Jon Jones
Jon Jones: World Champion Carver of the Flats As a teenager, Jon Jones became enthralled with hunting waterfowl on the famous St. Clair Flats. Within two decades he became First in World. His story is one of carvers helping, teaching, and encouraging younger carvers. And Jon continues in that tradition of helping other carvers by sharing his techniques and approaches to the art form.
Jon started his love for waterfowling at age 17 with a few friends. He soon met local Flats guide, Bill Walters, in 1977, and he landed a first mate position for Bill a year later. It was through Bill that Jon was introduced to Jerry Felster, a local decoy carver from Fair Haven. Jon found himself attracted to yet another facet of waterfowling that would change his life forever. With Jerry's guidance on competing and critiquing his carvings, Jon began his carving career in 1977. His first carving competition was the Canadian Nationals in March 1977 where he took second in species with a floating decorative drake bluebill at the novice level. It was at this show that Jon learned of the talents of Pat Godin, who took Best of Show that year. Pat’s work would have a huge impact on the direction of Jon’s future as a carver. In 1980, Jon sent another drake bluebill out to the Worlds and took second BOS in novice. Then in 1983, with a drake Bufflehead, Jon won his first BOS in the Open class at the Canadian Nationals. This was judged by Pat Godin himself, and from there a relationship grew between the two to become best of friends. Jon continued to win BOS at the Canadian Nationals from 1985 thru 1989. From 1990 to 1997, Jon went into carving full-time. He went on to take second BOS in the pairs division at the Worlds in 1991, 1993, and 1996, and in 1994 he was crowned World Champion when he took BOS with an Emperor Goose. Throughout Jon’s career as a carver, he has taken over 50 BOS’s across the country in decorative and hunting style decoys. Throughout Jon’s career, he has shared his success with the waterfowling community by teaching his carving techniques to other carvers. Many of these students have gone on to take championships of their own. Others have added the tradition of hand carvings to their own hunting rigs. Whenever possible, Jon still finds the time to carve competition, hunting rigs, and commission carvings. Just recently, he was chosen by the Higdon Decoy Company to carve this year's new goose decoy model. If given the opportunity to meet Jon and discuss waterfowl carving, you’ll soon realize you’re in the presence of a World Champion. |
Jon Jones was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, in 1955. He was raised in Algonac, Michigan, and has spent his entire life in this suburb of The Flats. Jon married his wife Debbie in 1980 and has two sons—Bill, 22, and Brad, 19.