MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
EP 371. Full Steam Ahead: Making Ducks or Geese Happen
Like many others, Nick Johnson began waterfowl hunting with his dad, soon becoming the most skilled caller in the blind. And like many others, as he grew older he wanted to experience more of North America’s waterfowling than was available in his home state. Determined to create opportunities for himself, he hatched a plan. Now a guide for Prairie Limits Outfitters, he’s also developed the instructional Goose Tec mobile app and has his own signature call among the Pacific Calls’ lineup. Whether ducks or geese–or both–Nick offers advice for getting out there and making do-it-yourself hunts anywhere in happen. He and Ramsey offer another pro-tip, too, but don’t believe everything you hear or see on the internet!
EP 370. Giving Wildlife a Voice: A Retired Federal Game Warden Viewpoint
“Wildlife dies without a sound; the only voice is yours,” says retired US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Rich Grosz in reference to soul-shaping life lessons gleaned as a child while patrolling with his dad, who was himself a larger-than-life federal game warden. Knowing in grade school he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, Grosz’s federal law enforcement career ran the thin green line gamut–wildlife inspector, refuge law enforcement, special agent. Even in retirement, his passion for wildlife, for waterfowl, and for conservation continues. His candid, matter-of-fact perspective offers meaningful insight into United States wildlife law enforcement at home and abroad.
EP 369. Prairie Update Is Food for Thought
Delta Waterfowl’s John Devney and Ramsey run through a flurry of interesting waterfowl-related topics. Now-versus-then habitat conditions, pintail productivity, an ever-changing landscape, predator communities, and much more are covered. Boom or bust? It’s all about more ducks, right?
EP 368. Human Footprint
Evolutionary biologist turned film producer Nate Dappen describes “Human Footprint,” an upcoming 6-part documentary, as a profound exploration of how humans shape the planet and what it reveals about our collective identity. As the documentary delves into human impact, it raises questions about the role of waterfowl hunting in today’s world and how the experience of duck hunting may influence non-hunting viewers. These intriguing topics were intimately explored while filming the “Top Predator” episode during a duck hunt. It’s a reminder that regardless of our personal involvement in hunting, humanity undeniably leaves a significant mark on the natural world. Prepare yourself for an exceptionally thought-provoking podcast episode. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for this documentary series; you won’t want to miss it.
EP 366. Manitoba’s Controversial New Foreign Resident Waterfowl Regs–Tip of the Iceberg?
Whether hunting as a freelancer hunter or with an outfitter, Manitoba’s new waterfowl hunting regulations affects all foreign resident hunters intending to hunt waterfowl there. The recent announcement that foreign residents are now required to draw for 7-day waterfowl hunting permits exploded in controversy, with fingers pointing blame and casting suspicions in many directions. But the reasoning behind these controversial new regulations are, in fact, pretty darned simple. Birdtail Waterfowl’s Paul Conchatre and Manitoba Wildlife Federation’s Carley Deacon and Chris Heald were among proponents of these new rules. Explaining from several perspectives the all-too-familiar circumstances resulting in this new draw system, you about have to wonder what other changes loom for North America waterfowling.
EP 364. Training Retrievers–and Their Owners
From a Mississippi hilltop overlooking Gator Point Kennel’s incredible technical pond and proven training grounds, Ramsey and long-time retriever trainer Alan Sandifer visit on the tailgate while resurrected-from-the-ashes Char Dawg pants quietly at their feet. Sandifer tells about how and why he got into professional training, describing what makes good retrievers, how retrievers all have different personalities, how best to prepare pups for training, why his training game differs from our hunting game, and why transitioning from trainer to owner is sometimes problematic. Retrievers are integral to waterfowl hunting, and this conversation focuses on reasonable expectations and responsibilities of both owners and those they entrust in training their best friend.
EP 363. Great Lakes Declining Mallard Mystery
From a 1.1 million peak in the late-1990s, the Great Lakes mallard population has declined to about 700 thousand. Meanwhile, there’s been increased genetic infusion of game farm mallards that don’t necessarily migrate as do wild-originated mallards. That could be a good thing for Great Lakes hunters, right? Or not? As part of a major study to determine why mallard populations are declining in the US, Brad Luukonen is completing his dissertation and University of Michigan. Luukonen sheds light on this perplexing mallard problem, discussing how it may effect hunting in the Great Lakes region and further down the flyway, contributing and confounding factors, and future possible management implications. Plenty good food for thought no matter where in the US your chase greenheads!
What Are Mallards Populations Falling in the Great Lakes Region?
EP 362. Wild New World
In his legendary book Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals & People in America, Dan Flores spins an incredible, historically-based yarn about North America’s amazing wildlife resource from inception until now. Today we discuss unimaginably abundant fur, feather and flesh commodities the likes of which humanity had never before–nor since–ever witnessed, how and why that resource was so quickly depleted as compared to preceding centuries, and how the same capitalistic ideals applied then have now become driving forces for rewilding America. It’s a truly incredible story you absolutely don’t want to miss.
Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals & People in America by Dan Flores.
EP 361. Practicing Lost Art, Living Old Ways
Urban sprawl exists a half-hour drive away. But Greg Harkins’s lifestyle is embodied by hand-crafting wooden rockers from personally selected, start-to-finish milled red oaks from the swamp behind his Madison County, Mississippi, home. They’re intended to last generations. And do. His shop is a half-century-old pole barn rife with antlers, chickens, raw lumber and various other natural materials necessary for plying this lost art. A natural storyteller, he fondly remembers hunting with his dad, the old-timer that passed down mid-1800s techniques, old ways, presidential customers, and life lessons that persist in a nowadays otherwise disposable society.
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