The Butte Sink and the California Championship were the only two sanctioned events over the weekend that qualified the winners to compete at the 89th annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest, which will be held Nov. 29-30.
“There are about 75 qualifying events nationwide,” McCullough said.
Both Sherbody and Alt, who received $1,000 each for expenses, along with a plaque and hunting gear, are longtime waterfowl enthusiasts and have been competing since they were children. Both have won multiple competitions in Colusa previously.
Sherbondy was the 2019 California Champion, the 2020 Butte Sink Champion, and the 2021 California Champion.
The 2024 World Championship will be his first time back in three years – and for his repeat attempt at a world title, Sherbody said he plans practice more than he ever has in the past.
“Now that I’ve graduated from college, I have a lot more time and won’t be as distracted,” said Sherbody, who recently earned his bachelor’s degree in agriculture business from Chico State University and works for Grow West in Walnut Grove.
Dillon White placed second in the State Championship and received a $500 Kittle’s gift card; Gio Polo, third, received a $250 Kittle’s gift card; and Ryan Huff, fourth, received a $100 gift card.
Duck Calling Champion Colby Stilwell, of Willows, who won his berth to the world stage last year as the California State Champion, earned his spot in November at a competition out of state.
Stilwell returned to Colusa on Saturday as a judge for the Butte Sink competition.
The 2024 Colusa Duck Days had the highest attendance to date.
Pat Kittle, who brought the state competition to Colusa 13 years ago, said moving the youth events from Saturday to Sunday in 2023 opened the door for more kids than ever before to compete at duck calling.
Without competing against Saturday youth sports, Colusa Duck Days has become the family event Kittle always hoped it would become, which is necessary for enthusiasm for waterfowl hunting and competition duck calling to grow.
In the junior competition, 20 youth registered for the contest, up from about six last year, and 18 took the stage, with Jami Davis, 12, of Antioch, winning a plaque and a $100 Kittle’s gift card for first place.
Santana Ferron, 10, of Monterey, one of three girls to compete, placed second, winning a plaque and a $50 gift card. The remaining contests received hats.
“It takes a lot of gumption to get on that stage,” McCullough said. “We always want to make sure our juniors leave with something. It’s big and our sponsors help out. We want our kids to have a good experience. They are the future of our sport. These are our future outdoors people; these are the people who are going to live the outdoor lifestyle just like you and I.”
Hunter Showaker, 14, won the California Intermediate Duck Calling Championship for the third consecutive year, also winning a $100 gift card.
Showalker, named a caller to watch at future events, enjoys hunting with his family and has had a duck call in his hand since he was a toddler. Showalker has two more years to compete as an intermediate caller before he has a chance to win a sanctioned event that will send him to the world championship.
Sherbondy, who judged the intermediate contest, said it is great to see a new generation of duck callers coming up in competition.
“I was impressed with the group of kids that were out there,” he said. “They were fun to listen to and they have a lot of potential.”