MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
EP 474. Ducking Roadtrips and Red Ruddy Ducks
Heath Hoogerhyde hails from Michigan, but his quests for waterfowl hunting experiences take him far beyond his home state’s mitten-shaped borders. Through mostly self hunts, personal contacts and swap hunts, he’s amassed an enviably impressive collection of waterfowl species and experiences at a relatively young age. He describes how he got into duck hunting, how and why he began chasing waterfowl species experiences, quality versus quantity, favorite species and once-in-a-lifetime type trophies for most of us that now adorn his hunting room, the advantages and disadvantages of do-it-yourself hunting around the US. Almost entitled this episode “better luck
Related Links:
North American Waterfowl List https://www.getducks.com/north-american-waterfowl-species/
World Waterfowl List https://www.getducks.com/waterfowl-of-the-world/
EP 473. Bayou Beast Living
After enjoying plates of steaming-hot boudin and digging through fresh batches of made-from-hand cane duck and Oiu Caille (spotted goose) calls, long-time friend Dale Bordelon and I move to his front shop to catch up. He walks the walk of bygone South Louisiana times, his entire approach to duck hunting–and life–is that of his ancestors. We talk about food, new calls, and a growing collection of old pump-action killing sticks, him sharing sure-fire strategies for tricking wary, late-season gray ducks and leaving the swamp happy regardless. We also talk about the very last made-by-hand cypress dugout ever made in Louisiana and why it symbolizes a passing of the torch.
EP 472. Are We Killing Too Many Ducks? Better Understanding Duck Population Management
Regarded by many as the absolute go-to guy when it comes to empirically describing North America’s duck populations, Dr. Todd Arnold is at University of Minnesota, where his research emphasis includes developing waterfowl population models to guide management activities and predict future populations. “Are we killing too many ducks?” I asked repeatedly throughout our conversation. His thoughtful, plainly worded answers provide greater understanding of Adaptive Harvest Management—its inputs, assumptions, strengths, weaknesses—leading us to in-depth discussions about our beloved mallards and pintails, and whether science-based, hunting-related harvest affects sustainable duck populations.
EP 471. Alabama Rock Hunter
“Northern Alabama is the largest Easter egg hunt in the world,” says Shade Murrah in explaining why serious rock hounds are already leaving muddy tracks crack-of-dawn early when conditions are right. A long-time duck hunter from northern Alabama, Shade describes how the 2 hobbies go hand in hand and takes us on a fascinating, highly detailed dig into collecting indian arrowheads and other artifacts dating back to forever ago.
EP 470. Talking Arkansas Mallards with Dr. Doug Osborne
Dr. Doug Osborne from University of Arkansas Monticello peels off from his research lab to catch us up on duck banding projects and what’s being learned about Arkansas mallards. While most duck hunters cherish leg bands on their lanyards, they provide a wealth of invaluable information for monitoring and research. We get into when mallards arrive and depart from Arkansas, seasonal movements, how Arkansas mallards are genetically exceptional relative to the Mississippi Flyway population, possible reasons increasingly fewer hen mallards are being recovered than were banded, and much more.
EP 469. Beyond the Trigger Pulls in Nayarit Mexico
Wrapping up an epic 3-week stretch hunting ducks and doves in Nayarit, Mexico, Ramsey breaks from shooting white-winged doves to visit with his host, Pocho. Covering a lot of topics to include growing up, living and working in this part of Mexico, favorite eats, hunting areas, duck species, staff, and regional history goes directly to the heart of this authentic Mexico duck hunting destination–beyond the many trigger pulls.
More Info:
Mexico Duck Hunting Nayarit
https://www.getducks.com/photo-galleries/nayarit-mexico-duck-hunting-and-dove-hunting-combo/
EP 468. When Conservation Came to Mississippi
Veteran wildlife biologist Cathy Shropshire was integral to black bear reintroductions in Mississippi. As long-time coordinator of Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Program at Mississippi’s Museum of National Science, she oversaw cataloguing and studying the state’s rare and endangered species, plant and animal communities. But there were some mighty big shoes to fill. She learned about Fannye Cook, one of her predecessors that single-handedly ensured creation of a state agency now known as Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks–the last state to do so in the Lower 48–and more. Great story about how one lady changed conservation forever through sheer will and determination.
EP 467. Osage Basin–A Collaborative Approach to Habitat How-To
Trust me. Amid an increasingly shrinking, more highly fragmented landscape, one-plus-one habitat management equals 3, not 2. To create larger landscape-level habitat blocks to attract and hold overwintering waterfowl, Osage Basin Wetlands is forging a collaborative approach to educate landowners about the right plants in the right places. And more. Self-described “weed farmers,” founders Jeff Watt and Josh Cussamanio discuss habitat how-to, managing water for ducks, what they’ve learned about better habitat management, how the idea for habitat workshops originated, why it takes everyone within a watershed working together, and where they hope their idea goes from here.
EP 466. The NEW Nayarit Mexico Duck Hunt Combo
While putting boots on the ground last season, the authenticity, hunting quality, and surprisingly affordable all-inclusive rates of the new Nayarit Mexico duck hunting combo seemed impressive. But what would client-hunters think? Accepting weeks worth of reservations, we were fixin’ to find out! Hunters from all walks of life and coast to coast, ranging from experienced travelers to first-timers, describe their off-the-beaten-path, south-of-the-border Nayarit Mexico duck and dove hunting adventure. Whether just wondering what hunting is like beyond your own backyard, or thinking about chasing ducks further south one day, you’ll enjoy these honest conversations.
Related Links:
Nayarit Mexico Duck Hunting Combo
https://www.getducks.com/photo-galleries/nayarit-mexico-duck-hunting-and-dove-hunting-combo/
EP 465. US “Duck Factory” Productivity — How Bad is It?
It’s all about supply and demand, huh? So in the US, are we killing too many ducks in past seasons? Or producing too few? Discussing continental “duck factory” production is complex, but Ducks Unlimited biologists Scott Stephens and Johannes Walker have the numbers–how many fewer continental mallards exist? What factors influence the US and Canadian prairies’ ability to produce ducks? How does US habitat aceage compare to Canada? How dry is it, and how might this impact waterfowl productivity for years to come? How many acres nesting cover have been lost, and what do global commodity prices have to do with it? Because the simplest answer is usually best, do not miss this sobering episode.
Related Links:
2019 Wetlands Status and Trends Report provides scientific estimates of wetland area in the conterminous United States as well as change in area between 2009 and 2019. The report also discusses drivers of wetland change and recommendations to reduce future wetland loss.
Wetland loss increased by more than 50% since the previous study. 221,000 acres of wetlands were lost, primarily to uplands through drainage and fill. Wetland loss disproportionately affected vegetated wetlands, resulting in the loss of 670,000 acres of these wetlands. Salt marsh experienced the largest net percent reduction of any wetland category (2% or -70,000 acres) while freshwater forested experienced the largest loss by area. (-426,000 acres) Our Nation’s remaining wetlands are being transformed from vegetated wetlands, like salt marsh and swamp, to non-vegetated wetlands, like ponds, mudflats, and sand bars.
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