MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
EP 265. Home-cooked Argentina Goodness and Adventure
It’s no secret that Ramsey spends lots of travel time in kitchens visited, because that’s usually the best place to get true tastes of local culture as well as food. In today’s episode, he meets with chef Facundo Jurado Esquivel, who serves up “5 meals daily” to Las Flores guests. Facu shares a few recipes and cooking techniques, telling Ramsey how he got into hunting, cooking and how longboarding downhill through Patagonia’s mountains earned him a spot on the olympic team. Why he thinks food brings hunters together and what compelled a 30 year-old man into longboarding are damned good food for thought. Enjoy!
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EP 264. Why Las Flores Argentina Duck Hunting?
So named for the rosy-billed pochards that darken the sky at times, Las Flores is in Ramsey’s opinion hands-down the most consistent Argentina duck hunt in a country that reputedly offers the world’s best. But what do clients have to say about it? How do first-time and repeat guests describe hunting here as compared to home? Duck hunting experiences are subjective, and dead ducks are part of the experience. But beyond tired trigger fingers, their answers will probably surprise you.
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EP 263. Recreational Chef Respects the Game
Self-taught chef Nathan Judice began cooking his own meals soon after moving to college. He grew up hunting small game in Southeast Louisiana, remembering his waterfowl hunting introductions as being a popular post-season activity in that region. While his own alligator and venison boudin is warming over hot coals, Judice talks about how he began upping his cooking game, why wild critters are his favorite, and why some of his favorite cuts are those that’re usually discarded. Saying that “cleaning is when meat become meals,” he walks Ramsey through his entire thought process for preparing and cooking wild game, sharing favorite recipes and proven techniques along the way. Whether still microwaving frozen pizzas or long-time designated camp cook, here’s an episode you’ll savor.
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EP 262. Argentina Duck Hunting Without Excuses
“We don’t sell excuses,” says Diego, “We sell good duck hunts.” That’s certainly been the case for the nearly 15 years that Ramsey has offered the Las Flores program that he describes as the definitively best, most fail-proof duck hunt in Argentina. Las Flores means “the flowers,” so named because nobody but nobody owns the rosy-billed pochards like Diego. Nobody. It doesn’t happen by accident, either. The 2 long-time friends and associates catch up during their first hunt together since the pandemic, discussing everything from duck species to local hunting culture, collectable firearms to clown acts to what goes into making this hunt best. Fun conversation that sheds light on this bucket-list destination and the interesting, nomadic personality that makes it happen.
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EP 261. Of Ancient Indian Mounds, All But Forgotten Prehistoric Mississippians
Ramsey recalls that while growing up in the Mississippi Delta the only notable topography was in the form of ancient indian mounds scattered about an otherwise flat landscape. When were they built and by whom? How’d those people live and what became of them? Retired archaeologist Sam Brookes spent his career studying prehistoric Mississippian Indian cultures and takes Ramsey on a whirlwind tour spanning 13,000 years, explaining why these mounds were built, why they possibly represented the zenith of pre-American civilization, what they hunted–and what hunted them–interesting digs and much more. As well, Brookes describes what explorer Hernando Desoto found and what that expedition left in its wake. Fascinating conversation.
EP 260. The Old School Way – Lifetime Hunting Experiences For Fun
Growing up hunting waterfowl and small game in Southwest Louisiana, William Newlin first introduced his wife Carolyn to duck hunting while they were still high school sweethearts. They’ve remained best hunting buddies the nearly 70 years since. In aggregate, they’ve bagged about 300 game species “not including regular stuff around home like white-tailed deer and ‘gators.” From livestock-eating tigers and troublesome polar bears during military service to rare blue sheep and overpopulated barnacle geese, man, the stories these two can tell! The Newlins are old school. For them, it’s never been about awards or recognitions. Their plainspoken stories are about living life one hunting experience to the next—simply because it’s fun. Enjoy! Y’all are absolutely going to love this episode, the Newlins, and their many stories.
EP 259. Gaining Perspective From Half-Century “Studying Ducks” [Part 2]
Things get serious as Dr. Richard Kaminski and Ramsey, his former student, address the question, “What happened to US duck hunting during the past 25 years?” First discussing recent research pertaining to winter duck abundance and temperature trends in the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways, they move on to waterfowl habitat quality and quantity, preserving remaining wetlands, hunting pressure and game farm genetic influences. Now “retired,” but far from actually retired, Kaminski emphasizes the role of people as action points, offering sage words of wisdom to those considering waterfowl management careers.
EP 258. Mississippi Wild Hog Hunting Traditions
Traditional black bear hunting ceased when Mississippi Delta’s ancient hardwood forests were cleared long ago, but while the bears are no longer hunted, the sport itself continues. Within the region’s seething, dark thickets are thick packs of black, tusk-gnashing wild hogs which are now hunted similarly. Legendary Mississippi storyteller Hank Burdine tells Ramsey about the pigs, people, dogs–and you got to figure a dog named Homicide was somehow legendary–horses and tools-of-the-trade surrounding this hard-core Deep South culture.
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EP 257. Gaining Perspective From Half-Century “Studying Ducks” [Part 1]
A self-started Wisconsin duck hunter, Dr. Richard Kaminski left dental school to “study ducks.” And study ducks he did–for about a half-century. Beginning with graduate research studies at Delta Marsh, ending recently as Director of James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center, leaving in his wake numerous waterfowl biologists among state, federal and non-governmental organizations integral to delivering the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Between cups of coffee nd black lab fetches, he and Ramsey discuss the previous night’s family duck recipe and Kaminski’s duck hunting origins before slogging headlong into waterfowl-related topics researched extensively during his career: hemi-marsh, moist-soil management, soybean nutrition, forested wetlands, habitat complexes and more. Until Ramsey finally asks, “What happened to US duck hunting in the 25 years since I last attended your classroom?!”
EP 256. The Best Hunting Partners Are the Ones Raised
Going into Father’s Day weekend, Ramsey is joined by father-daughter hunting buddies Chris and Grace Nicolai for a truly memorable conversation about spending quality t-I-m-e with your mini-me’s. How old was Grace when did Chris start taking his daughters afield? How many goose species has Grace killed with a 410-shotgun? How many states has she hunted, how many species has she bagged–and what’s on her wish list? What else in waterfowling has hunting with ol” Dad inspired her to do? Any special challenges or considerations over the years? How is taking daughters different than taking sons–or is it? This fantastic episode is proof that your best hunting partners are the ones you raise. Enjoy. And Happy Father’s Day!
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