Duck season is getting closer, and it's officially that time of year when the scouting starts, the decoys come back out, and sleep gets a little harder to find. In this episode I talk about why preseason scouting is already underway and what I'm seeing as we get closer to opening day.

Then we break down Oklahoma's new commercial waterfowl guide law (SB 2095), what it actually does, why it was passed, and whether other states like Kansas should consider something similar.

After that, Patreon member Zach Seibert joins me to talk about hunting Black Brant on the West Coast. If you've never hunted or even seen a Brant, I think you'll enjoy learning about one of North America's most unique waterfowl hunts.

And finally... Woody is back! It's been way too long. He shares another Johnny Cat story before counting down his latest Woody's Top 5, this time with some hilarious nicknames for hunters who shoot ducks on the water.

Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the show, please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the podcast with another waterfowler.

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Most duck hunters spend a lot of time thinking about weather, migration, and habitat. But how often do we think about the people growing the crops that waterfowl depend on every fall and winter?

In this episode, I'm joined by Nebraska agronomist and waterfowler Jared Samuelson. Jared works directly with farmers throughout the growing season, giving him a unique perspective on modern agriculture and how it intersects with duck hunting. We discuss crop production, irrigation, the Ogallala Aquifer, waste grain after harvest, pesticides, changing farming practices, and how all of these factors may influence the future of waterfowl hunting. Jared also shares the unbelievable story of the massive pit blind he and his friends built—and the unexpected disaster that nearly destroyed it.

Whether you're a farmer, a waterfowler, or simply curious about what happens long before ducks arrive each fall, I think you'll enjoy this conversation.

Partners

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Support the Podcast

Join the North American Waterfowler Patreon community for exclusive live recordings, bonus content, and direct interaction with guests.

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Contact

Email: [email protected]

North American Waterfowler App:
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Contact Elliott: [email protected]

Support the Show: patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Every waterfowler has a story, and today you get to meet Zach Seibert.

Zach was this month's Patreon Podcast winner, and after the wheel landed on his name, we sat down to talk about how he found his way back into hunting, what eventually pulled him into waterfowl hunting, and why he became completely hooked.

We discuss growing up in California, learning to hunt deer and turkeys as an adult, his first duck hunt, hunting public refuges, decoy strategies, gear, shotguns, and what keeps him coming back to the marsh every season.

These Patreon winner episodes have become some of my favorites because they give us a chance to hear the stories of everyday North American waterfowlers. No celebrities. No agenda. Just hunters sharing the experiences that shaped them.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Zach as much as I did.

Support the companies that help make the North American Waterfowler Podcast possible!

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This week I'm joined by former Flyway Federation Executive Director Duke Lowrie for a conversation about one of the most debated topics in modern waterfowl hunting.

Over the past several years, studies have shown that species like mallards and northern pintails are completing their fall migration farther north than they did decades ago. The question is why.

Duke shares why he believes unharvested flooded agriculture is one of the factors changing duck distribution, why Flyway Federation is pushing for a large-scale GIS study to quantify how much flooded agriculture exists across the landscape, and why he believes more research is needed before the debate can be settled.

We also discuss:

Duke's background and how he became involved in waterfowl advocacy

The origins and mission of Flyway Federation

The proposed GIS study and what it hopes to answer

Whether flooded agriculture is changing duck migration

Moist-soil habitat vs. flooded corn

Public land hunting and changing duck distribution

Louisiana harvest numbers and what they may (or may not) tell us

Duke's appointment to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission

What the future of waterfowl management could look like

Whether you agree with Duke's conclusions or not, I think you'll find this to be a thoughtful conversation about an issue that continues to generate debate among hunters across North America.

Partners:

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Joe Harris of Blind Spot Outdoors joins the show to discuss everything from building custom duck blinds to managing productive waterfowl habitat. Joe shares how he turned a simple blind-building idea into a full-time business, the design behind his floating skid blinds, and what he's learned working with duck clubs and private landowners across the country.

We also dive into habitat management, moist soil versus flooded corn, hunting pressure, duck migration, changing weather patterns, and why creating the right habitat may be more important than simply planting corn. If you're interested in improving your hunting property or simply want to better understand what makes ducks use certain areas, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Partners

Flight Day Ammunition – Premium bismuth shotshells built for serious waterfowl hunters. Use code NAW10
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Contact:
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Contact Us: [email protected]

Support the Show:
Patreon.com/FreelanceDuckHunting

Partners:

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Shotty Gear
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Weatherby
Proudly carrying the Weatherby Element 2 in the marsh.

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The safest way to transport your retriever.

In this episode of North American Waterfowler, Elliott recaps the annual Kansas River float trip, including high water conditions, storms, fishing, camping, and the adventures that unfolded along the way.

The main discussion centers around a social media debate sparked by a comment claiming that social media is the worst thing that ever happened to waterfowl hunting and that modern hunters are only chasing likes and clicks. Elliott examines both the positives and negatives of social media, including poor representation of hunters, rage-bait content, community building, mentorship, education, and conservation awareness. He also asks a larger question: Why do people hunt in the first place?

To wrap up the episode, Elliott introduces the new Ask Jobman feature available to Flatlander Kennels Patreon members and answers a listener question about properly introducing gunfire to a young retriever.

Topics Include:

Kansas River Float Trip Review

Social Media and Waterfowl Hunting

Ethics and Hunter Representation

Why People Hunt

Building Community Through Social Media

Ask Jobman

Introducing Dogs to Gunfire

Retriever Training Tips

Thanks for listening and supporting North American Waterfowler.

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Contact Elliott:
[email protected]

Support the show:
Patreon.com/FreelanceDuckHunting

Partners:
Weatherby – Weatherby.com

Flight Day Ammunition – FlightDayammo.com
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Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
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Patreon member Hunter Johnson joins the North American Waterfowler Podcast to discuss waterfowl hunting on the Oregon coast. Growing up with a father who worked as a hunting and fishing guide, Hunter was practically raised in a duck blind and has spent a lifetime chasing ducks, geese, salmon, and sturgeon across the Pacific Northwest.

In this episode, Hunter explains how tides dictate nearly every aspect of his duck season, why incoming water can create incredible flights of birds, and what it's like hunting coastal marshes loaded with wigeon and pintails. We compare hunting in Oregon to hunting in the Midwest, discuss increasing public land hunting pressure, and explore why Oregon's waterfowl hunting opportunities are unlike anything most hunters experience.

We also discuss the proposed Oregon ballot measure that has many hunters and anglers concerned about the future of hunting, fishing, and animal ownership in the state.

Topics Covered:
• Oregon coastal waterfowl hunting
• Tidal marsh duck hunting
• Wigeon hunting
• Pintail hunting
• Public land hunting pressure
• Growing up with an outfitter father
• Oregon hunting legislation concerns
• Salmon, sturgeon, and Pacific Northwest fishing

If you've ever wondered what it's like to hunt ducks in a tidal marsh with thousands of wigeon overhead and tides controlling every movement of the birds, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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Most duck hunters have flushed a Sora rail from the cattails at some point, but few know much about these secretive marsh birds.

In this episode, wildlife biologist Eamon Harrity joins the show to discuss the fascinating world of rails. We cover Sora migration, nesting habits, habitat needs, population trends, and the unique adaptations that allow these birds to thrive in dense wetland environments. Eamon also shares stories from his research on Ridgway's Rails and discusses some of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding rail behavior and conservation.

If you've ever heard the distinctive call of a Sora echoing across a marsh and wondered what you were hearing, this episode is for you.

Topics discussed:
• What exactly is a rail?
• Sora migration and wintering grounds
• Nesting and breeding behavior
• Why rails are so difficult to study
• How rails find isolated wetlands during migration
• Rail hunting history and regulations
• Wetland management and conservation
• The future of rail research

Follow the North American Waterfowler Podcast for new episodes every week.

Contact Elliott: [email protected]

Support the Show: Patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

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For years I've watched American White Pelicans migrate through Kansas by the thousands and wondered what we really know about them. Where do they come from? How far do they travel? How do they breed? And what exactly are they doing when they're soaring thousands of feet overhead?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Aimee Van Tatenhove, a quantitative ecologist and former pelican researcher whose doctoral work focused on American White Pelicans around the Great Salt Lake. We discuss pelican migration, nesting colonies, feeding behavior, GPS tracking, bird strikes, avian flu, and some of the surprising things scientists have learned by following these birds across North America.

We also dive into the challenges facing the Great Salt Lake, including drought, water management, the proposed data center controversy, and why the future of the lake matters to millions of migratory birds.

Topics discussed:

Whether you're a waterfowl hunter, birder, conservationist, or simply someone who enjoys watching wildlife, this episode offers a fascinating look into one of North America's most remarkable birds.

Partners:

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In this episode, Elliott sits down with award winning wildlife artists Adam and Madison Grimm for a conversation that quickly becomes much bigger than art.

At just 19 years old, Madison Grimm is leading one of the most unique grassroots conservation efforts in North America. Through her nonprofit, Second Chance Flight, she rescues duck and upland bird eggs that would otherwise be destroyed during spring farming operations. Farmers across South Dakota now call Madison when they discover nests while haying or working fields, giving these birds a second chance at life.

Madison shares how the project began, the challenges of obtaining permits, the process of incubating and raising ducklings, and some of the incredible success stories that have come from the effort. Adam also discusses the role wildlife art plays in conservation and how their family's passion for waterfowl has evolved into a mission to help protect the resource.

This is a positive conservation story that every waterfowler should hear.

To learn more about Second Chance Flight or support their work, visit:
https://www.secondchanceflight.com

Contact Elliott:
[email protected]

Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Partners:

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

Shotty Gear
https://www.shottygear.com

Weatherby
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The North American Waterfowler App
https://www.thenorthamericanwaterfowler.com

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