Luggate local Hunter Morrow has quacked his way to the US for the world championships in duck calling after taking out the national competition in Tauranga.
More than 20 duck callers from around New Zealand took part in the quack-off on Saturday, where they had 60 seconds to blow a greeting, pleading and feed call - plus a lonesome hen call.
Mr Morrow, a building apprentice, came 5th in the world champs last year.
Fish & Game says he told reporters duck calling had been a "weird obsession" since he was a young boy.
"I've been hunting ducks since I was a little kid and calling is just part of it," he says.
"And travelling to the world champs had been a dream come true, to compete against my duck-calling idols."
He says getting to compete again is "pretty damn cool".
"It's a great opportunity to take things to the next level again and have a go at winning the world champs."
The national competition organiser Adam Rayner is ecstatic with the way the finals went, Fish & Game says, and he plans to hold the event in the South Island next year.
He says the standard of calling was "absolutely fabulous".
Duck calling judge John Meikle, a Rotorua Fish & Game officer, says it was a hard fought contest and the judges had some rigorous discussions on their way to picking Hunter Morrow as the winner.
Results:
1. Hunter Morrow (Luggate, Wanaka)
2. Owen Robinson (Hamilton)
3. Callum McKenzie (Christchurch)
4. Ritson Galloway (Woodville)
5. Holly Irvine (Richmond, Nelson)
A video of Mr Morrow competing can be viewed above.
Newshub.
