Bradley Cummings Bio

Bradley Cummings is a 31-year-old married firefighter and father of three young boys (Travis, Evan, Clayton), much to his wife, Amanda’s, chagrin – she wanted at least one girl. So when Bradley takes his boys outdoors to camp and hunt, she gets a little jealous that she doesn’t have a girl to take shopping. The Cummings family lives in Somonauk, IL, a rural area about 60 miles west of Chicago. Bradley and Amanda were born and raised there and grew up about a block away from each other – Bradley truly got the girl-next-door.

He’s been a firefighter for 12 years, starting as a volunteer right out of high school. (His nickname at the fire department is “Opie”). After getting his associates degree in firefighting, he turned his volunteer job into a career along with the training to be a paramedic. Today, Bradley really enjoys the bond of firemen – the military type camaraderie; a band of brothers. “There’s nothing typical about the fire service. When the tones go off anything can happen. You have to be there because you care about people.” Bradley says there’s some risk involved and it’s tough coming home after what you see on the job. That’s where hunting and fishing come into play. “Hunting and fishing is a filter for me. I wring the sponge of bad things out in the outdoors.”

Specifically, hunting geese/ducks is his greatest passion (besides firefighting). Although he doesn’t feel any more deserving of a dream trip than the next fellow, Bradley is actively involved as a volunteer firefighter (on top of his normal firefighting job); conservation efforts including DU, TRCP, Illinois Waterfowlers Alliance; and also volunteers with the Illinois Department of Conservation.

At about 8-9 years old, Bradley started tagging along with his father on waterfowl hunting trips along the Fox River. It wasn’t until he was 12 that his father gave him the family shotgun – a single shot that Bradley’s great-grandfather originally owned during the Great Depression. In his most memorable hunting experience, Bradley and his dad were walking back home due to a high river, when they spotted a mallard hen looking for a place to land. Bradley took out his call and called the mallard hen within closer range. He took a shot and landed his first duck ever with his great-grandfather’s shotgun.

Bradley’s father was his mentor on two important aspects of his life – the union and hunting. His father was in the UAW, so Bradley grew up in a union household knowing the importance of the brotherhood bond of the union. Hunting values and morals were also instilled into Bradley from his father – ‘It’s not about the numbers. Don’t shoot your whole limit of ducks/geese just because you can. It’s about fun and quality time. Once you shoot a duck, collect it before shooting another.”

Bradley’s dream hunt is to head up to the prairies of Canada for snow geese and speckled bellies. He loves the involvement of waterfowl hunting because hunters “get to call them, work them into your area. There’s more of a hunting aspect to it.” For Bradley, hunting is an escape into nature, a way to “experience the way the world’s been running for generations – getting away from the hustle and bustle of home. It’s also a bonding time for my friends and I or with my sons. There’s quality time spent together, you don’t have to talk, and everyone is on the same page.” Protecting and maintaining the habitat for future generations to enjoy is another important facet to Bradley’s hunting values.

At work, Bradley is part of a small group called “The Coalition.” It’s a group of four firefighters who are hardcore waterfowlers who work together for the common good of “The Coalition.” They are a tight-knit group of buddies who pull their resources together to get the best out of every waterfowl hunting adventure. There’s General Brian Verbenick, Colonel Bradley Cummings, Captain Robert Nielsen (Skip), and Private Lee Legler. The duck blind is their hang out place. “As a coalition we have a common goal of promoting hunting opportunities for all members and especially focusing on hunting with our children.”

At home, Amanda and Bradley have their hands full with their three boys, ages 6, 3 and 1. Bradley loves taking his boys into the outdoors with him, often going to the local pond to fish or bringing the oldest along for hunting trips. The Cummings are also active at their church – Amanda just got done teaching summer Bible school. Another one of Bradley’s hobbies is restoring a ’52 International pickup truck, which he works on with his father-in-law. Being a family man with three young boys, Bradley enjoys being at home or taking all of them for outdoor activities.

Overall, Bradley was an outstanding candidate on the phone – very articulate, loved to talk and was enthusiastic about the opportunity. He has great stories to tell and can tell them well. Bradley also has a great background, he’s very involved in volunteer efforts, and is entirely a deserving guy. Because of the small-town atmosphere of his firehouse (both the one he works at and the volunteer one), this situation would be perfect for an inside firehouse reveal. We can get the whole “Coalition” there along with all the other firehouse brothers and pull a great prank on him – do a nighttime reveal where Bradley is in the bunks, gather everyone downstairs in the garage with Marc & the cameramen, have someone ring the tones, Bradley slides down pole to everyone staring at him, Marc presents trip.

He doesn’t have a passport, but will get one as soon as possible. He shoots right-handed, is a large shirt size and wears 32/34 pants. It’s extremely easy for him to get off work – he has a lot of vacation and holiday days saved up for hunting trips this fall.