Hunting seasons are winding down, ducks and geese are gearing up for breeding, and it’s never too early to think about prairie habitat conditions. Dr. Scott Stephens joins the show in glorious fashion to share insights on late winter snowpack, prairie moisture, and what needs to happen to improve wetland conditions prairie-wide. We also discuss winter trapping, ice fishing, and learn about Scott’s favorite walleye lure. Spoiler alert, it’s not nightcrawlers! www.ducks.org/DUPodcast  

Ep. 469 – Early Look at the Prairies with Dr. Scott Stephens

Ducks Unlimited Podcast is a constant discussion of all things waterfowl; from in-depth hunting tips and tactics, to waterfowl biology, research, science, and habitat updates. The DU Podcast is the go-to resource for waterfowl hunters and conservationists. Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands conservation.

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Sanctuary…it is perhaps the most controversial and poorly understood aspect of habitat management for wintering waterfowl, yet potentially most important. In Part 2 of our discussion with Dr. Nick Masto and Dr. Abby Blake-Bradshaw, we dig deeper into their study of wintering mallards in western Tennessee, with a focus on the relationship between ducks and sanctuary. How did mallards respond to experimental disturbance, and how did it affect shooting opportunities of hunters? How does the amount and distribution of sanctuary affect mallard movements and habitat use patterns, and did mallards return to the same areas year after year? Does extreme cold weather drive birds south, or does it depend? The answers to these and other questions may surprise you, and you could find yourself questioning long-held beliefs about sanctuary. ww.ducks.org/DUPodcast

Ep. 583 – Bumping Birds: What Are We Learning About Ducks, Sanctuary, and Hunters?

A research idea, born in a duck blind, matures into a $2 million cutting-edge study, is funded heavily by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency through dollars collected from hunters and shooters, and sets out to answer dozens of questions about the wintering ecology of mallards in the Mid-South. In this episode, Dr. Abby Blake-Bradshaw and Dr. Nick Masto join Dr. Mike Brasher for Part 1 of their long-awaited discussion about the study we’ve all heard about. Led by the Cohen Wildlife Lab at Tennessee Tech, the study sought to answer questions about winter movements of mallards, their use of sanctuary, effects of disturbance, interactions with food, and how this information can help improve our conservation and management of wintering landscape for mutual benefits to ducks, hunters, and other outdoorspeople. Listen in as we lay the groundwork on this exceptional science. www.ducks.org/DUPodcast

Ep. 582 – Studying Mallard Ducks in Western Tennessee

On this episode of the Ducks Unlimited podcast, host Katie Burke chats with Bruce Lowe, a collector of Louisiana and teal decoys. They delve into Bruce’s introduction to hunting and the outdoors, sharing how he got started waterfowl hunting. Bruce also shares how he got into collection and why both Louisiana and teal decoys are important to him. Tune in to her more about Bruce’s passion for the outdoors and vintage decoys. www.ducks.org/DUPodcast

Ep. 581 – Exploring the Evolution of Louisiana Decoys

Freshwater is a basic requirement of all birds, but it can be in short supply during extreme drought and in marine environments. In these situations, how do birds cope, can they drink salt water, and how might it affect their health? Dr. Sarah Gutowsky, quantitative wildlife biologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, joins Dr. Mike Brasher to discuss the adaptations that birds use for helping overcome the challenges and stresses of saltwater. From salt glands that remove salt from the blood to extraction of freshwater from food and behavioral changes to access dietary fresh water, we learn that birds are quite skilled at dealing with salty systems. www.ducks.org/DUPodcast

Ep. 580 – Can Ducks Drink Salt Water?

Reports of recent rain in the Dakotas and Canadian Prairies have stirred optimism among duck hunters already looking forward to the fall. How much rain fell, was it enough to fill wetlands, and did it arrive in time to benefit breeding ducks? Long-time guest Dr. Scott Stephens joins Dr. Mike Brasher and Katie Burke for a mid-May update on habitat conditions across the U.S. and Canadian prairies. Also discussed are continuing drought in the Boreal Forest and predictions for the 2024 waterfowl breeding population. Will they be up or down from 2023? Listen to find out what our team has to say. 
www.ducks.org/DUPodcast

Ep. 469 – Early Look at the Prairies with Dr. Scott Stephens

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