Les Bio
Les Johnson has been on a quest since childhood, a quest that has honed his skills as an outdoorsman and given him a rich life pursuing his true passion predator hunting. Born and raised on a south-central Nebraska farm, Les experienced nature first-hand. Before he could drive, he was hunting with his trusty .410 single-shot. Summers were spent fishing local farm ponds and running bank lines on nearby rivers. However, it was winter that fueled his fire. Trapping with his grandfather Herbert “Fox” Johnson introduced him to the coyote and gave shape to his passion, his quest to best the cunning coyote – the Predator Quest.
While attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln pursuing a degree in Animal Science, a good friend asked Les what his goal in life was. His reply? “I want to be one of the best coyote callers in the world.” With that goal firmly in his sights, he was soon standing in the winner’s circle, securing the Triple Crown Championship of coyote calling in 1999. As the first and only coyote caller to win all three major championships (Midwest, National and World Championships), let alone the first and only to win all three in the same year, Les secured his place in coyote-calling history.
From the many friendships made in the competition calling arena the idea for Les’s first coyote calling video was born. Predator Quest-Quest for Coyotes was cut in 2004, showing the predator-hunting world what Les could do outside the competition halls. The action-packed video was just the first public step in Les’s quest, but it is certainly not the last. As an ambassador of predator hunting, Les plans to bring the adrenaline-fueled excitement of predator hunting to the public through more videos, appearances and a television show dedicated to the Quest.
CAREER BEST: 16 Coyotes in One Day
THE INTERNATIONAL DAVEY AWARDS
Small Firms, Big Ideas.
The Davey Awards exclusively honor the “Davids” of creativity, the finest small firms, agencies and companies in the world. David defeated the giant Goliath with a big idea and a little rock – the sort of thing small firms do each year. The annual International Davey Awards honors the achievements of the “Creative Davids” who derive their strength from big ideas, rather than big budgets. The Davey Awards is the leading awards competition specifically for smaller firms, where firms compete with their peers to win the recognition they deserve. Master Track Productions submitted Predator Quest’s television intro and won a Silver Davey Award.
THE SPORTSMAN CHANNEL AWARDS
At The Fourth Annual Producer Appreciation Event held at The House of Blues, The Sportsman Channel presented awards to the “Best” and “Viewer Favorite” TSC programs of 2006. Predator Quest won Sportman Channel Awards for “Best Show Open” and “Best Small Game or Turkey Episode”.
2009 – Won Sportsman Channel Award for Viewer Favorite Hunting Show
2009 – Silver Davey Award Winner for Predator Quest Intro
2008 – Won Sportsman Channel Award for Viewer Favorite Hunting Show
2008 – Nominated for 3 Sportsman Channel Awards: Best Small Game or Turkey Episode, Fan Favorite Hunting Show & Fan Favorite Personality.
2007 – Nominated for 2 Sportsman Channel Awards: Best Show Open and Best Small Game or Turkey Episode.
2006 – Silver Davey Award Winner for Predator Quest Intro
2006 – Won 2 Sportsman Channel Awards for Best Show Open and Best Small Game or Turkey Episode.
2006 – Nominated for 2 Sportsman Channel Awards: Best Show Open and Best Small Game or Turkey Episode.
2006 – Predator Quest became the first ever television series 100% dedicated to Predator Calling/Hunting. Les Johnson films and produces 26 new episodes each year. They rerun those 26 episodes resulting in a 52 week television series each year.
Calling Competitions
2009 – 3rd Place Cabela’s Coyote Calling Contest (1 day, 41 Teams?)
Teammates: Matt Gibson and Matt Highby – 9 coyotes
2008 – 5th Place Cabela’s Coyote Calling Contest (1 day)
Teammates: Matt Gibson and Matt Highby – 6 coyotes
2008 – 3rd Place Foxpro’s Midwest Coyote Calling Championship (1 1/2 day)
Teammate: Don Hughes – 10 coyotes
2007 – 2nd Place Cabela’s Coyote Calling Contest (1 day) Sidney, NE
Teammates: Matt Highby and Matt Gibson – 8 coyotes
2007 – 2nd Place Foxpro’s Midwest Coyote Calling Event (1 1/2 day)
Teammate: Dave Krien – 12 coyotes
2006 – 1st Place National Coyote Calling Championship (1 1/2 day)
Teammate: Robin Blake – 20 coyotes
2005 – 8th place National Coyote Calling Championship (1 1/2 day)
Teammate: Cameraman Don Hughes – 5 coyotes
2005 – 2nd Place, Midwest Coyote Calling Championship (1 1/2 day)
Teammate: Cameraman Don Hughes – 10 coyotes
2004 – 5th Place, National Coyote Calling Championship (1 1/2 day)
Teammate: Dellia Chaffin (65 year old lady) – 8 coyotes
2003 – 1st Place, National Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson – 17 coyotes
2002 – 1st Place, National Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson – 15 coyotes
2001 – Coyote Caller of the Year
2001 – 7th Place, National Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
2001 – 1st Place, Midwest Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
2001 – 2nd Place, World Coyote Calling Championship, Cortez CO
Teammate: Jeff Johnson – 14 coyotes
2000 – 9th Place, World Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson – 7 coyotes
2000 – 2nd Place, National Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
2000 – 1st Place, Midwest Coyote Calling Championship, St. Francis KS
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
1999 – Sportsman of the Year
1999 – TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPION
1999 – 1st Place, World Coyote Calling Championship (1 1/2 day) Elko NV
Teammate: Dennis Howell – 20 coyotes
1999 – 1st Place, National Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
1998 – 2nd Place, National Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
1997 – 1st Place, National Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
1996 – 3rd Place, National Coyote Calling Championship, Rawlins WY
Teammate: Jeff Johnson
1994 – 6th Place, Wyoming State Coyote Calling Championship
Teammate: Jeff Johnson