Ducks Unlimited Podcast

Host Dr. Jerad Henson is joined by co-hosts Katie Burke, Derek Christians, Dr. Mike Brasher, and Matt Harrison in the new studio. They welcome guest Rob Southwick from Southwick Associates to discuss what motivates people to hunt, sharing new research on hunter personas for R3 and other insights from his 35 years of experience in understanding and analyzing hunting participation and trends data. Rob highlights the importance of engaging people in hunting and fishing for conservation efforts and enhancing future opportunities. Tune in to learn more about the driving factors behind hunting participation and how this can impact wildlife conservation.

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Chuck Black, the 2023 Federal Duck Stamp Competition winner and wildlife artist, joins the Ducks Unlimited podcast to discuss his busy year and upcoming events. Chuck talks about the competition, his duties, and the transition to selling prints after the first day of sales. Tune in to hear about Chuck's experiences as the Federal Duck Stamp winner and his upcoming plans in the world of wildlife art.

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With duckDNA season 1 now in the books, DU teams up with Ramsey Russell of It’s Duck Season Somewhere and Dr. Phil Lavretsky to review early scientific insights, odd ducks, and the overall excitement around the project. Co-hosts Dr. Mike Brasher and Dr. Jerad Henson visit with Ramsey and Phil compare notes on their experiences and take a deep dive into some of the results, including an examination of several unique hybrids. Also discussed are the status of season 2, important changes coming your way, and a reminder of how you can participate. Follow the project this season on Instagram at @theduckDNA, and apply to participate at www.duckDNA.com.

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In this second part of host Katie Burke's interview with carver Guy Taplin, we explore his fascination with past American decoy carvers and his understanding of the landscape and place where they worked. He delves into his experiences in America and the influence of key figures like Henry Fleckenstein and John Sullivan. He reflects on how his current friendships and mentorships have shaped his view of decoys and his artwork and how his experiences of visiting places like the Eastern Shore of Virginia and Cobb Island have been reflected in his work.

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Today on the Ducks Unlimited podcast, Katie Burke is joined by special guest Guy Taplin from Essex, England, to discuss waterfowl carving and the unique landscape of Essex. Taplin describes his early life growing up in the countryside during and after World War II and how he first became enamored with waterfowl and waterfowl hunting. Tune in to learn more about the early years of Guy Taplin's life and how it led to his becoming a full-time carver.

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On this special episode, Dr. Mike Brasher and Dr. Scott Stephens break down the freshly released U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2024 Waterfowl Population Status report and important changes coming to hunters. Listen in to find out which species increased, where the major surprises were, and how rainfall in April and May affected prairie pond conditions and duck settling patterns. Also discussed are implications of these data for the 2025-26 hunting season, including potential continuation of liberal seasons, new pintail regulations, and early teal seasons. Get the latest news on the best waterfowl data on the planet, with special thanks to our partners in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canadian Wildlife Service, and state and provincial agencies.

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Host Chris Jennings is joined by DU magazine contributor John Pollmann to discuss a popular topic – freelancing the prairies. Pollmann’s experiences as a South Dakota resident provides a different perspective to freelancing and the pair discuss common tactics, including best practices to approach landowners.

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As waterfowlers peer ahead to the approaching hunting season, botulism has become a headline in the West and state agencies have released results from their 2024 waterfowl breeding population surveys. Today’s conversation begins with Jeff McCreary, DU’s director of operations for the Western Region, giving the latest update on avian botulism in the Klamath Basin and the solutions that DU and partners are trying to deliver. We then go across the country with Nathan Ratchford, Dr. Dan Smith, Dr. John Coluccy, and Dr. Mike Brasher to review results from state waterfowl surveys in California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. What were population and habitat conditions like this spring? How do these data inform harvest regulations and our knowledge of duck populations? And what can hunters take from these surveys as we await the release of the much larger U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl status report.

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So, you want to hunt that field where there’s a big feed? Time to start knocking on doors. Host Chris Jennings is joined by John Pollmann, freelance contributor to Ducks Unlimited magazine and ducks.org, to talk about the best, and worst ways to ask for permission. The pair also discuss some different tactics to improve success rates on getting permission, and also keeping it for the long term. For waterfowlers looking to gain access to private ground, this podcast is a must-listen before the season begins.

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Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Dr. Jerad Henson and DU conservation communications coordinator, Nathan Ratchford, to provide the latest update on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention new rules for bringing dogs into the U.S. Also discussed is the status of USDA APHIS guidelines for importing harvested game birds from Canada. Spoiler Alert--they remain unchanged from 2023. If you are a waterfowl hunter or dog owner heading north to harvest some feathered ‘fowl, you need this episode!