Jeff’s off chasing summer vacation, so Carson Odegard grabs a mic with CWA egg-salvage guru Jason Coslovich - Egg Salvage Program Coordinator, Waterfowl Biologist and Robert “Rob” Jones—the volunteer dynamo keeping the North Delta Duck Hatchery clucking along since the early 2000s. Pull a chair up to the brooder and hear how a ramshackle 1996 shed on Tyler Island now kicks out 500 wild mallards a year, why 92 percent of rescued eggs actually hatch, and what it takes to relocate the whole outfit before next spring’s first quack.

Talking points

• Eggs to wings: the combine-to-incubator relay that turns field-found clutches into fly-ready ducks—and the ten-by-ten room that makes it happen.
• Volunteer grind: daily pen scrubs, smartweed jungles, and the slick system that’s banded 15,000 birds (plus one 93-year-old mentor who still shows up).
• Where bands wander: mallards released in June near Sacramento, shot five years later in Idaho, Oregon—even Arkansas.
• Moving day: why the Tyler Island pens are closing, the plan for a fresh build next door to the annual barn dinner, and the $100 K they need to pull it off.
• Get your hands dirty: how farmers, hunters, and city folks can salvage nests, run feed buckets, or simply donate a few bucks to keep the pumps humming.

🦆 Stoked on the story? Hit follow, drop a quick ★★★★★ review, and text this episode to your blind buddies—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

In this new episode—part three of our California history series—Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard close out the Klamath Basin saga and head south to the 240,000-acre Grasslands, where water rights, teal limits, and hard-fought tradition still rule the marsh.

Topics include:

Klamath’s boom-to-bust timeline—from 100,000-duck openers in ’52 to today’s drought-strangled refuge drama

Miller & Lux’s canal gamble that turned alkali flats into duck country and sparked 180 active clubs

Jay Martin Winton vs. the Bureau of Reclamation—the bare-knuckle fight that created the Grasslands Water District and still floods your blind every fall

Small-gauge, big smiles—why teal limits, wigeon straps, and tight-knit club culture make the Grasslands the most approachable duck scene in the state

Habitat truths—cocklebur takeovers, raven predation, and the management grind needed to keep mallards finishing today

The next battle on the horizon: a 20-foot high-speed-rail viaduct aimed straight through prime wetlands—and how locals are pushing back

Plus: steamboat blinds on Lower Klamath and the mystery of the lost-and-found clubs.

🦆 Like what you’re hearing? Hit follow, drop a quick review, and share the link with your blind buddies—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

In this new episode and part two of this series, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard dive deeper with Yancey Forest‑Knowles to unpack decades of waterfowling history and hard‑won conservation lessons from California’s most fought‑over wetlands.

Topics include:

The rise of the Butte Sink and why rice water still floods those blinds each opener

Inside stories from private clubs: habitat tricks that keep mallards finishing

How competing water laws and drought squeeze the Klamath Refuge—and what can fix it

Take‑home tips for keeping birds working in any marsh

🦆 Like what you’re hearing? Hit follow, drop a quick review, and share the link with your blind buddies—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

In this new episode and part two of this series, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard dive deeper with Yancey Forest‑Knowles to unpack decades of waterfowling history and hard‑won conservation lessons from California’s most fought‑over wetlands.

Topics include:

The rise of the Butte Sink and why rice water still floods those blinds each opener I

nside stories from private clubs: habitat tricks that keep mallards finishing

How competing water laws and drought squeeze the Klamath Refuge—and what can fix it

Take‑home tips for keeping birds working in any marsh

🦆 Like what you’re hearing? Hit follow, drop a quick review, and share the link with your blind buddies—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

This week, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with California outdoors legend Yancey Forest‑Knowles—a waterfowling and conservation icon with over 70 years in the field. Dubbed the “embodiment of the authentic outdoorsman,” Yancey’s journey began duck hunting at age 10 in the Bay near Palo Alto and evolved into a life filled with adventure, leadership, and preservation (cohof.org).

A former elementary-school principal from Santa Rosa, Yancey’s passion for wildlife runs deep. He’s leased marshland for duck clubs, guided white-water rafting trips for over a decade, and even raced yachts across the Pacific and Atlantic. A champion sporting-clays shooter, he’s traveled the world hunting and fly fishing, and he co-authored Pacific Flyway – Historical Waterfowling Images.

In leadership roles like Chairman of the California Waterfowl Association, Secretary of the Klamath Water Committee, and as a key advisor with the Pacific Flyway Center, Yancey has fought for water rights and wetland restoration—meeting with Interior Secretaries to secure dedicated water for Lower Klamath Refuge. He’s also been inducted into the International Order of St. Hubertus and contributed to the Golden Gate Salmon Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and more. We dive into:

• The journey from early marsh leases to modern duck-club management
• True tales from Suisun Marsh and the Pacific Flyway
• How Yancey helped shape California’s waterfowl heritage through policy
• Field stories and lessons from seven decades sharpened by boots-on-the-ground experience

Love the craft of duck hunting and conservation? Tap follow, drop a review, and share this episode with your duck camp crew. Your support fuels the conversation and keeps these voices alive.

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, Jeff and Carson sit down with Jim Burcio and Rob Capriola—two pillars of the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association—to talk decoys, tradition, and the upcoming 53rd Annual Wildfowl Festival in Sacramento, California.

Jim Burcio, PFDA’s Vice President of Membership, walks us through the history and heart of the festival, happening July 12–13, 2025. From carving competitions to conservation booths and antique showcases, it’s a celebration of waterfowl art and community like no other.

Joining him is Rob Capriola, a seasoned decoy carver whose work reflects over 50 years of craftsmanship and a biologist’s understanding of the birds. Rob shares his story—from carving his first rig to showcasing fine decoys at shows across the country—and gives a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making a decoy that’s both beautiful and biologically spot-on.

Whether you’re deep into decoy culture or just appreciate the craft that supports the hunt, this episode is packed with stories and insight from two men keeping tradition alive.

👉 Like, subscribe, and drop us a comment—especially if you’ve been to the Wildfowl Festival or have a decoy story of your own to share!

In Part 2 of our Save it for the Blind: New Zealand series, co-host Jeff Smith is back from the bush and sits down with his brother Colby Smith—his travel partner and fellow hunter—to debrief their epic trip to New Zealand.

The brothers recount their hunts across breathtaking terrain, swap stories from the field, and reflect on what sets New Zealand’s hunting culture apart. From gear highs and lows to local traditions and surprising differences in access and conservation, this conversation brings a full-circle look at their overseas adventure.

If you’ve ever dreamed about hunting abroad or want to hear what happens when two duck-obsessed brothers take on the Southern Hemisphere, this is your episode.

👉 Make sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment—especially if you’ve got questions about hunting in New Zealand or where we should head next!

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Dr. Kevin Ringelman—Associate Professor of Waterfowl Ecology and Management at LSU, and the successor to Dr. John Eadie’s longtime position at UC Davis. From drone-powered brood surveys to mentoring the next generation of wildlife professionals, Dr. Ringelman offers a grounded and insightful look at the evolving landscape of waterfowl research and conservation.

They dig into Kevin’s early influences—including his dad and formative field mentors—and discuss what it was like stepping into Eadie’s legacy. The conversation spans emerging tech like drones in duck brood studies, how field programs like College Camp and the College Hunter Program are changing student perspectives, and the regulatory and conservation challenges facing California and beyond.

Dr. Ringelman also shares advice for students wanting to break into the field, favorite species to study, his most unforgettable field moment, and one myth about conservation he’s ready to bust.

This episode blends heart, science, and future-forward thinking—whether you’re a student, biologist, or duck hunter, there’s something in here for you.

👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment to let us know what questions you'd love to hear us ask in future episodes. Your voice helps shape the blind!

In this unique episode of Save it for the Blind, co-host Jeff Smith checks in live from the hills of New Zealand as he takes us through the first week of his adventure abroad. From breathtaking landscapes to unexpected wildlife encounters, Jeff shares what it’s like hunting, exploring, and soaking up the local scene halfway around the world.

Carson Odegard holds down the fort stateside as the two chat about long flights, New Zealand ranches, conservation differences, and what it’s like adjusting to a new environment as a lifelong outdoorsman.

Get ready for laid-back storytelling, scenic dispatches, and a preview of what’s to come in part two of Jeff’s international waterfowl experience.

👉 Be sure to like, subscribe, and drop a comment if you’ve hunted overseas or have questions for Jeff before he returns!

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Joshua Vickers, Shotshell Product Line Manager at Federal Ammunition, to dig into the latest innovations in waterfowl ammo—starting with the highly anticipated ULTRASTEEL.

Joshua breaks down what makes ULTRASTEEL unique, from its design process and field performance to how it stacks up against Federal’s other heavy hitters like Speed Shok and BlackCloud. Whether you’re shooting over rice, timber, or open water, you’ll hear when and why this load shines.

The conversation also explores the rise of sub-gauge popularity—with insights on 16 and 28 gauge performance, TSS patterns, and how bismuth is changing the game for both upland and waterfowl crossover hunters. They unpack who’s really driving the trend (hint: it’s not just the kids), and how Federal is balancing cutting-edge innovation with affordability in a shifting market.

If you’ve been curious about new loads, gauge setups, or want to get the inside scoop on what’s coming down the pipe from Federal, this one’s for you.

👉 Like, subscribe, and leave a comment to let us know what gear, guns, or guests you’d love to hear about next!