Duck Season Somewhere Podcast

MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast



EP 518. Deep-Rooted Double Bayou Duck Hunting Traditions

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.



EP 517. The Dirty Bird North Dakota Waterfowl Hunting Experience

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.

Related Link:

North Dakota Waterfowl Hunt Dirty Bird Outfitters 

 



EP 516. Meet Texas’s First Waterfowl Biologist, Charles Stutzenbaker

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.

Related Links:

Aquatic and Wetland Plants of the Western Gulf Coast Book by Charles D Stutzenbaker 

 



EP 515. Texas Duck Hunting Desert Paradise with Speck Ops

West of San Antonio, where the Chihuahua Desert and Brush County collide it’s dry. Real dry. But there exist one of the most unique and best-kept secrets in North America waterfowl hunting. Renowned since forever for world-class muy grande white-tails on vast private ranches, the region also harbors ducks, speckle bellies and sandhill cranes that’ve long been disregarded by locals and remain relatively unpressured. Enter Speck Ops Waterfowl. Luke Bledsoe and wife, Jillian, describe moving to the area, amassing and covering a hunting area best described as a 500-mile triangle, hunting practically every Central Flyway duck species–to include some real prizes–delivering lodging experiences unlike anywhere else, and their long-term vision. Sounds so good that we make plans to maybe do a couples trip there next year!

Related Link:

Texas Waterfowl Hunt Desert Paradise 

 



EP 514. Powder Morning Hunting the North Platte River Nebraska

Hunting western Nebraska is all about the right stuff–the right properties, the right locations, the right people. There’s mallards and geese galore, for sure, but this corner of the Wild West is also crawling with huge mule deer and white-tailed bucks, pronghorn, Merriam’s turkeys, and elk. Born and raised nearby, Powder Morning Hunting Company’s Coy Fisher describes growing up there; what Sydney, Nebraska was like before, during and since Cabela’s; how carbon sequestration is a billion dollar industry out there; putting together and covering over 400,000 acres to include many miles of fabled North Platte River and warm water sloughs; unique waterfowl habitat projects; and delivering great customer experiences. Am headed out there myself early-January 2025 and can’t wait.

Related Links:

Nebraska Waterfowl Hunts with Powder Morning Hunting Company



EP 513. Duck Camp Dinner Experiences Now Served

Getting a feel for who people really are is as simple as putting your feet under the right table. Or in the instance of Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois, just talking food. Proud of his Louisiana duck hunting heritage, Chef Jean-Paul Bourgeois shares Sportsman’s Paradise unique culture via Duck Camp Dinners, that’s just completed its 3rd season. Gumbo variations around Louisiana is only the beginning and we’re soon running through an international buffet of topics to include the Chesapeake Bay, Vietnam, France; influences, ingredients, people, favorite recipes, and away-from-home experience collecting. Bon appetite.



EP 512. Benelli Shotgun Features and Performance

Having used Benelli shotguns since the mid-90s because of their utter reliability and superior performance, their continued innovations continue to amaze. Benelli’s Senior Product Manager, Brett Maffet, is a long-time waterfowl hunter and living his dream by working in the outdoor industry. We do a deep dive into Benelli shotguns past and present, cycling through need-to-know topics like various Benelli shotgun platforms, differences between Benelli shotgun models, sub-gauge popularity, new advanced impact system (A.I.) that significantly improves patterns and energy as shot moves downrange, recoil reduction, the 828U shotgun and its new steel receiver, availability of left-handed shotguns, and much more. Whether shopping for a new boom stick or just wanting to know more about state-of-the-art waterfowling shotguns, you’ll find this discussion extremely informative.



EP 511. Making Outdoor Dreams Reality

Grizzly bears, wild sheep, bison, elk, white-tailed bucks, waterfowl–we all have outdoor dreams.  But South Carolina-based Outdoor Dream Foundation is making outdoor dreams reality for youths facing some of life’s toughest challenges. “It gives them light at the end of the tunnel, something to live for,” one of today’s guests says. Disappointed that similar foundations were not granting firearms- and hunting-related wishes, they decided to do something about it. ODF members Leroy Martin, Richard Cranes, and Skip Still share some favorite memories of past recipients, proving that the best way to help oneself is to help others. Whether you’re a parent or not, you’ll appreciate today’s heart-felt stories.

Related Links:

Outdoor Dream Foundation 



EP 510. A South Africa Duck Hunting Safari Remembered

Following a 2-week, 3-province, 5-lodge, waterfowl-and-upland-gamebirds South Africa duck hunting safari that’ll be memorable for many reasons–it’s like we saw and did everything–the adventure is recapped with hunters Mark Hagar and Seth Arbogast. One collected lots of game room trophies, the other did not, because it’s mostly about experiences involving new lands, people, foods, all united around hunting ducks and geese. Whether considering such an adventure yourself or just wanting to hear what it’s like bird hunting in the half-way-across-the-world land of spiral horns and hippos, you’ll enjoy today’s visit among hunting friends in a foreign land.

Related Link:

South Africa Duck Hunting Combo

 



EP 509. All Florida and More

Fifth-generation Florida native Travis Thompson was born-and-raised Florida duck hunting. In the absence of mallards, their mainstays are blue-winged teal, Florida mottled ducks, whistling ducks, and–of course–ring-necked ducks, which are discussed in depth along with local hunting traditions, gators and cattle, where and how ducks are hunted. “But when you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” says Thompson, pivoting to the rapid loss of wintering habitat and hunting rights in Florida. Beyond Disney and Miami, an entirely other Florida exists. But for how much longer?

Mojo OutdoorsTom BeckbeFlashBack DecoysVoormiTetra HearingDucks Unlimited HuntProofInukshuk Professional Dog FoodBOSS SHOTSHELLSBenelli

As strong advocates of conservation, GetDucks.com supports the following organizations:

Ducks Unlimited Dallas Safari Club National Rifle Association Delta Waterfowl SCI