The North American Waterfowler

How much does wind REALLY affect duck hunting success? We dug into the numbers from 8,406 hunts logged in the North American Waterfowler App, and the results might surprise you!

In this episode, Elliott recaps an exhausting Halloween duck hunt that included miserable mosquitoes, a brutal walk through thick vegetation, ducks that refused to finish, and some interesting experiments with spinning-wing decoys. After a long day in the marsh, was the effort worth it?

We also dive into three major topics:

Wind and Duck Hunting Success — We compare harvest averages across calm, light, strong, and heavy wind conditions. Just how much better is duck hunting when the wind picks up?

Scouting New Duck Hunting Areas — Elliott explains his process for scouting unfamiliar public land using onX Hunt, Google Earth, historical satellite imagery, and boots-on-the-ground scouting.

When Your Hunting Partners Don't Match Your Effort — What do you do when you're willing to walk farther, scout harder, and make adjustments, but your hunting buddies aren't? Is it time to find new partners or start hunting alone?

Plus, a little music, some laughs, and another look into the realities of public land duck hunting.

onX Hunt
https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
Search Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates on Amazon.

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

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayercalls.com/

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

RETAY USA
https://retayusa.com/

Download the North American Waterfowler App on iOS or Android to track your hunts and explore waterfowl hunting statistics.

Become a Patreon member for live podcast access, exclusive content, and access to the NAW App:
https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Subscribe to Freelance Duck Hunting on YouTube for the full hunting adventures!

If you enjoy the North American Waterfowler Podcast, please leave us a rating and review and share the show with your hunting buddies.

#DuckHunting #WaterfowlHunting #PublicLandDuckHunting #NorthAmericanWaterfowler #DuckHuntingPodcast #onXHunt

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Is Ohio Really That Bad for Duck Hunting? | NAW Podcast Ep. 313

What's it really like to hunt ducks in Ohio? And what happens when someone discovers waterfowl hunting later in life and becomes completely obsessed?

In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott sits down with Patreon member Jordan Virzi, a fourth-year waterfowl hunter from Ohio.

Jordan shares how a hunting trip to Missouri introduced him to the sport, the challenges of finding ducks on Ohio public land, and how he's working to become a better hunter through scouting, traveling, and learning from experience.

They also discuss the differences between hunting Ohio and Kansas, dealing with hunting pressure, balancing an obsession with duck hunting and family life, and why some of the most memorable hunts have very little to do with how many ducks you shoot.

Before the interview, Elliott talks about his upcoming duck hunting camping trip, avoiding opening weekend crowds, and how unusually high water levels have complicated his scouting and hunting plans.

PARTNERS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWLER PODCAST

onX Hunt — Presenting Sponsor
The ultimate mapping and scouting tool for waterfowl hunters.
https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
Protect your hunting dog with the Mammoth Guardian kennel and roll cage attachment.

Shotty Gear
Waterproof hunting bags, gun cases, backpacks, and more.
https://shottygear.com/
Promo Code: FDH10 — 10% Off

Flight Day Ammunition
Maximum Payload Steel ammunition.
https://flightdayammo.com/
Promo Code: NAW10 — 10% Off

Slayer Calls
Premium duck calls and calling instruction through Call to the Wild.
https://slayercalls.com/

TideWe
Waders, hunting blinds, apparel, and outdoor gear.
https://www.tidewe.com/
Promo Code: NAW18 — 18% Off

RETAY Shotguns
Check out the ACE-R lineup and other RETAY shotguns.
https://www.retayusa.com/

CONNECT WITH US

Freelance Duck Hunting on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@FreelanceDuckHunting

Email: freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com

Thanks for listening to The North American Waterfowler Podcast!

Fix the Shotty Gear promo codeClarify the opening weekend reference

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In this episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, I'm taking a look at the first quarter of my 2026 duck season, sharing my personal hunting statistics, and comparing them with the numbers being recorded by hunters across North America.

We've now logged 578 hunts in the North American Waterfowler App, and some of the numbers are pretty interesting, especially when it comes to hunter pressure. Is public land really as overcrowded as everyone says it is?

I also discuss the frustratingly warm October weather, the lack of cold fronts, and when we can finally expect mosquitoes to disappear. Plus, I share a story from this weekend's Josh Garrels concert in Lawrence, Kansas, and how I first discovered his music.

Finally, I get into five ethical considerations every public land duck hunter should think about. From overcrowding and setting up too close to other hunters to sky busting, arriving at the marsh right before shooting time, and leaving trash behind, these are things that can make or break a hunt for everyone.

In This Episode:

•

October weather and the upcoming duck migration

•

Josh Garrels concert and the song Revelator

•

Mosquitoes and the temperatures that slow them down

•

My first 11 hunts of the 2026 season

•

Global hunting statistics from 578 logged hunts

•

Hunter pressure: perception versus reality

•

Wounded ducks, shot selection, and ethical responsibility

•

Five unwritten rules of public land duck hunting

Track your hunts, harvests, shooting percentages, hunter pressure, hunt satisfaction, and more.

https://thenorthamericanwaterfowler.com/

Available on iOS and Android for $4.99/month. Access is also included with the $5 Patreon membership.

onX Hunt — Presenting Sponsor
https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt

Retay Shotguns
https://www.retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls
https://www.slayercalls.com/

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
Available on Amazon — Search Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightdayammo.com/
Promo Code: NAW10 — 10% Off

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

TideWe
https://www.tidewe.com/
Promo Code: NAW18

Join us on Patreon for live podcast recordings, exclusive content, and access to the North American Waterfowler App.

https://www.patreon.com/naw

If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It really helps the show reach more waterfowl hunters.

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

Contact Elliott: Freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com

Support the Show: Patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWLER PODCAST PARTNERS

onX Hunt – Presenting Sponsor
https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/app
GPS hunting maps, property boundaries, scouting tools, and offline navigation.

Retay Shotguns
https://www.retayusa.com/
Innovative, reliable shotguns built for hunters.

Slayer Duck Calls
https://www.slayercalls.com/
Premium duck and goose calls for waterfowl hunters.

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
Heavy-duty dog crates designed for protection and safe transportation.
Available through Mammoth Pet Products on Amazon.
No promo code.

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightdayammo.com/
Premium steel and bismuth waterfowl ammunition.
Use promo code NAW10.

Shotty Gear
https://shottygear.com/
Waterproof hunting gear, shell pouches, gun cases, and accessories.
Use promo code FDH10.

TideWe
https://www.tidewe.com/
Hunting waders, clothing, blinds, and outdoor equipment.
Use promo code NAW18.

A great duck hunt can turn into a frustrating one when your shooting goes sideways. Jordan Fromer joins Elliott for an honest conversation about working through a shooting slump, why the 20-gauge has become his go-to, and what it’s really like to make a living in the waterfowl world. They get into the tradeoffs between 12-, 20- and 28-gauge shotguns and the .410, including why disciplined shot selection matters. Jordan shares practical ways to rebuild muscle memory and confidence in the field, while Elliott talks about the mental side of shooting—and how hunting in a big group can make it harder to know what’s working. They also discuss how OnX changed scouting and navigation, the demands of full-time outdoor content creation, and the gear they’ve been using this season. Along the way, they swap stories from recent hunts, including tough walks, high winds, and the pull of traveling to find birds. If you’re a waterfowler interested in better shooting, thoughtful gear choices, and the realities of a season spent chasing ducks, this episode is for you.

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Duck Camp Conversations: Live from the Wall Tent

Three days of duck hunting, good friends, and plenty of stories from duck camp!

In this episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, we're doing things a little differently. Instead of recording from the usual studio, we're sitting down inside our wall tent during a three-day duck hunting trip.

We talk about our time in the field, the hunting, the challenges, and everything that makes spending a few days at duck camp so enjoyable. There's nothing quite like getting together with fellow waterfowlers after a day in the marsh to talk ducks, tell stories, and enjoy the experience.

Pull up a chair and join us for a conversation straight from duck camp!

Support the North American Waterfowler Podcast

A huge thank you to our partners who help make this podcast possible!

Presenting Sponsor – onX Hunt
Plan your hunts, scout new locations, and navigate the outdoors with confidence.
https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt

Retay Shotguns
Innovative shotguns built for serious waterfowl hunters.
https://www.retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls
Premium duck calls designed for waterfowl hunters.
https://www.slayercalls.com/

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
Premium protection for your hunting partner.

Flight Day Ammunition
Ammunition built for waterfowl hunters.
Use code NAW at checkout.

Shotty Gear
Gear and apparel for the waterfowling lifestyle.
Use code FDH10 at checkout.

Join the North American Waterfowler Community

Become a member and enjoy exclusive content, live podcast recordings, giveaways, and more!

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

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

Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the marsh!

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In this episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, I'm joined by returning guest Scott Vix, a longtime California waterfowler, former California State Duck Calling Champion, and three-time regional calling champion.

Scott brings decades of experience to a conversation about the art of duck calling and what it really takes to consistently work and finish ducks.

We discuss some of the biggest mistakes duck hunters make with their calls, how to read birds and adjust your calling strategies, when to get aggressive versus when to back off, and how to convince reluctant ducks to finish in the decoys. We also explore calling with multiple hunters, the differences between competitive calling styles, and how to choose the right duck call.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced duck hunter, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you become a more effective caller.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST & GET BONUS CONTENT

Join us on Patreon for live podcast recordings, exclusive content, and more!

https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

OUR PARTNERS

onX Hunt – Proud sponsor of the North American Waterfowler Podcast.

https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt

Retay Shotguns – Innovative shotguns built for hunters.

https://www.retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls – Premium duck calls for serious waterfowl hunters.

https://www.slayercalls.com/

TideWe – Hunting blinds, waders, and outdoor gear.

https://www.tidewe.com/

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates – Premium protection for your hunting dog.

Flight Day Ammunition – Ammunition for waterfowl hunters.

Use code NAW

Shotty Gear – Waterfowl hunting apparel and gear.

Use code FDH10

FOLLOW & CONNECT

YouTube: Freelance Duck Hunting

Podcast: North American Waterfowler

Email: freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com

#DuckHunting #DuckCalling #WaterfowlHunting #DuckHuntingPodcast #NorthAmericanWaterfowler

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Contact Elliott: freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com

Support the Show: patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

On this episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, I’m joined by Hunter Flanders, Director of Marketing for Retay Shotguns.

This isn’t an infomercial. We spend most of the episode getting to know Hunter and the path that eventually led him into the outdoor industry.

Hunter grew up in Wisconsin as a serious athlete and went on to play college basketball before transitioning away from sports and diving headfirst into hunting and the outdoors. We talk about growing up in Wisconsin, his family’s 200-year-old farm, hunting with his brothers, training his first retriever, the impact hunting had on him during some major changes in his life, and how he eventually turned his passion for the outdoors into a career.

We also get into his years working in outdoor television, his transition into marketing, how he eventually landed at Retay, the evolution of Retay shotguns, the Ace and Ace R, and why whitetail hunting still ranks at the top of his list.

A great conversation about hunting, family, dogs, careers, and building a life around the outdoors.

NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWLER PARTNERS

Retay Shotguns
https://retayusa.com/

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

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com/

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

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayercalls.com/

TideWe
https://www.tidewe.com/
Code: NAW18 for 18% off

WATCH THE PODCAST LIVE

Become a Patreon member and watch North American Waterfowler episodes recorded live:
https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

One thing I caught from your intro: you said NAW10 for Flight Day and NAW18 for TideWe, so I used those current codes rather than the older NAW/other versions we’ve had in past partner info.

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Patreon hunt giveaway winner Walter Brown joins me from duck camp after spending the Big Duck Opener hunting with us. We recorded this episode right from our campsite overlooking the marsh after a great day that ended with a limit of ducks.

Walter and I talk about winning the Patreon hunt giveaway and how the trip came together, his history of hunting and fishing, and his years of experience training dogs and hunting with pointing Labs. We also break down our opening-day hunt, the birds we encountered, and how the morning unfolded.

A laid-back conversation from duck camp after a great day in the marsh.

Partners of the North American Waterfowler Podcast:

• Retay Shotguns
• TideWe
• Slayer Duck Calls
• Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
• Flight Day Ammunition — Code: NAW
• Shotty Gear — Code: FDH10

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

In this episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott sits down with Matt and Joe from the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary to explore the incredible life and legacy of Jack Miner.

From his beginnings as a market hunter to establishing his waterfowl sanctuary in Kingsville, Ontario, Jack Miner's story became intertwined with the early history of waterfowl conservation and bird banding in North America.

We hear the story of Katie, the black duck that helped launch Miner's banding efforts, how band recoveries provided information about waterfowl migration, the growth of the sanctuary, and how Jack Miner's work continues more than a century later.

Matt and Joe also take us inside the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary today, including its bird banding, habitat work, education programs, and new technology being used to track waterfowl migration.

Learn more about the Jack Miner Migratory Bird Foundation:
jackminer.ca

50 Ducks:
50ducks.com

PARTNERS

onX Hunt
https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt

Retay Shotguns
https://retayusa.com/

TideWe
https://www.tidewe.com/
Promo Code: NAW18 — 18% off

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayercalls.com/

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
Search Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates on Amazon

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightdayammo.com/
Promo Code: NAW10 — 10% off

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

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

On this episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, I’m answering questions sent in by listeners.

We get into whether ducks actually get smarter as they migrate south, what I look for when scouting new public-land spots, choosing between a decoy and passing choke, and some advice for weekend warriors who don’t have time to scout during the week.

I also get into the new Kansas nonresident waterfowl regulations, why I’ve changed my thinking on nonresident restrictions, where I think residents should be prioritized, and some of the things I don’t like about the new rules.

Plus, I talk about my first duck, a hunt I’d like to do outside of waterfowl hunting, my favorite cigars, and a few other questions from listeners.

Thanks to the partners of the North American Waterfowler Podcast:

Retay Shotguns
https://retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayercalls.com/

TideWe
https://tidewe.com/
Code: NAW18

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothguardian.com/

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightday.com/
Code: NAW10

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

Download the North American Waterfowler App on iOS or Android to log your hunts, track harvest data, weather, dog retrieves, hunter pressure and more.

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The 2026 teal season is officially in the books!

In this episode, I recap our third and final weekend of teal season—a weekend that had a little bit of everything. We camped out, watched massive storms roll through, experienced a major temperature drop behind a cold front, and hoped all of that weather would bring a new push of teal into the area.

I break down how the weekend unfolded, what we saw before and after the front, how the hunting turned out, and put a bow on three straight weekends of chasing early-season teal.

PARTNERS

Retay Shotguns
https://retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayercalls.com/

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com/\

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

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

TideWe
https://www.tidewe.com/

NAW18

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The 2026 teal season is down to its final weekend.

In this episode, I’m on the road headed back to teal camp for the third and final weekend of the season. Before we get there, I recap our second weekend of teal hunting—three more hunts, what we saw, how the birds behaved, and some of the incredible moments that made it another memorable weekend.

Now the question is whether there are any teal left.

The reports I’m hearing suggest that a lot of the birds have already moved out of the area. But there’s a cold front forecast to arrive Saturday night, and I’m holding out hope that it brings one last push of migrating blue-winged teal for the final day of our season.

We’ll find out soon enough.

THE NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWLER PARTNERS

Retay Shotguns
https://retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls
https://slayercalls.com/

TideWe
https://www.tidewe.com/

Use Code: NAW18

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpetproducts.com/

Flight Day Ammunition
https://flightdayammo.com/
Use code: NAW

Shotty Gear
https://shottygear.com/
Use code: FDH10

I can also tighten that opening into a more Spotify/Apple Podcasts-style description if you want it shorter and punchier.

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Contact Elliott: freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com

Support the Show: http://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Has duck migration really changed over the last 60+ years?

Waterfowl hunters have debated it for years. Are ducks staying farther north? Has migration shifted east or west? Are the birds simply not going where they used to?

In this special collaborative episode with the Ducks Unlimited Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Mike Brasher, Dr. Heath Hagy, and Dr. Lisa Webb to break down the Verheijen Studies—research that used decades of band recovery data to examine changes in waterfowl migration and distribution from October through January.

The researchers looked at 15 species in the original study and then took a deeper look at mallards, northern pintails, and blue-winged teal.

What they found is fascinating and in some cases, surprising.

We also discuss the question every duck hunter is going to ask: WHY have these changes occurred? Weather? Habitat? Agricultural food sources? Something else?

The current research tells us what has changed. The next phase of their work is attempting to determine why.

This episode gets technical at times, but if you care about ducks, migration, and the future of waterfowl hunting, this is one you won't want to miss.

A special collaboration between the North American Waterfowler Podcast and the Ducks Unlimited Podcast.

PARTNERS

TideWe — https://www.tidewe.com
Code NAW18 for 18% off

Slayer Duck Calls — https://www.slayercalls.com

Retay Shotguns — https://www.retayusa.com

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates — https://mammothpet.com

Flight Day Ammunition — https://flightdayammo.com
Code FDH10

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

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

Opening weekend of teal season is officially in the books, and I’m recording this one straight from the truck on the drive home.

It was a hot one—literally. We spent the weekend sweating through some brutal early-season weather, but the teal cooperated and we had a ton of success. In this episode, I recap the entire weekend: what we saw, how the birds worked, the hunts that went right, the things we learned, and what opening weekend looked like from the marsh.

And somehow, after an already successful weekend, we finished it off with one of the best teal hunts I’ve ever been a part of.

No studio and no big production on this one. Just a road-home conversation while everything from the weekend is still fresh in my mind.

Opening weekend is here. Duck season has begun.

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

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

TIDEWE
https://www.tidewe.com/
Code: FDH18

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothpet.com

Slayer Calls
https://www.slayercalls.com/

Retay USA
https://www.retayusa.com/

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

On episode 301 of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott sits down with Patreon guest DL Greise to talk about his journey into waterfowl hunting.

DL started duck hunting in East Tennessee without much experience or anyone to show him the ropes. After a season of trying to figure it out on his own, he eventually found a mentor and began expanding his hunting beyond Tennessee.

We talk about hunting Reelfoot Lake, Arkansas leases, an incredible dove hunting trip to Argentina, pheasant hunting in South Dakota, Florida diver hunting, and the lessons DL has learned during several years of freelancing North Dakota.

We also get into field hunting versus water hunting, scouting, expectations on destination hunts, shotguns, ammunition, waders, and plenty of stories from years spent figuring out waterfowl hunting along the way.

Before the conversation, Elliott also discusses the newly released waterfowl breeding population numbers and what they may mean heading into the 2026 season.

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

Contact Elliott: Freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com

Support The Show: patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Episode 300 of the North American Waterfowler Podcast!

In this episode, I talk about the upcoming teal season, scouting, current habitat conditions, and one of the most important regions for North American waterfowl—the Prairie Pothole Region.

I also dig into Ducks Unlimited and the growing debate among duck hunters about the organization. Why do some hunters distrust DU? Where does the money go? How much habitat is actually being conserved? And how important is protecting breeding habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region to the future of duck hunting?

Rather than just giving my opinion, I look at the numbers, discuss some of the criticism directed at Ducks Unlimited, and explain why I believe conservation on the breeding grounds matters to every duck hunter—no matter where they hunt.

Thanks to everyone who has supported the North American Waterfowler Podcast through 300 episodes!

NAW PARTNERS

TideWe.com (Code NAW18)

Retay Shotguns (RetayUSA.com)

FlightDayAmmo.com (NAW10)

Slayer Duck Calls (SlayerCalls.Com)

Shotty Gear (ShottyGear.Com Code FDH10)

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates

Thanks to all of our partners for supporting the North American Waterfowler Podcast.

#DuckHunting #DucksUnlimited #Waterfowl #PrairiePotholeRegion #WaterfowlHunting #DuckConservation #TealHunting

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Blue-Winged Teal Duckling Survival Jumped From 20% to 70% | Grant Rhodes

Biologist Grant Rhodes returns to the North American Waterfowler Podcast for the third year in a row to share what he learned during his fourth field season studying Blue-winged Teal across the Prairie Pothole Region.

Grant and his team are using drones equipped with thermal imaging, radio telemetry, and uniquely marked hens to study Blue-winged Teal broods and better understand what actually drives duckling survival.

And this year produced some incredible results.

After seeing duckling survival around 20% in previous years, Grant's raw numbers from this season showed survival approaching 70%. What changed? Water.

We discuss how wet conditions across the breeding grounds created more seasonal wetlands, increased food and invertebrate availability, provided better concealment from predators, spread broods across the landscape, and allowed young teal to move between wetlands.

We also get into:

• Why Blue-winged Teal were chosen for this research
• How thermal drones are changing the way researchers count duck broods
• Why nest predation was so severe during the Saskatchewan years
• Ravens and their impact on nesting success
• Predator management and nest survival
• Why some broods traveled as far as a mile
• A hen that went from 11 ducklings to 21 through brood adoption
• What ducklings are eating during their first weeks of life
• Why Grant believes we could see a significant increase in Blue-winged Teal following this year's production
• What harvest really means for Blue-winged Teal populations
• Why habitat and breeding-ground conditions remain so important to waterfowl populations
• Where Grant's research goes from here

This is Grant's fourth field season studying Blue-winged Teal and his third appearance on the podcast. Each year we've been able to follow the research as it develops, and this may be the most interesting year yet.

Join the Freelance Duck Hunting Patreon:
patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Thanks to the partners of the North American Waterfowler Podcast:

TideWe — NAW18 for 18% off
Retay Shotguns — retayusa.com
Flight Day Ammunition — flightdayammo.com
Slayer Duck Calls — slayercalls.com
Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates — Search Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate on Amazon
Shoddy Gear — shoddygear.com — Code FDH10

#BlueWingedTeal #DuckHunting #Waterfowl #WaterfowlHunting #DuckResearch #WaterfowlBiology #PrairiePotholeRegion #NorthAmericanWaterfowler

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

Contact Elliott: freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com

support the show: patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Partners of the Show

Retay Shotguns
https://www.retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls
https://www.slayercalls.com/

TIDEWE — Code: NAW18
https://www.tidewe.com/

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates
https://mammothguardian.com/

Flight Day Ammunition — Code: NAW

⁠https://flightdayammo.com/⁠

Shotty Gear — Code: FDH10⁠

https://shottygear.com/⁠

The Klamath Basin is one of the most important waterfowl landscapes in the Pacific Flyway—but in recent years, drought, water shortages, and devastating avian botulism outbreaks have taken an enormous toll.

In 2024 alone, an estimated 140,000 birds died from avian botulism.

On this episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast, I’m joined by Jeff McCreary, Director of Operations for Ducks Unlimited’s Western Region, and Dr. Dan Smith, Ducks Unlimited waterfowl research scientist.

We break down why Klamath is so important, the complicated battle over water in the basin, how avian botulism kills waterfowl, and an innovative new approach called Flowthrough that could help provide water for wetlands, reduce botulism outbreaks, improve habitat, benefit fish—and create better hunting opportunities.

There is plenty of doom and gloom surrounding waterfowl and habitat today. This conversation is different. There are people working together to find solutions, and there is legitimate reason for hope at Klamath.

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Damien Pittman of Punisher Waterfowl joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about his life in waterfowl hunting.

Damien grew up in Newfoundland, where hunting looked a lot different than the decoy-and-calling style most of us picture today. We talk about those early years, leaving Newfoundland, his 20-year military career, getting back into duck hunting, and eventually building Punisher Waterfowl.

We also get into what waterfowl hunting looks like today in Ontario, early Canada goose season, hunting pressure, the differences between Canadian and American waterfowling, the growth of his podcast, and why he recently brought everything under the Punisher Waterfowl name.

Along the way, we talk about the relationships this community creates, the toxicity that sometimes shows up online, taking risks, learning from failure, and why no duck is worth risking your life over.

A great conversation with a guy I really enjoyed getting to know.

THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WATERFOWLER PODCAST

🔹 Retay Shotguns — Check out the ACE and ACE-R lineup of 12, 20 and 28 gauge shotguns.

🔹 Slayer Duck Calls — MC, YOLO Bypass and more. Check out Slayer’s Call of the Wild training resources to improve your calling.

🔹 TideWe — Waders, heated gear, blinds and more.
Code: NAW18 for 18% off

🔹 Shotty Gear — Waterfowl gear including backpacks, gun cases, shell pouches and more.
Code: FDH10

🔹 Flight Day Ammunition — Maximum Payload steel ammunition.
Code: NAW10

🔹 Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates — Heavy-duty dog crates with the roll cage attachment for added protection.

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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: FreelanceDuckHunting@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting

Retay Shotguns
https://retayusa.com/

Slayer Duck Calls
https://www.slayercalls.com/

TideWe — Use code NAW18 for 18% off
https://www.tidewe.com/

Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates

Flight Day Ammunition — Use code NAW10
https://flightdayammo.com/

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

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