Hackberry Rod And Gun

By: Rusty Dawdy

At 12 years old, Kirk Stansel would sit in class drawing pictures of ducks instead of paying attention. His entire life seemed centered around shotguns, decoys and the smell of gunpowder. He couldn’t wait for the bell to ring, allowing him to explore our wetlands.

This obsession never dwindled. By age 15, he was guiding hunts through The Chateau Charles, and for decades, he, his brothers and his son have run the nationally renowned Hackberry Rod and Gun guide service. I recently sat down with Capt. Kirk to discuss his passion for hunting, Southwest Louisiana, and their business, which built our area’s guide industry from the ground up.

Kirk and I have met several times over the years, crossing paths periodically at fishing rodeos, Southeast Sportswriters conferences, CCA or DU Banquets, but we had never really spoken or known each other. When I reached out for Lagniappe’s Hunting Season Special, he was gracious and kind, agreeing to meet me at his lodge on a Friday afternoon.

Anglers and hunters were beginning to check in, arriving from all over the region and country, coming to share in our area’s unique culture, food and wildlife resources. He introduced himself as the smartest, best looking, funniest and most modest of the Stansel brothers. Kirk is tall and fit for his age. He’s tan from the sun but not weathered like some guide captains. His posture is elevated even when relaxed or leaning back, portraying a certain casual swagger reminiscent of a former professional ballplayer or maybe a golf pro.

Periodically, a client would peek into the door of the front desk and gift shop and Kirk would excuse himself. He’d shake their hand and introduce himself. About an hour into our interview, his son, Brett, came in with his three young sons. Each boy was expected to greet me, shake my hand and look me in the eyes. Grandpa and Dad were there to unapologetically coach them through the process. There was no need to explain the old-school ritual; they were rearing young boys to be men in this world. It was evident that it’s working.

Kirk did apologize for the interruptions, but there was no need. I learned as much about the man sitting in front of me by watching him interact with his clients and grandsons as I did the two and a half hours of our visiting.

The guys that come to Hackberry Rod and Gun are there because it’s where they choose to spend their hard- earned leisure money and, probably more importantly, their limited free time. Kirk and his family understand the assignment: Show them that they’re important to us and make sure they have a good time.

In recent years, a lot has been written about the unique challenges that men face in this world culturally, professionally and interpersonally.

People, all people, of all walks of life, have a desire to be seen. Many believe recent political shifts are in response to this “men’s crisis.” I’m sure Kirk would laugh off the psychobabble ramifications or theories of his business approach. He’s not that guy. But he understands it instinctively. To the Stansel family, it’s just the right way to act.

In 1975, Terry Shaughnessy got out of the military and headed to our area’s booming petrochemical scene in search of work. A Silver Star recipient, Terry had quickly climbed the US Army ranks to that of captain. After fishing near Hackberry one afternoon, a gentleman happened by and admired the young man’s catch. Terry hired himself out to bring the man fishing the next day.

Within months, Terry had committed to a road less traveled. Actually, a road not yet traveled in our neck of the woods. Fishing and hunting guides existed in other areas, and a few commercial fishermen in Cameron would bring sportsmen offshore occasionally, but not in Big Lake–not yet. Terry, a natural entertainer and salesman, set out to change that. By 1978 he was also offering duck hunting trips, and by 1979, a teenaged Kirk was working for Terry. Shaughnessy would eventually become the stepdad to the Stansel boys. Their mother, Mrs. Martha, a talented cook, would feed the sportsmen.

Ultimately, Terry would retire and the three boys, Kirk, Guy and Bobby, bought him out, continuing the legacy they had built together. Sadly, Terry left this world a few years ago, succumbing to cancer at age 77, but he left behind a SWLA institution along with his famous catchphrase, “You should have been here yesterday.”

Today, Hackberry Rod and Gun employs about 15 full-time guides and a few part-time reinforcements. Kirk enjoys fishing, but he lives to duck hunt. He estimates that he’s only missed 20 days of duck season since 1980. He says a handful of hunts stand out among the thousands. He lit up when he told me about Christmas Eve 1983. “A severe freeze resulted in the most unbelievable day. Nonstop flocks of thousands of duck poured in one after the other.” Kirk limited out quickly but stayed around for hours just watching the show. He told me about the many dignitaries they’ve entertained–U.S. senators and even General Norman Schwarzkopf.

Kirk spoke of the last day of the season in 1980, “A front came through and filled the entire sky with birds. It was pouring rain and raining birds. (We) dropped birds with every single shot. Ramey Broussard and I had our 20 ducks in no time.”

Not all memories were great. Once a Go-Devil (engine) broke down, and he went back to get a different boat. In the short 20 minutes he was gone, the guys had almost limited out, thus he had to miss most of the hunt.

And then there was that one trip. Kirk had a habit of just throwing his waders in the bed of his truck and not thinking anything of it. The labs ride the short distance to the hunt in the back of the truck. Without thinking, Kirk grabbed his waders and tossed them over his shoulder, smearing dog poop from the top of his head down to his collar. He wiped it off but couldn’t stop smelling it for days. I couldn’t imagine being stuck in a duck blind with him on that day.

Along the way, I had done a good bit of hunting near Hackberry. When I mentioned a friend, John Collingswood, Kirk stopped in his tracks and told me a story about the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. The entire operation was destroyed just as teal season was upon them. The camps were gone, the blinds and surrounding marshes were decimated. Collingswood, an eccentric multi-millionaire known for his kindness, reached out to Kirk and offered him the use of his ranch for duck hunts. The casinos offered to house his guests. Our entire community pulled together to keep Hackberry Rod and Gun afloat.

“The guides would work there butts off during the day and would demo then rebuild by night. I don’t know how we all lived through it, He says.

Our tourism board, the Hackberry community and SWLA in general all stepped up to help them survive. “Because of everyone else’s faith and dedication to us, we owed it to them to keep going,” he says.

The Stansel family was humbled by the entire experience and, in return, takes their commitment to our community very seriously. They are tremendous ambassadors for our entire area and our coastal way of life.

I can imagine one of Brett’s young boys and maybe some cousins taking over the business one day. How amazing would that be? What if their 50-year-old business could turn into 100 years of success, struggles, perseverance and thriving? Businesses, even those with longevity, go through the same struggles, good times and difficult seasons that we all face in our individual lives. The main difference is it’s much harder to about-face or correct course when the world changes around you. It’s unlikely, Kirk nor I will live to see the full realization of those boys’ potential, but I have high hopes for their future.

However, I see a clever and pleasant contradiction to Kirk’s current efforts. Whether or not he’s noticed, Kirk spends his time simultaneously laboring both in the business of making memories of what will soon be the past while actively building a foundation for what will soon be the future. Like all experiences in this world, much of his dedication may eventually overlap.