MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
EP 498. Like a Great Big Ol’ Camp Reunion at Delta Waterfowl Expo
Typical of late-July Baton Rouge, between-thunderstorms humidity visibly hung in the air like a warm, wet blanket. Not that anyone cared. Because walking through the convention halls was as exciting as opening day at duck camp, the energy palpable, like walking into a big ol’ happy reunion of birds-of-a-feather-flock-together new and old friends swapping stories and sorting their lockers with the latest-greatest gear–happy, smiling duck hunters and their families everywhere. Meet some of them, hear who they are, how duck hunting inspired them to build better mouse traps, and what attracted them to Delta Waterfowl Expo from throughout the US and from even half-way across the world. Who knows–maybe you’ll even plan on joining us in Oklahoma City next year!
EP 497. Habitat Management Advantages–of All Natural
“We raise weeds, most folks try to grow corn,” says renowned wildlife biologist and Arkansas Waterfowler Hall of Fame, Jody Pagan, who among other things has so far laid hands on over a million acres private-lands waterfowl habitat during his career! Life-long Arkansa duck hunter Pagan talks about his background in hunting and habitat management before barreling full steam ahead into need-to-know advantages of natural habitat management. Building on previous waterfowl habitat management episode topics, we discuss habitat changes and shifting waterfowl distribution, favoring historic habitat ecosystems, working with nature instead of against it, matching management with soil types, fertilization and plant nutrition, managing properties with respect to surrounding properties and features, common mistakes and management pitfalls, waterfowl imprinting, holding water and managing water levels, disturbances, and much, much more. Landowners, managers, club members, and duck hunters in general–everyone will appreciate the insightful, hard-eared perspectives shared today. Listen and let us know your thoughts below.
EP 496. Argentina Couples Trip
Ducks, doves, decoying pigeons, perdiz, and optional golden dorado fishing–what’s not to love about this Argentina duck hunting combo if you’re an ardent, trigger-pulling hunter? On top of all that, an amazingly immersive, oftentimes belt-stretching, cultural experience starting in big-city Buenos Aires and going deep into rural Argentina. But is it really a fun vacation for non-hunting spouses? Following an action-packed week, hear what the hunters, non-hunters and hosts had to say about it. (Hint hint, this hunt sells out well in advance–and the couples trip ain’t growing in popularity on accident).
EP 495. PSA: New CDC Rules Affects Importing Your Retriever Back Into US!!
Public Service Announcement: Guides, outfitters, freelancers–everyone–traveling to hunt outside the United States need to be aware that new Center for Disease Control (CDC) rules change the requirements for importing your retriever back into the United States! Canada’s the biggie. If you are bringing a dog to the U.S., starting on August 1, 2024, there are new steps you need to take. These steps depend on where your dog has been in the past 6 months. Ira McCauley explains requirements (as of July 20, 2024) and what you need to know to prepare for the upcoming season.
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EP 494. Delta Waterfowl Expo, July 26-28, Baton Rouge
Late July in the Deep South, it’s hotter than hades and teal season is right around the corner. Where better to spend a fun weekend in the among your kind of people–duck hunters–than in the air conditioned halls of Baton Rouge’s Raising Cane’s River Event Center? The 3rd annual Delta Waterfowl Expo will be there this weekend and everybody that’s anybody in the duck hunting world will be there, too. Hear Delta Waterfowl’s Brad Heidel and I talk about happenings past and present and why the Delta Waterfowl Expo is the place to be the last weekend of July each year. See y’all there!
EP 493. Making Meaningful Wildlife Conservation Happen–The Big Picture
A since-forever duck hunter himself, Casey Stemler is a hook-and-bullet biologist that spent decades working coast-to-coast throughout the upper echelons of US Fish and Wildlife Service, making tremendous contributions to wildlife conservation and habitat management via applied research and policy. Stemler paints a big picture perspective of North American wildlife conservation, describing accomplishments and challenges for hunting and fishing, anti-hunting hurdles, the importance of science-based management, whipsawing effects of political administrations, how-it-really-works wildlife policy making, and much more.
EP 492. Arkansas Still “Duck Capital” ?!
Once upon a time, Stuttgart, Arkansas was the Rice and Duck Capital of the world, and–for sure–duck hunting traditions remain interwoven into Arkansas’s cultural identity. Especially green headed ducks. Mallards. But continental mallard populations have declined 50% during the last decade or so. What now? Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Wildlife Management Division Chief, Luke Naylor explains the then versus now of Arkansas duck hunting. The numbers are sobering. We discuss habitat, mallard harvests, waterfowl harvests relative to the Mississippi Flyway and entire United States, sex ratios, habitat conditions, social and economical values, changes, reasons for declines–and more. Times have changed, for sure, but you’ll have a darned hard time convincing me that Arkansas doesn’t still have claim to it’s lofty, long-standing title. Listen, decide for yourself, and let us know your thoughts.
EP 491. Land Man Ronnie Richardson
A hunter since way back when, Ronnie Richardson explains that it’s not about killing, so much as it’s about experiencing places. National Land Realty’s CEO, Richardson’s wealth of knowledge in recreational and investment properties was derived the old-fashioned way–by spending decades doing it well. And it’s been these two things–hunting and land–that’ve kept us in touch since high school. We catch up today, talking about people, places, and hunting land. Good stuff.
EP 489. Important Considerations: Old Dogs and Aging Retrievers
“Her hips are beautiful and knees look great, but at her age one of the biggest risk is blowing out her ACL like aging athletes do,” said veterinarian Dr. Bill Sullivan during Char Dawg’s recent visit. She’s only 6 years old. In today’s highly informative conversation, we cover need-to-know, aging-retriever topics quicker than a hard-charging lab through sheet water. Topics include retriever aging, conditioning, expectations versus reality, avian influenza, dietary needs, training versus hunting, major threats to aging retriever health (some you’d never think of) and much, much more. Seriously good info concerning your ride-or-die canine partner’s health on the back side of their way too brief career. Listen and let us know your thoughts.
EP 485. Habitat Management: Emergent Marsh Wetlands Magic (Part 2)
Now among the scarcest waterfowl habitat in the delta, it was emergent wetland-type habitats that sustained overwintering migratory in their heavily forested, ancestral Deep South wintering grounds. What exactly are emergent wetlands, and why are they so desirable when managing for duck habitat? Building on our previous discussion (EP 483.), wildlife biologist Kevin Nelms deftly slogs mid-thigh deep into this swampy topic, explaining emergent marsh productivity relative to other habitat types, important need-to-know water depths and timing, hemi-marsh concepts, plant communities, hands-off benefits, type invertebrates and their critical importance to both ducks and habitat managers. Under the right conditions, it’s almost as easy as just putting your boards in and walking away, and after hearing this conversation it’s possibly something worth considering.
As USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wildlife Biologist in the Mississippi Delta, Nelms has spent decades designing and developing numerous private-lands waterfowl impoundments. He’s worked extensively with private landowners throughout the region, improving desirable waterfowl habitat conditions, enhancing duck utilization, even putting together a handbook that’s considered a must-have staple for waterfowl habitat management (see related links below for your own PDF copy). Contact Kevin Nelms at kevin.nelms@USDA.gov.
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