In a world where louder is not always better, Dale Bordelon meticulously handcrafts duck calls in his shop in the heart of Louisiana. There, he is doing more than just crafting duck calls. Rather, Bordelon is protecting a legacy rooted in Cajun tradition.
“It’s from dire to lightning that takes a duck caller, and you’ve got to have a soft call too,” he says, echoing the wisdom of an old-timer.
While he spent most of his career at a grain elevator, his true calling has always been duck hunting. Over the last 30 years, he turned his passion into a full-time job, with a waiting list for his calls extending two to three years. Shaping everything from paddles and oars to molds and knives, Bordelon’s craftsmanship extends beyond duck calls. Each piece tells a story of his passion and dedication to duck hunting. The demand speaks to the authenticity and craftsmanship imbued in each piece.
“I’ll build them like they did in the 1800s, so I didn’t plan on nothing,” Bordelon explains. “I just started making calls, and people liked them.”
From crafting the soundboard to smoothing and sanding, his process is a labor of love resulting in a perfect duck call. River cane, grown under forest canopies on riverbanks, is the raw material for his creations. By using River cane instead of bamboo for materials, his calls have a unique strength and character.
For Bordelon, creating duck calls is more than a job, but is a mission to preserve Cajun culture passed down through generations since their arrival in Louisiana. Today his calls attract customers from around the world, and Bordelon finds fulfillment in sharing his Cajun roots.
“I love doing it, and the biggest thing of all — I love sharing my Louisiana Heritage. That means a lot to me,” he said.
To learn more or join Bordelon’s waitlist, visit his Facebook page.
If you’re a fan of RFD-TV’s Where the Food Comes From, you might recall visiting Larry Smith’s idyllic Christmas Tree farm in rural North Carolina. This year, ahead of the holidays, we are taking a look back at the classic episode from Season 2 with a host of new, behind-the-scenes and bonus content to enjoy!
November 16, 2023 03:14 PM
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November 10, 2023 02:41 PM
This Gingery Chicken and Mushroom Soup is a comforting and nourishing option for cold weather, utilizing a medley of fresh, seasonal ingredients readily available in the winter.
November 10, 2023 01:14 PM
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The State of Louisiana is known as a major wintering location for North American waterfowl. However, a new visitor — a species of Whistling Ducks hailing from South America — may pose a problem to native species.
November 09, 2023 01:52 PM
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Author Lee Klancher joined RFD-TV’s Market Day Report to discuss a new, special edition version of his book, “Farmall Century” hitting the shelves in honor of the iconic tractor’s major milestone and impact on the ag industry over the last century.
November 02, 2023 01:35 PM
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A story that started with hardship ultimately led to a producer impacting the lives of youth involved in sheep showing. The North Carolina Farm Bureau takes us to Haynes Farm in Dobson, N.C., to hear this inspiring story.
November 01, 2023 12:50 PM
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Show producer Donna Sanders shares her perspective on filming the latest episode of Where the Food Comes From at Splenda Stevia Farms, a company growing a sweet specialty crop here in the U.S. that is typically imported from overseas.
November 01, 2023 09:00 AM
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Splenda’s new stevia farm in Florida is the first of its kind in the United States. Thousands of plants produce millions of leaves that are then turned into plant-based stevia sweetener products. But how do they get the sweet stuff out?
October 31, 2023 09:00 AM
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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke with RFD-TV’s own Susan Alexander this Monday morning on the Market Day Report to explain Arkansas’s recently passed giving lawmakers greater authority to sanction foreign ag-land ownership within the state.
October 30, 2023 12:51 PM
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