Battle Born Duckers

 In this episode of the WHIN Podcast, Don Propst and Mitchell sit down with Bradley LeBaron of Coots Taxidermy to unpack what it really takes to turn a hard-earned animal into a lifetime memory—starting with what you do in the field. From protecting velvet fast, to preventing hair slip on antelope, to proper cooling and clean cape handling, Bradley shares practical, no-fluff advice that saves trophies from avoidable mistakes (and a few hilarious shop stories along the way). The conversation also highlights the behind-the-scenes role taxidermists play in wildlife management—spotting tag issues, supporting CWD sampling, and helping elevate standards through the new Nevada Taxidermy Association—while reinforcing a core theme: treat your hide like your meat, respect the animal, and make conservation a lifestyle. 

 In this episode, the crew dives deep into the realities of duck hunting by boat, sharing hard-earned lessons on choosing the right setup, building effective blinds, and staying safe on big and shallow water alike. From longtails versus surface drives to DIY blind construction, camouflage materials, and boat positioning in reeds, the conversation blends technical know-how with plenty of laughs and real-world stories—including getting stuck, nearly sinking, and navigating Lake Mead in the dark. The group also tackles hunting etiquette, retrieving birds responsibly, the value of good dogs, and why preparation, maintenance, and redundancy can make the difference between a great hunt and a dangerous situation. Packed with practical advice and true campfire-style stories, this episode is a must-listen for anyone running a duck boat or thinking about getting into waterfowl hunting. 

 In this kickoff episode, the crew behind the new WHIN Podcast—Wildlife Habitat Improvement Nevada—sets the tone for what this show is all about: real conservation, real community, and real impact in the Silver State. Joined by Ron Stoker, Rydell Danzie, Davin Sundvik, and Nick Gulli (including Nick’s “Marsh Addiction” mission supporting veterans and first responders), the conversation dives into how WIN connects volunteers, partners with NDOW, and turns ideas into on-the-ground projects—from guzzler builds and habitat work to youth events like Ducks & Donuts and community outreach like Cops & Bobbers. Along the way they share stories about hunting dogs, the WIN “network” that shows up when people need help, and why the organization is built to raise up families, recruit the next generation, and keep dollars and effort working locally—because in the end, WIN isn’t just a club, it’s a utility knife for the outdoors and proof that conservation is a lifestyle. 

 In this episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with the Sin City Rat Pack, a group of big game hunters and competitive archery shooters based in Las Vegas. They specialize in archery course design and 3D tournaments, with a mission to "Create Better Bow Hunters!" It was an enjoyable conversation, and we're sure it will be just as enjoyable for you to listen to. Tune in for insights into their unique world of archery and outdoor adventures! 

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 Hey folks, after a long hiatus, we're back on the air! Apologies for the sound quality—Brian's up in Reno and Ron just barely learned how to talk. But thank goodness we have the one and only Rydel Danzie from Field to Grill in the studio. Buckle up, this is gonna be a good one! 

The Battle Born Ducker Crew was invited out to the Armcor/ Rock Island Armory facility to talk with their head gunsmith and WHIN Sportsman of the year Shawn Fairbairn and his son Andrew. Shawn is a long time duck hunter and advocate in the youth hunting community. We talk about hunting and of course guns with one of the industry experts. The audio was on site so it may not be up to our normal quality. 

Have you ever wanted to know how you get access to a ranchers land to hunt. Well we have you covered. On this episode we talk about the how the season has begun and sit down and talk to Mitchell and Jed about the upcoming youth hunt. Along with Jed is his dad Phil that is a farmer/ Rancher in Idaho who talks to us about how he decides who gets to hunt his land and why. From your attitude to the strength of the herd it is all on the table. 

On this episode the not so silent partner Nate joins Ron and Brian to talk about the 5 things to know before you head out for your first time this season. Again more great conversation on this episode. We talk about guns, decoys and much more. 

Welcome to the new studio. Our first podcast in the new studio we sit down with Tim Ruiz of All Around Retrievers. Tim is a trainer and breeder of high quality retrievers. From the hunting blind to the hunt test. Tim's dogs hunt AKC and UKC events and hunt ducks hard. Junior, senior and master dogs all have a home with Tim. We will talk about how we hunt our dogs and the dog and hunter relationship and how we can get the most out of our hunting partners. We even talk about some problem behaviors and things we can to to stop them before they start. 

We have John and Gannon Hymas in studio. Gannon is one of our favorite hunters and spends part of his year in South Dakota working as a waterfowl sub-guide. When he is done he starts heading south through Idaho and ending his season in southern Nevada. John is a force to reckoned with in and out of the blind. Not only is he an excellent hunter but he is an even better man. We finally got the chance to have the two of them in the studio together. They have a ton of great information to share that has come with years of blood sweat and tears.