Back in the early 1800s, the Mississippi Delta was a seething hardwood wilderness unrivaled by anything “until you reached the redwoods.” A Robert Eager Bobo and company plied their skills in that untamed environment, reputedly killing over 300 bears in a single year – plus a whole lot more. Who was Bobo, where’d he live? How’d they hunt bear back then? How famous were Bobo’s bear hounds? What weapon was preferred for bears in ancient canebrakes? Mississippi historian and outdoor writer, James McCafferty, and Ramsey Russell discuss these and other topics in today’s episode of Duck Season Somewhere podcast.


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Benelli USA Shotguns. Trust is earned. By the numbers, I’ve bagged 121 waterfowl subspecies bagged on 6 continents, 20 countries, 36 US states and growing. I spend up to 225 days per year chasing ducks, geese and swans worldwide, and I don’t use shotgun for the brand name or the cool factor. Y’all know me way better than that. I’ve shot, Benelli Shotguns for over two decades. I continue shooting Benelli shotguns for their simplicity, utter reliability and superior performance. Whether hunting near home or halfway across the world, that’s the stuff that matters.

Inukshuk Professional Dog Food Our beloved retrievers are high-performing athletes that live to recover downed birds regardless of conditions. That’s why Char Dawg is powered by Inukshuk. With up to 720 kcals/ cup, Inukshuk Professional Dog Food is the highest-energy, highest-quality dog food available. Highly digestible, calorie-dense formulas reduce meal size and waste. Loaded with essential omega fatty acids, Inuk-nuk keeps coats shining, joints moving, noses on point. Produced in New Brunswick, Canada, using only best-of-best ingredients, Inukshuk is sold directly to consumers. I’ll feed nothing but Inukshuk. It’s like rocket fuel. The proof is in Char Dawg’s performance.

MIGRA AMMUNITIONS struck the market like a lightning bolt with singular purpose. Boom, to create the most diverse, most efficient and best patterning steel shot loads available. And that’s exactly what they’ve done. They pioneered the original stack load pairing different shot sizes in every shell to put more pellets exactly where you need them on target. No gimmicks, no hype, just patented technology that flat out performs. Want cleaner kills, tighter patterns and duck killing confidence every single time you pull the trigger? Make the move to MIGRA.

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Tom Beckbe The Tom Beckbe lifestyle is timeless, harkening an American era that hunting gear lasted generations. Classic design and rugged materials withstand the elements. The Tensas Jacket is like the one my grandfather wore. Like the one I still wear. Because high-quality Tom Beckbe gear lasts. Forever. For the hunt.

Flashback Decoy by Duck Creek Decoy Works. It almost pains me to tell y’all about Duck Creek Decoy Work’s new Flashback Decoy because in  the words of Flashback Decoy inventor Tyler Baskfield, duck hunting gear really is “an arms race.” At my Mississippi camp, his flashback decoy has been a top-secret weapon among my personal bag of tricks. It behaves exactly like a feeding mallard, making slick-as-glass water roil to life. And now that my secret’s out I’ll tell y’all something else: I’ve got 3 of them.

Ducks Unlimited takes a continental, landscape approach to wetland conservation. Since 1937, DU has conserved almost 15 million acres of waterfowl habitat across North America. While DU works in all 50 states, the organization focuses its efforts and resources on the habitats most beneficial to waterfowl.

Alberta Professional Outfitters Society Alberta is where my global hunting journey began, remains a top destination. Each fall, it becomes a major staging area for North America’s waterfowl, offering abundant birds, vast habitats, and expert outfitters. Beyond waterfowl, Alberta boasts ten big game species and diverse upland birds. Plan your hunt of a lifetime at apost.ab.ca

Bow and Arrow Outdoors offers durable, weatherproof hunting apparel designed for kids. Their unique “Grow With You” feature ensures a comfortable fit through multiple seasons. Available in iconic camo patterns like Mossy Oak’s Shadow Grass Habitat, Country DNA, and Original Bottomland, their gear keeps young hunters warm, dry, and ready for adventure.  This is your go-to source from children’s hunting apparel.

onX Hunts In duck hunting, success hinges on being on the “X.” The onX Hunt app equips you with detailed land ownership maps, up-to-date satellite imagery, and advanced tools like 3D terrain analysis and trail camera integration, ensuring you’re always in the optimal spot. Whether navigating public lands or private properties, onX Hunt provides the insights needed for a fruitful hunt. Download the app at onxmaps.com and use code GETDUCKS20 for 20% off your membership!

SOUNDGEAR Phantom Blind is a game changer, custom fit, rechargeable hearing protection with wireless, wireless built-in Bluetooth technology. I can take calls, listen to music or even control settings without taking them out of my ears. More importantly, I hear better in the blind than I have in years. They’re lightweight, super comfortable and recharging case fits right in my blind bag or coat pocket. I’ve tried the high dollar competition. Sound Gear performs every bit as good for one heck of a lot less money. Listen folks, go to soundgear.com, check out the Phantoms and use promo code GetDucks20 to save 25%.

SITKA Gear  revolutionized technical hunting gear by fusing functional, next level design with performance oriented technologies like GORE-TEX, Windstopper, Optifade. It was a milestone moment for duck hunters. From early season sweat through late season ice, Sitka skin to shell system performs flawlessly. Key pieces of my personal system– legendary Delta Zip waders, a Delta weighting jacket and heavyweight hoodie that stay packed, gradient pants and hyper down jacket for when it gets sure enough cold.

It really is Duck Season Somewhere for 365 days. Ramsey Russell’s Duck Season Somewhere podcast is available anywhere you listen to podcasts. Please subscribe, rate and review Duck Season Somewhere podcast. Share your favorite episodes with friends. Business inquiries or comments contact Ramsey Russell at ramsey@getducks.com. And be sure to check out our new GetDucks Shop.  Connect with Ramsey Russell as he chases waterfowl hunting experiences worldwide year-round: Insta @ramseyrussellgetducks, YouTube @DuckSeasonSomewherePodcast,  Facebook @GetDucks