MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
EP 364. Training Retrievers–and Their Owners
From a Mississippi hilltop overlooking Gator Point Kennel’s incredible technical pond and proven training grounds, Ramsey and long-time retriever trainer Alan Sandifer visit on the tailgate while resurrected-from-the-ashes Char Dawg pants quietly at their feet. Sandifer tells about how and why he got into professional training, describing what makes good retrievers, how retrievers all have different personalities, how best to prepare pups for training, why his training game differs from our hunting game, and why transitioning from trainer to owner is sometimes problematic. Retrievers are integral to waterfowl hunting, and this conversation focuses on reasonable expectations and responsibilities of both owners and those they entrust in training their best friend.
EP 363. Great Lakes Declining Mallard Mystery
From a 1.1 million peak in the late-1990s, the Great Lakes mallard population has declined to about 700 thousand. Meanwhile, there’s been increased genetic infusion of game farm mallards that don’t necessarily migrate as do wild-originated mallards. That could be a good thing for Great Lakes hunters, right? Or not? As part of a major study to determine why mallard populations are declining in the US, Brad Luukonen is completing his dissertation and University of Michigan. Luukonen sheds light on this perplexing mallard problem, discussing how it may effect hunting in the Great Lakes region and further down the flyway, contributing and confounding factors, and future possible management implications. Plenty good food for thought no matter where in the US your chase greenheads!
What Are Mallards Populations Falling in the Great Lakes Region?
EP 362. Wild New World
In his legendary book Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals & People in America, Dan Flores spins an incredible, historically-based yarn about North America’s amazing wildlife resource from inception until now. Today we discuss unimaginably abundant fur, feather and flesh commodities the likes of which humanity had never before–nor since–ever witnessed, how and why that resource was so quickly depleted as compared to preceding centuries, and how the same capitalistic ideals applied then have now become driving forces for rewilding America. It’s a truly incredible story you absolutely don’t want to miss.
Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals & People in America by Dan Flores.
EP 361. Practicing Lost Art, Living Old Ways
Urban sprawl exists a half-hour drive away. But Greg Harkins’s lifestyle is embodied by hand-crafting wooden rockers from personally selected, start-to-finish milled red oaks from the swamp behind his Madison County, Mississippi, home. They’re intended to last generations. And do. His shop is a half-century-old pole barn rife with antlers, chickens, raw lumber and various other natural materials necessary for plying this lost art. A natural storyteller, he fondly remembers hunting with his dad, the old-timer that passed down mid-1800s techniques, old ways, presidential customers, and life lessons that persist in a nowadays otherwise disposable society.
EP 360. Hunting in the Big Apple—R.A.T.S.
“No one in Manhattan is ever further than 30 feet from a rat,” explains Richard Reynolds, a long-time associate of the Ryders Alley Trencher-fed Society, or R.A.T.S. for short. And in New York City’s legendary rat abundance, Reynolds and associates find huge recreational opportunities–hunting Norwegian rats with savvy 8-dog packs. Reynolds colorfully describes how and where rats are hunted, strategies, rat characteristics and habitat, dog breeds and, associated perils– like why first-timers should definitely duct-tape their pants! Something to talk about next time a mouse scurries across your camp kitchen or duck blind, y’all don’t dare want to miss this unique hunting adventure episode. The willies alone are worth it!
EP 359. Collector of Untamed Stories
Ridr Knowelton grew up in New York’s Catskill Mountains, cutting his teeth on small game like the rest of us. He’s since spent the past 30 years fishing and hunting around the world. Interestingly, it isn’t so much critters hunted that he most remembers but hunting guides–and especially their stories. Today he shares stories about a harrowing arctic rescue mission during a whiteout blizzard that lead to marriage, mules dancing in local saloons, growing up in yesteryear Everglades and much more. You don’t want to miss this great episode about “collecting!”
EP 358. The Infamous “Jerry Lee” and Other Local Legends
Dave Gaston Custom Calls’ origin is a winds-like-a-snake duck hunting story that begins with western Alabama childhood, meanders through memorable friendships while chasing ducks in Mississippi and Arkansas, finds him apprenticing under one of Arkansas’s most legendary call makers, and leaves him at home right where it all began. Only nowadays he spends his time carrying on on the tradition; turning duck calls as a tribute, in part, to those great people now passed. That and telling damned good stories like only Gaston can about the infamous “Jerry Lee” and other local legends. Enjoy!
EP 357. Waterfowl of the World Stories and Perspectives
Renown waterfowl photographer Gary Kramer is back with lots of amazing new stories gleaned while putting together his legendary Waterfowl of the World and beyond. He takes us ’round-the-world, covering recent bucket-list trips like Antartica penguin watching and Greenland king eider hunting, as well as photo safariing India wild tigers, Morocco red-crested pochards and ever-elusive masked ducks. Bringing it home, he describes balancing photographing with shotgunning and how both have shaped his understanding of waterfowl.
EP 356. An End to Duck Hunting Down Under? Why Should We Care?
Nearly 9,500 miles away from the US, the heated battle between Australian duck hunters and anti-hunters has hit a fevered pitch. Sustainable duck hunting for future generations seems dire. Providing an update from the front lines, my long-time Australian duck hunting associates, Glenn Falla and Trent Leen, describe what’s going on, why the ongoing season is a critical juncture, and how antis have forsaken science-based waterfowl conservation practices and funding to serve an emotionally fueled agenda. Is this finally the end of Australia duck hunting? And why should US hunters care? Safari Club International’s Ben Cassidy and Delta Waterfowl’s Joel Brice weigh in, offering an all-for-one and one-for-all perspective.
EP 365. The Call Collector
“Times have changed and I’d not be able to do it again,” says Ryan Graves in speaking of his impressive antique duck call and duck hunting memorabilia collection. What started as a childhood hobby buying duck calls–because they were cheap–has grown up into an expertise that takes him neck deep into waterfowl’s nostalgic past, and throughout modern-day United States with other call collecting associates. He gives Ramsey a tour of his collection–and a glimpse into the stories that collection represents–in today’s episode.
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