The North American Waterfowler

This episode is a mix of two things. A full recap of a killer Christmas weekend with Stormy Crook and Aiden, and then a real talk discussion on using treats in retriever training.

I start with why a simple comment I left on a Facebook video turned into a bigger conversation. The video showed a young pup being sent to a place board using treats, and I explain why I personally avoid treats with average to high drive retrievers. I get into intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, why I want my dog working for the relationship and teamwork, and why I believe that foundation matters later when you are asking a dog to trust you on blinds and fight factors like wind and pressure. I am also going to ask Chris Jobman about this directly on the Flatlander Kennels Podcast, and I am open to being corrected.

Before we get to that, I take you through one of my favorite stretches of the year, Christmas break, Mallard season, and the obsessive nature of waterfowl hunting. Then I break down an unforgettable weekend hosting Stormy and Aiden. We hunted hard, dealt with ice, ran the boat where other guys could not, and ended up with back to back three man Mallard limits with a bunch of feet down finishes. It was one of those rare weekends where expectations were low, the hunts were incredible, and everything came together. Wives had a great weekend too, and the new muck room got put to use the way it was meant to be used.

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In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, I’m joined by Austin Williams, a Missouri waterfowler who was randomly selected from Patreon to come on the show. These Patreon wheel episodes have become some of my favorites because they’re simple, honest conversations with everyday waterfowlers who live this life just like the rest of us.

We talk about the recent Hunt Giveaway weekend, ice eaters, cold mornings, stubborn ducks, and how these trips have become about much more than just killing birds. I also reflect a bit on how waterfowl hunting, fellowship, and faith have helped me weather a very difficult couple of years and why these weekends in the blind matter more than ever.

If you’ve ever wondered what the Patreon community is really about, this episode gives you a clear picture. It’s not just content. It’s friendships, shared experiences, and time spent doing what we all love.

Shotty Gear
Waterproof, durable hunting gear built by hunters for hunters. From shell pouches to blind bags and packs, Shotty Gear is designed to take abuse and keep working.
https://www.shottygear.com
Use code FDH10 for 10 percent off

Flight Day Ammunition
Premium steel waterfowl loads designed for consistent patterns and clean kills. I run Flight Day shells all season and trust them when it matters.
https://www.flightdayammo.com
Use code FDH10 for 10 percent off

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
A rugged, affordable dog crate system with an optional steel roll cage for added protection in the truck bed. A great option without paying premium crate prices.
https://www.mammothpetproducts.com
Use code GUARDIAN15 for 15 percent off

TIDEWE
Affordable and functional waterfowl gear including heated vests, jackets, waders, and ground blinds. Perfect for cold late season hunts when layering matters.
https://www.tidewe.com
Use code FDH18 for 18 percent off

Weatherby
Reliable shotguns built for hunters who actually use their gear. From the Element series to the Orion and SORIX, Weatherby continues to deliver field proven performance.
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Episode Description

In this episode, I’m joined by Capt. Casey, Ben Meyers from Flight Day Ammunition, and Brian Halblieb, host of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast. We spent the weekend together at an Airbnb for a hunt giveaway weekend after Casey was drawn as the winner.

We break down both Day 1 and Day 2 of the hunt, what conditions were like, how the birds worked, and how the weekend unfolded from camp conversations to the field. We talk about adjustments, success, and the moments that made this hunt memorable.

We were able to shoot full limits over the two days, and Casey capped off the weekend by shooting a banded mallard. This episode is part hunt recap, part camp talk, and a good look at what these giveaway weekends are really like behind the scenes.

Flight Day Ammunition

Flight Day Ammunition produces premium waterfowl loads that are built by hunters for hunters. Their shells are clean, consistent, and designed to perform in real world hunting conditions.

Website
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Use code FDH10 at checkout to save on your order.

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Join Elliott Snider and returning guest Jordan Fromer for a wide open conversation covering everything from tech troubles and early-season memories to Jordan’s incredible ice hole streak in Indiana. Jordan breaks down why this cold snap has produced some of his best mallard hunts ever, how he scouts fast flowing rivers, and what’s behind the sudden push of ducks into his state. Elliott and Jordan also react to the bizarre Utah scenes Matt Zavonic has been reporting, including driveway corn piles, domesticated ducks, discarded birds, and a mysterious caged animal left at a WMA. The two discuss ethics in the field, band stories, river access laws, duck behavior during freeze lines, and why fresh birds make all the difference. A fun, honest, hunt-heavy episode with plenty of laughs and solid waterfowl insight.

Flight Day Ammunition

Weatherby

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In this episode I walk through the long term mallard population trends and ask a simple question. Can the average hunter actually feel the effects of this decline. Mallard numbers have dropped from more than eleven million in 2016 to around six and a half million today. I look at the historical highs and lows, compare them to my own data since 2016, and talk about whether the current dip is truly changing the way our hunts unfold or if our success still comes down to weather patterns, decisions, and being in the right place at the right time.

I also break down the recent cold snaps, the sudden migration push across the Central Flyway, and how difficult it can be to make good decisions when the shallow marshes freeze solid. I talk about yesterday’s frustrating river hunt, why finishing ducks has been so tough this year, what I am seeing from other hunters, and why this season feels so strange.

Later in the episode I preview the Patreon hunt giveaway weekend with Captain Casey, Brian H. from the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, and Ben Meyers. I also share early thoughts on planning the spring Patreon float trip and what the next few weeks of December may look like.

If you watch on Spotify you can drop comments and share your thoughts on whether declining mallard populations are affecting your hunting. I would love to hear what you think.

PARTNER LINKS

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Use code GUARDIAN15 for fifteen percent off

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Join Elliott as he recounts his Thanksgiving week filled with waterfowl hunting adventures. From unpredictable weather challenges to the camaraderie with fellow hunters, Elliott shares insights on bird movements, gear choices, and memorable hunts, including a top five hunt of his life. Tune in for a deep dive into the art of waterfowl hunting and the strategies that make it successful.

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In this episode of The North American Waterfowler, Elliott goes full rant mode. From holiday nostalgia to Chiefs stress to duck hunting “experts” who speak in absolutes, this one covers it all. Elliott breaks down why claims about mallards, cold fronts, ice, and snow often get tossed around like scientific fact when most of it is nothing more than opinion dressed up as truth.

He also dives into weather frustration, the chaos of unpredictable forecasts, and the strategy game of stale-bird hunting. Then the big one: Georgie’s escalating whining problem. Elliott lays out exactly how it’s getting worse, why it’s such a devastating issue for a dog guy, and why even top pros don’t have a real solution.

The episode wraps with November hunt stats, comment of the week, and a powerful message for hunters dealing with trials and stress during the holiday season.

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Ben Meyers from Flight Day Ammunition is back and we tell the full story behind recent comments about Flight Day on the Boss Shot Shells fan page. We walk through the pattern comparison that started it, how Flight Day steel edged out Boss Steel Reserve on the board, and why Ben thinks muzzle velocity myths just will not die.

Ben breaks down copper shot versus premium slow steel, real gel test results, pattern percentages at forty yards, and what actually matters from thirty to fifty yards when birds are over the decoys. We also talk pump failures, flooding timber for mallards, Thanksgiving weather, and why I am still running sixes in my twenty gauge with a Muller decoy choke.

Flight Day Ammunition

Weatherby Shotguns
The shotguns I rely on for every hunt and every video.

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Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates

Shotty Gear

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In this episode Elliott checks in from the heart of mid season in the Central Flyway with a full weather and migration update from Kansas. Warm temperatures and a late push of birds have made this stretch tricky, so he walks through the ten day forecast, talks about why he actually took a rare weekend off from hunting, and explains what he looks for when deciding whether to rest or grind. You will hear about date night at the old school winery, the feeling of being fully rested on a November Saturday, and how that ties back into keeping family and hunting in balance.

Elliott also recaps a four day duck camp with Jordan Fromer, Brian Hallblieb, Aiden and Jeremy, complete with hot tent living, steak dinners, and some really solid hunts. He breaks down his current numbers at the midpoint of the season, the exact moment the migration flipped from mixed bags to true mallard season, and why he thinks the new trend of saying birds only show up on the first south wind day is overrated. Along the way he talks marsh etiquette, OnX yardages, Georgie’s sore paw, geese landing on spinning wing decoys, and how Thrill of the Fight on the Meta Quest is changing his fitness and mindset. If you love hearing honest talk about weather, birds, camp life, and the little details that make waterfowling special, this one is for you.

TideWE — Use code FDH18 at tidewe.com for 18 % off.

Shotty Gear — Use code FDH10 at shottygear.com for a discount on shell pouches, backpacks, gun cases and more.

Flight Day Ammunition — Use code FDH10 at flightdayammo.com for your ammo needs.

Mammoth Pet Products — Use discount code GUARDIAN15 for the Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate (search “Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate” on Amazon).

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Episode description

Elliott sits down with Wisconsin waterfowler and patron guest Jake Brokish. They compare notes on a fresh cold front push, the shift from blue-wing teal and wood ducks to mallards, and why the best flights often arrive overnight. Jake walks through his small-boat backwater approach on the Mississippi, hiding off the boat when possible, and what geese do over water when spinners are running. They hit calling goals for the season, gear priorities, and how warm falls keep changing the rhythm of mid-November hunts. There is a little Packers talk, a little soup-by-the-fire honesty, and plenty of practical takeaways for anyone chasing ducks on shallow pockets and cattails.

TideWe — heated vests, base layers, waders, blinds

Shotty Gear — shell pouches, backpacks, blind bags, rugged gun cases, duck straps

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates — lightweight crate with optional roll-cage add-on

Weatherby — Element and 18i shotguns
https://www.weatherby.com

Flight Day Ammunition — waterfowl loads in 20 gauge and more

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