Growing up in Bismarck, North Dakota, Ben Peterson was almost literally raised on hunting and fishing. That outdoor background played a major role in charting the path of his education and career. To this day, the phrase “eat, breathe, sleep” waterfowl describes his lifestyle.
“I love ducks. Period. Being able to make them a major part of my profession is very rewarding,” he said.
Waterfowl is a major part of his personal life, too. On the weekend, Peterson said you’ll find him on the road looking for waterfowl or training his top-notch retrievers.
“My favorite way to spend a weekend is hunting in the morning and relaxing with the family and pups in the evenings,” he said.
He developed a liking for photography early on, and it naturally merged with is passion for the outdoors. Peterson went on to study fine arts photography at Minnesota State University Moorhead, while at the same time building a freelancing photo and film career in the outdoor industry. The opportunity to join the Delta team was just too good to pass up.
“The coolest thing about outdoor photography and film-making is you get to bring to life those experiences that would otherwise just be memories,” he said. “I get to help tell the stories of Delta, hunters, what we do, and why we do it.”
Professionally, Peterson prides himself on finding a fresh take on the modern hunting world and then bringing it to life through imagery and films. He said that it’s great to be strapped and ready on the front lines of the duck world, whether it be the science or hunting parts of Delta’s work.
His favorite place to hunt is a wheat field in Canada in pursuit of snow geese.
“For some reason, those white devils keep me coming back time after time,” he said.
Two of his favorite hunting companions are his British Labradors, Xena and Chief.