MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
Help Wanted Solving Texas’s “Dusky Duck” Dilemma
Your help is urgently needed. The “dusky duck” in Texas as experienced precipitous population declines in the mottled duck’s traditional range, and management alternatives are being considered. Here’s a chance for you the listener to possibly participate meaningfully in real-world waterfowl management and help avert catastrophe. Waterfowl Geneticist, Dr. Phillip Lavretsky, joins Ramsey Russell to discuss. They recap North American mallard-like genetics discussed in a previous episode (Just a Mallard? Think Again) and status of African Yellow-billed Duck and African Black Duck tissue samples/ biometric data recently collected by Ramsey. Lavretsky then explains what’s possibly going on with Texas’s mottled ducks, why he’s been contacted by TDWFP officials to perform genetic sampling and how you can specifically assist. We duck hunters are without doubt the most passionate waterfowl conservationists on earth. Here’s your chance to possibly become hands-on and involved in real waterfowl management.
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Donate to Lavretsky Labs Conservation Research
Previous Episode: Just a Mallard? Think Again.
The Surprising Genetics of American Black Ducks and Mallards
UTEP Professor, Smithsonian Researchers Make Genetic Discoveries Related to North American Ducks
Genuine South Africa Duck Hunting Experiences
From formidable spur-winged geese to driven guineafowl bolting from cover like shot cannonballs plus there’s unique scenery, hunting styles, food and culture. The South Africa duck hunting combo is an incredible adventure that many guests rank foremost among lifetime hunts. But why? Today, GetDucks guests describe their South Africa duck hunting experiences, recalling their most memorable moments, comparing it to other destinations, and telling about why they’d even consider coming back again. Concluding our special 8-part South Africa series, this episode perfectly hems it up in guests’ own words.
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Saskatchewan Snow Goose Hunting: Canadian Perspectives
Juvenile gray birds are stretching their wings for the first time, usually diving into the decoys with reckless abandon, and even those savvy adult white birds seem to have forgotten the preceding hunting season, making autumn a great time for hunting snow geese in the Land of Living Skies. Ramsey Russell joins long-time friend Nova Scotian Brian Mason and his merry band of “newfies” for their annual week-long pilgrimage specifically targeting snow geese. Their round-table discussion covers the variety of topics discussed while cleaning white birds on the tailgate and a whole lot more. Do Canadian and American snow goose hunting mindsets differ? Decide for yourself. Like white bird flocks spinning overhead while getting sorted, this episode covers a lot of ground, offering great perspective.
Texas Blue-winged Teal Hunting with Steve Biggers
Ramsey Russell concludes the Texas blue-winged teal hunting portion of the 2021 North American Waterfowl Tour with a visit to long-time friend and USHuntList outfitter Steve Biggers’s new lodge near El Campo Texas. Following a couple memorable morning hunts, they visit briefly about blue-winged teal, the migration, habitat, Steve’s new lodge and retrievers.
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Best Texas Blue-winged Teal Hunts
Africa Always Wins, South Africa Duck Hunting Zululand
The Blood River forms the headwaters of wetlands hunted in Kwazulu-Natal Province South Africa. Clayton Comins grew up in the South Africa wingshooting business. He and Ramsey discuss Zululand’s habitats, unique species, waterfowl management, hunting styles, people and extra special considerations.
Real Texas BBQ – Salt, Pepper and Time
Two-time World Champion Texas BBQ Pitmaster Grant Pinkerton explains real Texas BBQ to Ramsey Russell, setting him straight once and for all on why beef is indeed real BBQ. Pinkerton has been duck hunting for as long as he can remember, cooked his first steak in grade school, began smoking brisket before he could drive, and smokes what Ramsey describes as the bar-none very best BBQ he’s ever eaten. When and how did Pinkerton get into the BBQ business? How’d Pinkerton become a world champion pitmaster and what other accolades has he received? What defines Texas BBQ? When did brisket become so popular? How much does Pinkerton’s BBQ turn out per day?! What are some of his favorite waterfowl recipes? How does he prepare a brisket for the pit? This episode will leave your mouth watering. Postscript: “Yes. Beef ribs are real BBQ. Think beef-butter with a bark. Best I’ve ever had,” says Ramsey.
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BS’ing with Joe Briscoe
Nevermind thermometer readings soaring beyond 90 degrees, it’s blue-winged teal season and Ramsey Russell’s 2021 North American Waterfowl Tour is underway when he swings through Joe Briscoe’s JB Custom Calls shop to pick up some new teal calls. But there’s no such thing as quick visits between these 2 buddies. Their conversation runs the gamut from teal hunting to moonshine, from Texas blues music to custom guitars to Briscoe’s newest duck call invention that’ll have gray duck back-flipping into the decoys.
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A Thriving South Africa Game Management Industry
Most of South Africa can be described similarly to parts of South Texas: sprawling, brush-covered properties teaming with game animals managed under endless miles of high-fence. While watching a sporty dove and rock pigeon shoot, professional game manager Weynand De Jager describes the arduous undertakings required in reconciling herd numbers with habitat availability, and an enormous industry of supplying venison and game animal by-products worldwide. What do game managers like Weynand do? What’s cull hunting, how’s it differ from sport hunting, how’s it implemented and by whom? Why does Ramsey claim he might have “found his calling if this GetDucks thing doesn’t work out”? How heavily is this industry regulated, how quickly are game processed, meat wagons filled? What becomes of all that meat, what animal parts are used? How important is game farming to wildlife conservation in South Africa? Chalk this one up to really cool stuff learned on long drives between hunts, took me way out of my feather-covered wheelhouse and was too good not to share.
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Finding Comfort in Numbers, Then versus Now
Ramsey Russell joins Texas waterfowl hunting historian and author Rob Sawyer for a fast-paced, Texas-style blue-winged teal hunt at the beautiful Spread Oaks Ranch in coastal Matagorda County. After an incredible breakfast that included platter-sized country ham steaks smoked on-site, their conversation starts briefly with blue-winged teal hunting and habitat management before channeling through and infusing past and present mindsets of American duck hunting. Has it always been a numbers game or is there a little something more to it? Check out Robert Sawyer’s landmark Texas waterfowl history books using the link below.
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Oyster Bayou Observations, Gene Campbell
Following an epic blue-winged teal hunt in Chambers County, Texas, Ramsey visits with Mr. Gene Campbell at Oyster Bayou Hunting Club. Gene’s observations are based on more than a half-century of duck hunting and managing habitat in this fabled region. While good deal of their discussion pivots around habitat management practices (both moist-soil and submerged aquatics)–and y’all will want to hear this– other topics include blue-winged teal migrational status, avian influenza, black-bellied and fulvous whistling ducks, bag limits, sanctuary and more. A legendary figure in Southeast Texas waterfowling, Gene’s insights are invaluably timely.
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