MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
EP 225. Connecticut Duck Hunting and Decoy Carving with Bill Embacher
Born and raised duck hunting in Connecticut, Bill Embacher began carving traditional gunning decoys as a youngster. While he makes his living doing so today, it’s come to mean more than that. Ramsey and he got to know each other through a black duck travel decoy. How’d he get started carving decoys? Who influenced his carving style? What’s it like duck hunting in Connecticut, what’s his typical gunning rig, how’s hunting there changed–and how does practicing old-school traditions keep things on an even keel? What else did he recently build as a father-daughter project? Like scoring a single black duck hand-carved decoys, this episode is all about quality.
EP 224. Working Behind the Scenes
Though he and Ramsey connected over their shared waterfowl hunting interest, Trevor Santos is Director of Government Relations and State Affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. In the same way that neither great duck hunts nor quality habitat happen by accident, there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes efforts in ensuring that the firearms and hunting industries remain healthy in today’s political climate. Today’s episode gives us a glimpse behind that curtain.
EP 223. Rugged Expeditions, J. Alain Smith
A gifted communicator, J. Alain Smith is a hunter, writer, musician and adventurer who has explored the world’s farthest reaches. He’s collected 350 different game species to include World Slams of Sheep and Goats, the North American Grand Slam of Sheep and the African Big 5. He’s authored 6 books, produces the hit outdoor TV show Rugged Expeditions, is a Conklin Award winner, Weatherby Conservation Award recipient, and SCI International Hunter of the Year–and it all began as a youngster while hunting mallards and ring-necked pheasants near home in Washington. What’s the most dangerous situation encountered? Most challenging hunt? Most unique culture? Any regrets? How does he reconcile trophy with experience? And what’s the craziest thing he’s ever eaten while in hunting camp (hint: it definitely didn’t taste like chicken)?!
EP 222. World-Famous Argentina Hostess, Martha-Martha
Following 2 years of crazy pandemic-related border closures, Ramsey and long-time friend and indispensable GetDucks team-member Martha Ciaffoni are reunited at conventions. They recall memorable times working together and with clients in Argentina during the past decade-plus, discuss what Argentina hunting at Rio Salado and La Paz might be like after nearly 3 years of ducks not hearing shotguns, making plans for the upcoming season–and beyond. Ramsey also mentions a couple huge upcoming celebratory giveaways as GetDucks enters its 20th year in business.
EP 221. Brand Father of Outdoor Television, Chris Dorsey
Described as the greatest outdoor TV producer is history, Chris Dorsey is a former wildlife biologist, author of many outdoor books, past Editor-in-Chief for Ducks Unlimited and Sports Afield magazines with works appearing not only in most outdoor magazines but in Newsweek, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. Having produced more than 2,000 episodes across 55 series, he’s hunted and fished on 5 continents, taking all 29 North American big game species, Africa’s Deadly 7 and all spiral horns. But he’s an ardent duck hunter, too, and one helluva great storyteller. His most recent achievement is the epic IMAX film, Wings Over Water.
Related Links:
EP 220. Hear the Hunt
Huh?! Can you hear me now?! Ramsey meets with audiologist Bill Dickinson, TETRA Hearing co-founder. This episode is purely tell-not-sell and highly informational. While comfortably delivering premium technology, TETRA gives hunters natural hearing experiences while still protecting their hearing. An articulate communicator, Dickinson explains how hearing works, how loud noise impairs hearing and why hunting different critters is not one-size-fits-all as far as our ears are concerned. He explains precisely how TETRA products were developed to optimize your experience based on what you’re hunting while also protecting your hearing. Shotguns, trucks, ammo, decoys, waders and jackets cost lots of money but are all replaceable. As Ramsey has learned the hard way, our hearing is not. Listen closely to this episode, folks, it’s a darned good one!
EP 219. From Oklahoma Game Warden to Director of Conservation
Spend a few day chasing ducks by day and huddling in hole-in-the-wall Mexican food restaurants at night teaches you a lot about the folks with whom you’re sharing the best of times. Today’s guest is no exception. Carlos Gomez recently retired as a game warden Oklahoma Department Wildlife Conservation. How’d Gomez growing up hunting in Oklahoma? How’d he get started into this particular line of work? How’d he work cases, and what were some of the most memorable? What’s his sobering opinion on how today’s hunters may or may not have changed during his career? What’s his new role as Director of Conservation for the best American-made decoy on earth entail? Like shooting green-winged teal that appear out of nowhere on a narrow Oklahoma River stretch, this tailgate episode delivers one shot from the hip after another.
EP 218. Oklahoma Tailgate Talk
James Morel is a born-and-raised in Oklahoma, do-it-yourself waterfowler who especially loves sandhill crane hunting. He’s also Wetlands and Migratory Bird Coordinator for Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, overseeing waterfowl habitat management, mid-winter waterfowl counts and various other waterfowl management responsibilities throughout Oklahoma. What’s the big deal about sandhill cranes, how are they hunted? Which sandhill crane subspecies are hunted in Oklahoma and what are the differences? Why is Oklahoma a popular destination for both waterfowl and waterfowl hunters, what are the primary species hunted, and what public land hunting opportunities exist? Why is Morel confident that North America waterfowl populations are in good shape, and what biological observations make him think that hunter perceptions might likely be an optical illusion?
EP 217. An Outdoor Addiction with Purpose
Real life isn’t all rainbows and wildflowers. Sloane Brown is the Hunting Marketing Manager for one of the hottest name brands in the entire outdoor world, but that’s what this episode is about. At all. Sloane’s circuitous journey to the top began at the very bottom. Hunting fueled an addiction that ultimately became personal salvation, compelling him to new highs. Proving it ain’t where you start but where you finish, today’s episode is unvarnished testimony that you absolutely do not want to miss.
EP 216. How Tiger King’s Tattoo Artist Began Duck Hunting
“The better you get, the better you get,” says today’s guest, Dirk Sorrels while describing the meandering path that lead to his becoming an integral part of Team Boss Shotshells and then an ardent duck hunter. How’d he end up becoming a tattoo artist, how’d he connect with clients, and what does he most remember about one of his most famous clients? How is duck hunting like surfing? Another must-hear conversation bearing the reminder that when you come to a fork in the road–just take it!
As strong advocates of conservation, GetDucks.com supports the following organizations:
On GetDucks.com
Get Ducks Brochure
Want to receive a new GetDucks.com Brochure?
The new 36-page, full color GetDucks.com brochure is loaded with photography from the world’s best duck hunting adventures, to include trip summaries, available bird species, testimonial reviews and much more.
View NEW Full-color brochure online: Ramsey Russell’s GetDucks.com Catalog Contact us to receive a hi-res printed copy.