John P. Kopek
Designated Executive Broker, Weichart Realtors – The Griffin Company, Bentonville
Number of days you hunt a season: 20–30 in Arkansas and 10–15 in Missouri and Canada. I am blessed in my line of work to have a flexible schedule and can do most of my work from my cell phone or hotspot on my laptop during duck season and an understanding wife and employer.
Where do you hunt? Cache & White River Bottoms
Club name: Rowdy River Rats
What kind of gun do you use? Benelli SBEIII 28ga.
Favorite duck call? I have a cut-down of some flavor usually, and a Stinson on my lanyard. Jim Stinson is a great family friend; he was the wedding officiant for my wife’s and my wedding.
Preferred wader: camo or solids? Sitka Delta Zip in Optifade Timber
What got you into duck hunting? My dad originally got me into duck hunting here in NWA and Missouri. I am fortunate to have my Uncle Bubba in the Stuttgart area, who has treated me just as one of his own. From a very young age he has and still welcomes me at his camp of family and close friends.
What is your most unusual “must have” in the duck blind? I don’t carry anything real unusual, but since about 2015 I’ve always carried my camera. I’d also rather forget my shotgun than my duck calls when headed to the blind or woods.
Favorite meal after a hunt? Bacon, fried eggs cooked in the bacon grease and biscuits, butter and jelly
What’s your favorite memory of hunting with your children? My wife Lindsey and I have two daughters, Leighton, 7, and Liza, 3. We took Leighton on her first duck hunt on a farm pond when she was only 18 months old. She has been going to our club in SE AR since she was 4. My favorite memory was her first trip down there. We didn’t shoot a bunch of ducks that morning, but her and the other kids were just having a ball in the woods, practicing their duck calls and building blinds and just having a fun time. Leighton had climbed a little tree showing off to the other kids and I went back to our boat to get something and her foot got stuck, and somehow she ended up upside down and my buddy Brian had to get her unstuck. Leighton and all the other kids laughed about that for 10 minutes, and they still talk about that morning. On the way back to camp that morning, Leighton was waving and smiling at every duck hunter we had passed. Seeing her having fun and smiling is what I enjoy about taking my kids.
Why do you duck hunt? I duck hunt for every reason that a person could write dozens of books about — the ducks, friends, good dogs, boat rides in the dark, fine sporting arms, conservation of the resources, the traditions of old and new and passing those down to my kids. There is not one aspect of duck hunting that doesn’t bring me joy.
What stage of the hunter are you? Sportsman (Measures the total experience — appreciation of outdoors, the animal being hunted, the process, companionship of others and conservation.)
