MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
EP 499. Little Riddle Avoiding the Real World at All Cos
Born and raised hunting and fishing in northeast Mississippi, John Blake Riddle has lived a charmed life. Avoiding “the real world” at all costs, he’s been a quail guide, duck guide, bird dog trainer to the rich and famous, shooting instructor–for starts–and has a successful crappie jig company called the Little Riddle. He’d rather hunt big water divers or crappie fish from the world’s fastest layout boat–and we’re talking 102 mph–that he describes in great detail. But here came the real world when, of all things, he made a Tik Tok post about a year ago, insta-famously becoming an overnight celebrity boasting many millions of views of him just naturally just being himself. What a crazy world we live in! Let us know your thoughts and comments below.
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.
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