Early goose season is here, and we’re kicking things off with Wisconsin waterfowler Greg Tait.

Greg joins your host Brian Halbleib to talk about how he got his start in waterfowl hunting and what early goose season looks like in Wisconsin. We dive into scouting September Canadas, hunting fields versus water, decoy spreads, calling, concealment and the little adjustments that can turn a slow morning into a successful hunt.

We also get into some of Greg’s favorite hunts and memorable moments from the field, what he has planned for the 2026 waterfowl season, and his role with Shotty Gear. Greg spends a good part of the offseason traveling the country with our friend Chase McCollough, working waterfowl and hunting expos, so we talk about the miles, long days and behind-the-scenes grind of the show circuit.

The wait is over. Waterfowl season is underway, and we’re talking Early Goose Season Masterclass with Greg Tait on this episode of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

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Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

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And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

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Flight Day Am-mo

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Aves Hunting

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Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

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Northern Duck Calls

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Waterfowl seasons are opening across the country, but is your gear actually ready for opening day?

On this episode of the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib is joined once again by Jaydon Arnold from Cut ’Em Down Waterfowl to talk about getting your equipment ready for another season. They discuss how to take inventory of the gear you already own, what should be inspected before opening day, proper maintenance, and how to decide when it’s time to repair, replace or upgrade your equipment.

They also break down the essential gear a new waterfowl hunter actually needs, where it makes sense to spend your money, the differences between gearing up for ducks and geese, and when new technology provides a real advantage versus simply adding more stuff to the pile.

Finally, Jaydon shares what’s new in waterfowl gear for the 2026–27 season and the products and innovations he’s most excited about this year.

Whether you’re pulling your gear out for the first time since last season or looking to make a few upgrades before opening day, this episode will help make sure you’re ready when the birds start moving south.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

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@migrationwaterfowl

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Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

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Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Am-mo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elliott Snider from the Freelance Duck Hunting YouTube channel and host of the North American Waterfowler Podcast is back on the show for another conversation about duck hunting, road trips and what the future might look like for a couple of lifelong waterfowlers.

Elliott and I recap our recent time together at the Ducks Unlimited Expo in Memphis and look ahead to our third annual early teal hunting trip together in the central flyway. We talk about conditions heading into teal season, expectations for the hunting and Elliott’s plans for the rest of his 2026 waterfowl season.

We also look a little further down the road and talk about something that’s been on my mind lately: retirement. When you finally have the time to hunt wherever you want, whenever you want, is the dream to own a duck camp and establish a home base—or skip the property, maintenance and expense and spend that money traveling to hunt different parts of the country?

We wrap things up with Elliott’s plans for Freelance Duck Hunting, the North American Waterfowler Podcast and the North American Waterfowler App, including what he’s learned from tracking years of hunting data and where he hopes to take his waterfowl brands in the future.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Ammo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waterfowl hunting is changing, and hunters need to be paying attention.

Matt Zvolanek, host of the High Prairie Sportsmen YouTube channel, returns to the Migration Waterfowl Podcast and joins your host Brian Halbleib for a wide-ranging conversation about some of the biggest issues facing waterfowl hunters today.

We dive into the ongoing fight over public lands and hunting access, threats to wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, the controversy surrounding drain tile and conservation easements, and the growing number of states and provinces placing tighter restrictions on nonresident waterfowl hunters. We also tackle hunting pressure, the increasing commercialization of access, and an uncomfortable question for those of us who create hunting content: has social media contributed to some of the problems we're now facing?

Matt also shares what he's seeing after another two seasons in the field, how waterfowl migration and hunting have changed over the years, and what decades of experience have taught him about continuing to learn and adapt as a hunter.

Most importantly, we look ahead. Are we doing enough to protect the habitat, public access and hunting opportunities that previous generations handed down to us—and what will waterfowl hunting look like for the next generation if we don't?

This is about more than killing ducks. It's about protecting the future of waterfowl hunting.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Ammo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

10% off with code MW10

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For generations, duck hunters have invested in the future of waterfowl through Duck Stamps, hunting licenses, excise taxes, and conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited. But what happens when wetlands hunters have already paid to protect could still be at risk?

On this episode of the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib is joined by Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist, and Dr. Scott Stephens, Senior Director of Conservation Strategy at Ducks Unlimited, to discuss the "Don't Drain the Duck Factory" campaign and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule currently under review.

Together, they break down what the Prairie Pothole Region—known as North America's "Duck Factory"—means to the future of waterfowl, how voluntary wetland easements work, what tile drainage is, and why Ducks Unlimited believes maintaining the current rule is critical to protecting habitat that supports millions of ducks each year.

Whether you're a lifelong duck hunter or simply care about the future of wetlands and waterfowl conservation, this episode will help you better understand the science, the policy, and what's at stake for our hunting heritage.

Topics discussed include:

Learn more about the Don't Drain the Duck Factory campaign and how to participate in the public comment process at ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory.

If you enjoy the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another duck hunter. Protecting the future of waterfowl starts with informed hunters.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Am-mo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

10% off with code MW10

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Road trips have a way of creating conversations you never could have planned. In this special episode, your host Brian Halbleib is joined by Damien Pittman of Punisher Waterfowl as they hit the highway together on the way to the Ducks Unlimited Expo in Memphis.

What starts as a casual conversation from the cab of a pickup quickly turns into a wide-ranging discussion about the excitement of a new waterfowl season, the friendships that make this community special, and why getting together in person still matters in a world driven by social media. Brian and Damien also share their thoughts on the latest gear hitting the market, what they're looking forward to seeing at the Expo, and why networking, supporting one another, and surrounding yourself with good people has been one of the biggest blessings of their careers.

The conversation also dives into bigger topics facing waterfowl hunters today, including habitat loss, conservation, Ducks Unlimited's role in protecting our wetlands, public land issues, and the future of hunting in North America. Whether you're counting down the days until opening morning or simply looking for an honest conversation between two passionate waterfowlers, this episode captures the anticipation, camaraderie, and optimism that make this time of year so special.

So grab a cup of coffee, settle in for the ride, and join us as we head south toward Memphis and another waterfowl season that's just around the corner.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Am-mo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

10% off with code MW10

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some waterfowl hunters measure experience by the number of seasons they've hunted. The best hunters measure it by how much they're still learning.

On this episode of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib sits down with Jordan Murdoch, National Sales and Marketing Manager for Rig'Em Right Outdoors, to discuss why the most accomplished duck and goose hunters never stop being students of the birds.

Jordan reflects on the 2025–26 waterfowl season, the lessons it taught him, and how years of experience have changed the way he scouts, reads bird behavior, adjusts to changing conditions, and evaluates every hunt. The conversation explores what experienced waterfowl hunters are paying attention to that others often overlook, why failure can be one of the greatest teachers in the blind, and how continuing to learn from every season can make you a more successful hunter.

The episode also dives into Jordan's role at Rig'Em Right Outdoors, how real-world hunting experience influences product development, what's new from Rig'Em Right for 2026, and what waterfowl hunters can expect from the company in the future.

Whether you've been chasing ducks and geese for two seasons or twenty, this conversation is packed with practical insights that will challenge the way you think about waterfowl hunting and help you become a better hunter.

In this episode:

Thanks for listening to The Migration Waterfowl Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with a fellow waterfowl hunter. Your support helps me continue bringing you new conversations every week.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Am-mo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

10% off with code MW10

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What separates consistently successful waterfowl hunters from everyone else? It's not a more expensive shotgun, a bigger decoy spread, or the latest piece of gear. More often than not, success begins long before legal shooting light—with scouting.

On this solo episode of the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib shares practical lessons he's learned over years of hunting rivers, lakes, marshes, and agricultural fields across multiple flyways. From understanding how ducks and geese use food, water, weather, and hunting pressure to learning how to read bird behavior and recognize seasonal patterns, this episode is packed with real-world insights that can help you become a more effective and consistent waterfowl hunter.

Whether you're scouting your local marsh for opening day or planning a destination hunt, you'll learn how to think beyond simply finding birds and start understanding why they're there in the first place.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The best waterfowl hunters never stop learning—and every scouting trip is an opportunity to improve. If you want to find more ducks and geese this season, this episode is the perfect place to start.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Am-mo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

10% off with code MW10

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib explores the fascinating history of the river he grew up around and still hunts today—the Upper Ohio River.

Long before the locks, dams, barges, bridges and steel mills, the Ohio flowed through a vast wilderness filled with wooded islands, abundant wildlife and Native peoples who hunted, traveled and traded throughout the valley. From the arrival of European fur traders and the struggle between France and Britain for control of the region to a young George Washington’s role in events that helped ignite a global war, the Upper Ohio has witnessed some of the most important moments in American history.

Brian follows the transformation of the river from a wild frontier to an industrial highway, the devastating effects of pollution and habitat loss, the rise of modern wildlife conservation, and the enduring role of the Ohio River as a migration corridor and hunting destination for generations of waterfowl hunters.

The River Before Us: A History of the Upper Ohio River is a journey through more than 300 years of history, hunting and conservation—and a reminder that every time we launch a boat, set a spread of decoys and watch ducks follow the river, we’re becoming part of a story that began long before us.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Am-mo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

10% off with code MW10

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib welcomes Hunter Flanders from Retay USA. They discuss everything from Hunter's 2025-26 hunting season to the latest Retay shotguns and innovations coming for 2026. But this conversation goes far beyond new products.

Hunter shares stories from the marsh, discusses what today's waterfowl hunters are looking for in a shotgun, and offers an inside look at how manufacturers develop and market products in an outdoor industry that's changing faster than ever.

We also dive into the current state of outdoor marketing—what's working, what isn't, and why every product launch seems to spark some criticism across social media. From ambassadors and content creators to authenticity, consumer trust, and the future of hunting brands, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes perspective that every waterfowl hunter can appreciate.

Whether you're considering your next shotgun, interested in how the outdoor industry really works, or simply enjoy conversations centered around duck hunting and the people who make it their lifestyle, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In this episode:

Hunter's reflections on the past waterfowl season

New Retay USA shotguns and product updates for 2026

What serious waterfowl hunters want in a shotgun today

How Retay gathers customer feedback and develops new products

The current state of outdoor industry marketing

Social media, ambassadors, and what manufacturers actually look for in brand partners

Why outdoor marketing often draws criticism—and whether it's deserved

The future of hunting content and connecting with today's hunters

Hunter's favorite waterfowl memories, gear, and rapid-fire hunting questions

Thanks for listening to The Migration Waterfowl Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another hunter who's counting down the days until opening morning.

Feel free to reach out to us: [email protected]

Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok:

@migrationwaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel

https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com

Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian

https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl

Migration Waterfowl is presented by:

Blue Bird Waterfowl

https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com

And also brought to you by these fine partners:

Rig’Em Right Outdoors

https://rigemright.com

Flight Day Am-mo

https://www.flightdayammo.com

10% off with code MW10

Aves Hunting

https://aveshunting.com

Retay USA

https://www.retayusa.com

frogg toggs

https://www.froggtoggs.com

The Duck Hole & Company

https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany

Northern Duck Calls

https://www.northernduckcalls.com

15% off with code MW15

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices