Bill Ayer, owner and founder of Slayer Duck Calls, joins me for a conversation that goes far beyond duck calls.

Bill shares his story of playing Division I football at Cal, chasing the dream of making it to the NFL, building a successful career in the business world, and eventually taking the leap to turn his passion for making duck calls into Slayer Duck Calls.

We also get into elk hunting, the obsessive curiosity that led Bill to start building and experimenting with calls, the story behind Slayer, and how his faith in Christ has shaped his life and the company he’s building.

This ended up being one of my favorite conversations in a long time. It’s about hunting and duck calls, but it’s also about faith, purpose, identity, and finding what you were meant to do.

Here’s a clean block you can put at the bottom of the episode description. I have your codes for four of the partners; I don’t have a confirmed discount code for Retay or Slayer, so I would not invent one.

Email: [email protected]
Patreon: patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Retay Shotguns
www.retayusa.com

Slayer Duck Calls
www.SlayerCalls.com

TideWe — Use code NAW18 for 18% off
TideWe.com

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates

Flight Day Ammunition — Use code NAW10
www.flightdayammo.com

Shotty Gear — Use code FDH10 for 10% off
www.shottygear.com

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Based on your actual reads in the transcript:

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Contact Elliott: [email protected]

Support the Show: patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

I'm on the road to the Ducks Unlimited Expo and decided to record this episode from the truck. During the drive, I found myself reflecting on the 2025 waterfowl season and the three hunts that stand out above all the rest. From incredible bird numbers to unforgettable moments with friends and Georgie, these are the hunts I'll remember for years to come.

What was your most memorable hunt of the 2025 season? Let me know in the comments.

Partners

TideWe
https://www.tidewe.com

Retay USA
https://retayusa.com

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayerduckcalls.com

Shotty Gear
https://shottygear.com

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightdayammo.com

Mammoth Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com

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

Episode 293

This week I welcome Kansas outfitter Wade Skeen to the podcast for an in-depth discussion on some of the biggest issues facing waterfowl hunting today.

Topics include:
• North Dakota's 2026 fall flight forecast
• Duck numbers and migration timing
• Nonresident hunting pressure
• Should guides and outfitters be regulated?
• Hunting pressure, social media, and the future of Kansas waterfowl hunting
• Farming practices and how they may be influencing duck distribution

Wade brings the unique perspective of someone who spent years as a freelance public land hunter before building a successful outfitting business in Kansas. Whether you agree or disagree, this is a thoughtful conversation that looks at both sides of some of the most debated topics in waterfowling today.

Thank you to the partners who help make this podcast possible:

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightdayammo.com
Use code NAW10 for 10% off.

Shotty Gear
https://shottygear.com
Use code FDH10 for 10% off.

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayerduckcalls.com

Retay USA
https://retayusa.com

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com
Use code GUARDIAN15 for 15% off.

The North American Waterfowler App
Download on iOS and Android for exclusive hunting content, migration reports, and more.

Support the podcast and enter the 2026 Hunt & Gear Giveaway:
https://patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

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Take Action Now!!

Submit your public comment/Sign the petition
https://www.ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory

For decades, duck hunters have invested in protecting the Prairie Pothole Region through duck stamp purchases and wetland easements. Now, a proposed change by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could weaken protections for more than 1.7 million acres of these critical wetlands.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Scott Stephens, Senior Director of Conservation Strategy for Ducks Unlimited, and Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist for Ducks Unlimited, to break down exactly what's happening, why it matters, and what it could mean for the future of waterfowl hunting.

We discuss:

• What wetland easements are and how they work
• What drain tile setbacks are and why they matter
• Why Ducks Unlimited is urging hunters to take action
• How this could affect duck production in the Prairie Pothole Region
• The science behind the current 2024 rule
• What every waterfowl hunter can do before the August 7 comment deadline

This is an issue that goes beyond politics or social media arguments. If you care about ducks, duck hunting, and the future of the resource, this is a conversation you need to hear.

If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another waterfowler. The more hunters who understand what's at stake, the stronger our voice will be.

Partners Mentioned in This Episode

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayercalls.com

Flight Day Ammunition (Use code NAW10 for 10% off)
https://flightdayammo.com

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com

Retay USA
https://retayusa.com

Shotty Gear (Use code FDH10 for 10% off)
https://shottygear.com

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

In this episode, I talk about why that first teal sighting means so much, take you through a recent scouting trip that led me to a promising new duck hole, announce my new partnership with Retay Shotguns, and discuss an important conservation issue involving proposed changes to wetland drain tile setbacks in the Prairie Pothole Region.

Topics include:
• The first teal sighting of 2026
• Scouting a new public land duck hole
• Why I made the move from Weatherby to Retay
• Upcoming Ducks Unlimited episode on drain tile setbacks
• Comment of the Week: Permanent Daylight Saving Time

If you're headed to the Ducks Unlimited Expo in Memphis, stop by the Shotty Gear booth and say hello!

Patreon: https://patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Thanks for listening, and as always, good luck this season.

Partners featured in this episode:

Retay Shotguns – Proud to announce my new partnership with Retay and why I made the move.

Flight Day Ammunition – Premium steel shot ammunition built for serious waterfowl hunters. Use code NAW10 for 10% off.

Shotty Gear – High-quality hunting gear designed by waterfowlers for waterfowlers. Use code FDH10 for 10% off.

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates – Built to help keep your retriever safe while traveling to and from the marsh.

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

Before the New Zealand hunt, there was a kid in Georgia who became completely obsessed with waterfowl after shooting a single wood duck.

In this episode, I sit down with Southern Flight Podcast host Robby Nelson to talk about the journey that followed. We discuss growing up in a state with limited duck hunting opportunities, building one of the fastest-growing waterfowl podcasts, quitting a steady job to create a life centered around chasing ducks, and what it means to be a true North American Waterfowler.

We also dive into Robby's recent New Zealand waterfowl adventure, public land hunting, social media, conservation, flooded corn, podcasting, and why some of us simply can't get enough of this sport.

Partners

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightdayammo.com

Shotty Gear
https://shottygear.com

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com

Weatherby
https://weatherby.com

Become a Patreon member and support the podcast while earning entries into the 2026 North American Waterfowler Hunt & Gear Giveaway.

https://patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

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Contact Elliott: [email protected]

Support Elliott: patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

I just got back from Orlando after spending a few days with the TideWe team at ICAST. It was a great trip, but it also reminded me of something I've realized more and more over the years...the older I get, the more I crave the middle of nowhere.

In this episode I talk about why crowds leave me daydreaming about the Nebraska Sandhills, wall tents, and the peace that only wild places seem to provide.

I also answer a listener question about hunting geese and ducks from sandbars, share some thoughts on dealing with anger and life's struggles, and wrap things up with another Woody's Top 5.

Partners:

Shotty Gear
https://www.shottygear.com
Code: FDH10

Flight Day Ammunition
https://www.flightdayammo.com
Code: NAW10

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com

Weatherby
https://weatherby.com

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Scott Vix returns to the North American Waterfowler Podcast for another campfire-style conversation covering everything from social media's impact on duck hunting to California waterfowling, OnX, spinning-wing decoys, and bringing home a new finished retriever.

We dig into the increasingly common claim that "social media has ruined duck hunting" and ask a simple question: How? Is the hunting itself actually worse, or have expectations and hunting culture changed more than the hunting?

We also discuss:

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about duck hunting, conservation, dogs, and the culture surrounding our sport, this is an episode you'll enjoy.

Want to watch future podcast recordings live and interact during the show?

Join the North American Waterfowler Patreon:
https://patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Partners

Weatherby Shotguns
Whether you're chasing teal in September or late-season mallards, Weatherby shotguns are built for reliability and performance in the marsh. Learn more at https://weatherby.com.

Flight Day Ammunition
Premium waterfowl ammunition built by hunters who understand what matters when birds are working the decoys. Visit https://flightdayammo.com and use code FDH10 to save.

Shotty Gear
From shotgun accessories to practical gear for the field, Shotty Gear has products designed with waterfowl hunters in mind. Visit https://shottygear.com and use code FDH10.

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
Protect your retriever with the Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate—built with strength and safety for serious hunting dogs. Visit https://mammothpet.com

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

This week I'm sharing two of the biggest lessons I've learned after decades of chasing ducks on public water.

We dive into why hunting the same spots year after year can actually hold you back, why expanding your scouting footprint matters, and how becoming an expert on your local marshes and refuges can dramatically improve your success. I also discuss how years of observation have changed the way I understand bird movement, water levels, and seasonal habitat changes.

To wrap things up, I tell the story of a recent overnight scouting trip that turned into one of the strangest camping experiences I've ever had. I'm still convinced there's a logical explanation...but it made for an unforgettable night.

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