To kick off the 2024 Chêne Film Festival, we sat down with the filmmakers to bring you an exclusive Behind the Lens look at each film. The first film in this series is the GUNNER film “Mantle.” We sat down with GUNNER’s own, Luke Moore, the main character and mastermind behind this film. Following along with Luke’s passion for waterfowl hunting and love for dogs, this film explores the ceremonious torch passing from his first retriever to his next. Check out the full interview below:
Split Reed: First, congratulations on an excellent film. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your waterfowl hunting journey?
Luke: “I have been duck hunting my entire life, at least as long as I can remember–thanks to my dad. It has always been about being outdoors and enjoying the fellowship, but the dogs really ramped that up. I got Goose, who the film is based around, as a kid and have grown within my waterfowling journey. Without Goose, I truly don’t know if I would be where I am today working for GUNNER. Now I am on the Brand Marketing team getting to bring projects like this to life, which, in my opinion, is one of the coolest jobs out there.”
Split Reed: What was the inspiration behind making this film a reality?
Luke: “I have two incredibly special dogs that have changed my life for the better in multiple different ways, Goose and Dex. Passing the torch between the two dogs is a monumental point in my duck hunting journey, and I knew I had to capture it on film. This was the most special hunt I have ever been on: Goose’s last and Dex’s first, and the emotions and journey are captured for the audience and myself to see.”
Split Reed: What was your favorite part about the filming process?
Luke: “For me, the best part of the filming process was the relationships, without a doubt. In each part of this process, we had someone with a different point of view and a different relationship with both me and the dogs. Seeing all parts of the story come together in a single moment was fun and so special.”
Split Reed: What challenges did you face making this film come together?
Luke: “A lot goes into bringing a film to life, from logistics to capturing the content and putting the story together. But personally, the biggest challenge I faced was realizing that this was actually going to be Goose’s last retrieve. And that isn’t me cutting him off early or too soon. It was truly time for him to retire, and that was a tough pill to swallow. He was and is my first dog ever, so the reality of accepting he was actually done was the toughest part of the whole thing.”
Split Reed: Can you tell us about the Film’s characters?
Luke: “Each person in the film had a different point of view on both Goose and Dex. Myself, my dad, Jamie (Dex’s trainer), and Matt (videographer and one of my best friends). They were all involved in some pivotal point in my journey with Goose and now Dex. Having the opportunity to bring all their stories together in one hunt meant a lot to me, and they all appreciated the goal of this hunt. The only one missing was my wife, who was pregnant with our first child at the time. Morning sickness and duck hunting weren’t mixing well at that point.”
Split Reed: In this film, we get to know you and your love for dogs. What would you tell someone who has never owned a duck dog and is thinking about getting one?
Luke: “Get one only if you can put in enough time with them. If you can do that, it will quite literally change your life for the better. I can’t explain what each of these dogs has done for me in my life, career, and hunting. When you put in enough time with them, nothing can beat the relationships and experiences you gain.
One thing I would also suggest is to give them a lot of grace and patience. Too many people treat their dog as a robot, and that’s just not realistic. Part of the fun is figuring out their personality. They give us everything they can, and they deserve the same from us. If you’re on the fence, putting the time in with a dog is the most rewarding thing you can do as a waterfowl hunter.”
Split Reed: When watching this film, the word bittersweet comes to mind. Can you tell us what it means to you to have these incredible moments captured on camera?
Luke: “I am not sure words can describe how special it is to have these moments captured. You know, believe it or not, this was always my goal with Goose: to be able to pass a few moments, memories, and even characteristics on to my next dog. I never would have even dreamed of capturing those moments in this way. And to be able to share them with the world is even better. I hope it inspires people to pour into their dogs a bit more than they would have before.”
Split Reed: What is the biggest piece of advice you would give hunters working with their own dogs?
Luke: “Take them everywhere with you. There are only 60 days in a season, so I don’t know about you, but I want to spend as much time with them as possible in the other 300 days of the year. We use the term “a dog at your feet” around the office. Meaning: there is nothing you can realistically do that isn’t BETTER when a dog is at your feet.”
Split Reed: At the end of the film you talk about what is next for Dex. What is next, and what does it mean to you to be able to start the process over again?
Luke: “God has allowed me to be in an incredible position in my career. Meeting some of the coolest people and hunting some of the coolest places. I can’t imagine the memories and relationships Dex and I will build along the way. That said, I am just as excited to get back to Missouri and hunt him with my family, just as Goose and I have done for all these years. There’s something special about starting this journey over, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for us.”
Split Reed: How do you hope Mantle inspires your audience, and are there any key messages you hope they take home?
Luke: “I hope people dive a bit deeper into their relationship with their dogs or at least be inspired to do so. I think we have all seen the bad side of training/handling, and I can’t stand it. Both of these dogs have allowed me to appreciate the hunt and relationships along the way much more than a limit of mallards. So hopefully, people see that and flip that switch as well.”
Split Reed: Is there anything else that you would like to add or anyone you want to thank for helping make this film possible?
Luke: “From me and everyone else on the GUNNER team, thank you to everyone involved. Addison and Emily built a brand that focuses on building the best dog products in the world while keeping the customer as the main focus. It is such a blessing to be a part of a brand that doesn’t cut corners when it comes to products or customers. It allows us to partner with other brands like Chêne and Mossy Oak, who have the same goals in mind and end up with the most amazing customers out there.”