a national level. “I want to represent the sport well, and when asked, I want to respond with the solid, detailed answers and narrative that make people think. I want to be like a fiberoptic cable that flows what is positive about hunting and fishing, the outdoors, and the simple life to all who are willing to listen.”

It’s been 27 years since that day, when Bill Jordan invited Waddell to join the Realtree team, and Waddell says he still sometimes feels as if he has to pinch himself.