Tony Vandemore

As a child, I grew up in Northwest Illinois where my father and uncle started taking me to the blind when I was still in diapers. Although my grandfather was a member of two duck clubs in the famed Illinois River Bottoms, my interests also expanded into a passion for hunting geese in Illinois’ agricultural fields and ponds. Many afternoons were spent pheasant and quail hunting with friends as well, but it was the unmistakable sound of wind rushing through the wings of waterfowl that became the foundation of who I am today.

I attended college in Kirksville, MO at Truman State University. The area is rich with outdoor opportunities, and naturally, I felt right at home. Although I spent my college years focused on collegiate baseball while hunting in the off-season, the latter maintained the lasting impression in my life. After 2 years playing baseball for the San Diego Padres farm system, I returned back to Missouri to put my Degree in Business Marketing to work, and to return to the blinds.

I now live in north central Missouri with my wife, Kate, and daughter, Vivian, where I co-own and operate Habitat Flats, the #1 Waterfowl Lodge in North America. I am a conservationist, outdoor photographer, and Lead Ambassador of the Under Armour Hunt Waterfowl Athletes. I spend April through October managing the many farms that comprise of Habitat Flats, while the remainder of the year is spent sharing my love of waterfowl hunting with clients from all over the world. To watch the fruits of our labor in the off season result in the descent of thousands of migrating waterfowl every fall is a satisfaction I cannot describe.

For some, waterfowl season is defined by dates on a calendar. For me, it is a passion that lasts year round. The sweat equity invested into the habitat management is just as rewarding as the hunting itself; it is truly a labor of love.