Local businessman expands into hunting equipment,
A love of duck hunting has inspired a Texarkana businessman to expand from camera equipment to hunting gear.
Red River Waterfowlers is located at 3415 Summerhill Road in Texarkana, Texas, inside the same building as Patterson’s Camera Shop. The Patterson family has been in retail for 70 years.
Owner Mark Patterson has a long history with both cameras and duck hunting.
Changes in photography and the camera industry have prompted him to now sell both types of items.
“Red River Waterfowlers was born out of a love of duck hunting. I’ve been duck hunting for about 35 years. My kids started hunting with me when they were 5 and 7 years old,” Patterson said.
He said a store that specializes in duck hunting gear is something unique to the area and should appeal to other outdoors enthusiasts.
“I love the adrenaline of duck hunting. I’ve just always loved being outdoors. We thought a waterfowl clothing and gear store would be a perfect fit as well as casual clothing. We want to sell high-quality merchandise that is proven to withstand the elements,” Patterson said.
He said he tries to stock popular items and the newest items. Popular brands include Drake and Waterfowl and Mojo Outdoors.
Items for sale include hunting jackets, gun cases, duck calls and accessories, decoys and decoy bags. Clothing is for men, women and children.
One item that he believes might be popular is an Eagle Claw Jet sled with a camouflage pattern.
He said these items are hard to find locally.
“You can’t just walk into most stores and find one of those,” Patterson said.
The sleds are used to put gear in, when someone is hunting in a wet area such as a rice field. It can be attached behind an ATV to easily transport items.
Patterson plans to add some turkey hunting gear and performance fishing items in the future.
For more information, call 903-7942585.