Jason fell in love with shooting at the formidable age of 12, when most kids are riding their bikes around town or playing pickup games of basketball. As a youngster, Jason began shooting with his grandpa and WSCA Super Vet shooter, Percy Gunderson in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Since Jason didn’t yet have any income to speak of, he spent much of his time reloading shells for Percy to “pay” for his shells. Serving time as a trapper, Jason earned his shooting rounds to continue pursuing the sport he loved to share with Percy. Percy would serve as his mentor, guide, travel companion, and friend for many years to come as they transitioned from shooting trap to shooting sporting clays, which was quickly gaining popularity in western Wisconsin.

After taking a few teenage years off, Jason began spending much of his spare time shooting at Whispering Emerald Ridge Game Farm in Menomonie practicing, and practicing some more with much help from Mike Kettner, Percy and other fellow shooters. Jason’s son, Cory, and first wife, Michelle would join him in shooting as they continued to travel the circuit in Wisconsin and neighboring states, adding to his honors as he progressed through the ranks. In 2005, Jason achieved the long sought-after rank of Master Class shooter while simultaneously winning the Wisconsin State Ironman. Many new life-long friends and memories were made along the way with each event. Eventually, it was at Whispering Emerald Ridge where he would meet his current wife, Jess, and where they would also be married years later.

One thing most people don’t know about Jason is that he shoots with an old Browning Gold Clay gun that is worth about $300… on a GOOD day. It is affectionately called “The Mutt Gun” due to the gun having several other gun parts and pieces swapped out during his travels and competitions. Everyone who knows him knows that he always has a spare trigger assembly and/or a spare gun just in case. The “Mutt Gun” has been rebuilt at least two times by Browning, and by our estimation, has had at least 100,000 rounds through it. The gun was spray-painted an ugly chameleon color with hideous hues of bronze, green, and brown by Jason after he added a “custom” palm swell after making use of a Bondo fiberglass car repair kit he had in the garage. Adding to the “Mutt Gun’s” likeness, after realizing the clamp-style barrel weight was scratching his barrel, Jason fitted a piece of his everyday life as a cement finisher to the gun as a replacement. A spare piece of polished rebar now graces the end of his magazine cap. It is most likely the ugliest at any given tournament, but it seems to do the trick for him. The “Mutt Gun” is one that will be faithfully by his side at every shooting competition.

As a lifetime member of the NSCA, Jason will continue to be involved in shooting throughout his life. He enjoys hunting big game, small game, and everything between. Jason also enjoys travelling, riding motorcycles, and spending time with his family. He hopes to pass on the tradition in any way possible, whether coaching or simply introducing others to sporting clays, and will forever be thankful to his family, friends, and grandfather Percy for their continued support and encouragement of his sporting clays endeavors.