For 365 days per year, it really is duck season somewhere. Ramsey Russell’s year-long duck hunting quest takes him worldwide, 6 whole continents worth of duck hunting adventures. And MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere podcast brings it all home to listeners. Pull up a seat and join host Ramsey Russell, founder of GetDucks.com, as he meets with genuine waterfowl hunters, biologists and storytellers from around the globe.
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One of North America’s most unique webless gamebirds, sandhill cranes are oftentimes referred to as “ribeyes of the sky” and included among popular waterfowl slam listings. Alabama biologist Courtnay Conring has studied them extensively and hunted them seriously. We do a deep dive into sandhill cranes to include migrating and non-migrating populations, which populations are hunted and protected, differences between greater and lesser sandhill cranes, habitat, diet, habitat conservation, new hunting opportunities, cooking and how-to sandhill crane hunting techniques. Whether collecting groceries, trophies or experiences, most North American waterfowl hunters may likely find themselves chasing sandhill cranes and will appreciate this informative discussion.
You’ve traveled far away from home for a dream hunt and–all things equal, some days better than others–waterfowl are a constant. It’s the everything else that really makes a huge difference. Which is why on the heels of another epic 3-day waterfowl hunt at Prairie Limits Outfitters, I met with Brian Cramer to gain insight on “controlling the controllables” and delivering superior, made-to-feel-at-home hospitality. Because too few do it as well.
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Hunting trips are no place to lose a few pounds. To the contrary, you should be ready to loosen your belt, eat like kings, enjoy. Which is exactly why Chef DJ is among the most popular people at Prairie Limits Outfitters in Saskatchewan, why his specialties are in high demand by returning guests, and why everyone gravitates towards his kitchen throughout the day. Sharing some hallmark recipes along the way, Chef DJ talks about growing up in rural Canada, his interest in cooking, learning to cook for big groups, and how hunting benefits local communities.
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What’s it like growing up a young, avid waterfowler in the north-of-the-border Land of Plenty? How’s it similar to the USA–and how’s it different? What might you wish be different, and for what might you be most thankful? In a random turn of events, Ramsey falls in with 3 die-hard, young-gun Manitoba hunters who show him what it’s like growing up a goose hunter these days in Canada and share some interesting and downright surprising insights. And to think it all started with a shiny new moped in a gravel parking lot! Really good stuff.
Located between massive lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba, the fabled Interlakes Region has been an important stop over for migrating Canada geese since forever–especially for that population of big honkers known locally as “Churchills.” The region annually attracts goose hunters like myself that can’t seem to get enough of them. Sometimes the stars align and we’re even there at the same time. Following an action-packed week and a big ol’ celebratory T-bone steak, I meet with Manitoba friends Troy Bennet and Dustin Dola to recount the week’s highlights.
Capt. Jeff Coats aka The Pitboss shares decades duck hunting experiences on the Chesapeake Bay, how and why he built a name brand that’s become synonymous with sea duck hunting this waters. Recalling his first duck hunting experiences, he describes important influences in decoy carving, guiding, and life. We discuss “the world’s largest duck boat,” retrievers and training, missing sea ducks, decoy carving, evolving medias since the internet’s inception, and more! Like mach-3 scoters sweeping lover over the long lines, this conversation is going places quickly!
So critical to Pacific Flyway waterfowl was this region that the Lower Klamath NWR was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as the first waterfowl refuge in the United States. In the 1950s, more pintails were counted in nearby Tule Lake than exists on earth today, and a surprising amount of Pacific Flyway waterfowl are produced or overwinter here! As reported in EP 154. Understanding the Klamath Water War (link below), times have changed–natural droughts have been exacerbated by “policy drought” and conflicting “single species management” as interests compete over scarce water resources, and waterfowl historically rank last priority. Thanks to win-win collaborative efforts, there may be light at end of the tunnel. Jeff McCreary, Ducks Unlimited’s Director of Operations for Western Region, and Jake Messerli, CEO for California Waterfowl Association, provide vital updates, spelling out changes affecting waterfowl, Pacific Flyway hunters, local communities and conservation throughout the United States.
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EP 154. Understanding the Klamath Water War
Located in Chambers County, Texas, the Double Bayou community has a storied, oftentimes truth-is-stranger-than-fiction past. It was there that Blake Moulton learned to duck hunt from his father, who was simply passing along the same torch handed him by predecessors. In some ways, things have changed. In other ways they never will. Beneath a sprawling live oak that’s shaded Moulton’s family for 5 generations, he talks about growing up, the local community, family traditions, and the people that inspired him to be his best at duck hunting and in life.
There’s plenty North Dakota waterfowl hunting opportunities for ducks, snows, cacklers, honkers and tundra swans, and depending on what you’re chasing the overall season runs late-September (for non-residents) through bone-chilling, mid-December. For those wanting the convenience of an experienced can-do outfitter, nobody does it better than Dirty Bird Outfitters. Now in their 10th season, owner-founder Matthew Piehl and head viking-guide Nick Marcyes describe how a kindred love-hate spirit for white geese–yeah, they chase spring snows in Arkansas and back, too–and an idea scribbled onto a napkin started the whole thing.
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North Dakota Waterfowl Hunt Dirty Bird Outfitters
As a barefoot little boy playing outside in the late-1930s that later duck hunted when rice predominated the coastal Texas landscape, 90-year-old Charles Stutzenbaker became the first full-time waterfowl biologist for the State of Texas. It was a different world. Plenty work to do. And work he did. Spending many years immersed afield, he became a foremost authority on coastal habitat, authoring definitive books on mottled ducks and wetlands vegetation. He influenced Gulf Coastal habitat conservation and duck hunting as we know it today at state, flyway and national levels; was instrumental in starting early blue-winged teal season and banning lead shot. Mr. Stutzenbaker discusses these topics and more in today’s very interesting conversation.
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Aquatic and Wetland Plants of the Western Gulf Coast Book by Charles D Stutzenbaker