MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
“I Punched a Polar Bear”
There’s no telling what surprising topic the next duck blind conversation will entail. Today’s episode is proof. Before becoming a full-time Canadian hunting and fishing guide, Jason Hamilton was a marine mammal biologist in remote reaches of the Canadian Arctic. What was it like growing up in Canada, how’d he get started hunting, and what inspired him to such a career path? What’s it like working in that part of the world and what critters did he work? Why did they have to handle process polar bears within 20 minutes? What made this line of work dangerous, what were some memorable close calls and when did he decide to pursue other career avenues? Life is full of surprises, especially in a country as big as Canada.
Texas Blue Goose Legends
It began on the Garwood Prairie. The famous Blue Goose Hunting Club was brainchild of colorfully legendary waterfowl hunting guide Marvin Tyler and spawned Texas’s once world-famous snow goose hunting industry. Mike Lanier was only 13 years-old when his dad dropped him off at the Blue Goose Hunting Club to work. In this special episode of Duck Season Somewhere, he describes hunting snow geese back in the good ol’ days before ATVs, e-callers, full-body decoys, telling stories about the salty pioneers that made it happen, why it became famous and what became of it. Like a collared blue goose fluttering slow-motion over old-school rags at only 15 yards, this is an episode you’ll definitely not want to miss!
All In in Manitoba
Paul Conchâtre owns and operates Birdtail Waterfowl in Manitoba Canada, served as President of Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association for 10 years, and remains extremely active in Manitoba tourism. When he says, “I’m all in,” what’s he mean? How’d he get started, what were his influences? How does he distinguish his program as very best? What advice does he offer to hunters shopping for hunts, and to those considering guide or outfitting careers? How important is hunting tourism to Canada? What was the pandemic’s economic impact to Canada–and how are returning hunters behaving differently? Fantastic episode that digs into what it’s like to be truly “all in” as a guide or outfitter. Or anything else really.
How Waterfowl Hunting Brought Her Full Circle
Alberta, Canada born-and-raised, Kerrap Nisbet is a young, professional wildlife biologist that’s been tagging snakes near major hibernaculars. Having developed a profound passion for ducks pursuant to volunteer banding activities, she explains how her recent duck hunting introductions brought her full circle as a biologist and, importantly, as a human being. How and why did she pursue a career in wildlife biology and how’d she find renewed life purpose handling ducks? How’d duck hunting complete Kerra’s circle, why is it important to her to understand both sides of the coin? What was her first duck hunting experience like, what compelled her to go, what areas will she try to improve? How’d it influence her career and personal life? What advice does she have for dads, and for women considering a wildlife career or hunting? Kerra is an amazing person, the kind of people that waterfowl hunting and management truly needs, living proof that when one comes to a fork in the road, they should definitely take it!
Alberta Mixed Bag Kings
Known to their buddies as “the mixed bag kings,” Jake Dahl and Spencer Podgurski have forsaken traditional big game hunting pursuits most popular among Canadian hunters for feathered fowl. They’re a couple of young, savvy heavy-hitters that put in the miles and time scouting, playing for keeps while hunting. Snow geese are their passion. What was it like growing up in Canada, how many of their classmates hunted waterfowl, and what lead them to waterfowl over big game? What’s the power hour? What is it about “high risk, big reward” snow geese that excites them most? How long is their season? What do they do with all of those birds, anyways? How does hunting in Canada differ from most parts of the United States, and how’s it becoming increasingly similar? Like watching snow geese back-flipping into the decoys eye-ball high to your layout blind, this episode offers excellent perspective of what it’s like to be a genuine waterfowl hunter north of the border.
A Tekton in Saskatchewan
Following several days fun waterfowl hunting together in Saskatchewan, Canada, Ramsey Russell meets with Joey D’Amico of Tekton Game Calls, who recently quit the 9-to-5 grind to chase his dreams. Where’d D’Amico grow up, how’s hunting Canadian Prairies contrast with hunting South Carolina’s Sparkleberry Swamp? What lead him to pursue his dreams full-time? Where’s the name Tekton originate and what’s it’s importance to D’Amico? Like walking to the truck with a strap-full of ducks swaying on your shoulder, this episode leaves you feeling good.
Help Wanted Solving Texas’s “Dusky Duck” Dilemma
Your help is urgently needed. The “dusky duck” in Texas as experienced precipitous population declines in the mottled duck’s traditional range, and management alternatives are being considered. Here’s a chance for you the listener to possibly participate meaningfully in real-world waterfowl management and help avert catastrophe. Waterfowl Geneticist, Dr. Phillip Lavretsky, joins Ramsey Russell to discuss. They recap North American mallard-like genetics discussed in a previous episode (Just a Mallard? Think Again) and status of African Yellow-billed Duck and African Black Duck tissue samples/ biometric data recently collected by Ramsey. Lavretsky then explains what’s possibly going on with Texas’s mottled ducks, why he’s been contacted by TDWFP officials to perform genetic sampling and how you can specifically assist. We duck hunters are without doubt the most passionate waterfowl conservationists on earth. Here’s your chance to possibly become hands-on and involved in real waterfowl management.
Related Links:
Donate to Lavretsky Labs Conservation Research
Previous Episode: Just a Mallard? Think Again.
The Surprising Genetics of American Black Ducks and Mallards
UTEP Professor, Smithsonian Researchers Make Genetic Discoveries Related to North American Ducks
Genuine South Africa Duck Hunting Experiences
From formidable spur-winged geese to driven guineafowl bolting from cover like shot cannonballs plus there’s unique scenery, hunting styles, food and culture. The South Africa duck hunting combo is an incredible adventure that many guests rank foremost among lifetime hunts. But why? Today, GetDucks guests describe their South Africa duck hunting experiences, recalling their most memorable moments, comparing it to other destinations, and telling about why they’d even consider coming back again. Concluding our special 8-part South Africa series, this episode perfectly hems it up in guests’ own words.
Related Topics:
Saskatchewan Snow Goose Hunting: Canadian Perspectives
Juvenile gray birds are stretching their wings for the first time, usually diving into the decoys with reckless abandon, and even those savvy adult white birds seem to have forgotten the preceding hunting season, making autumn a great time for hunting snow geese in the Land of Living Skies. Ramsey Russell joins long-time friend Nova Scotian Brian Mason and his merry band of “newfies” for their annual week-long pilgrimage specifically targeting snow geese. Their round-table discussion covers the variety of topics discussed while cleaning white birds on the tailgate and a whole lot more. Do Canadian and American snow goose hunting mindsets differ? Decide for yourself. Like white bird flocks spinning overhead while getting sorted, this episode covers a lot of ground, offering great perspective.
Texas Blue-winged Teal Hunting with Steve Biggers
Ramsey Russell concludes the Texas blue-winged teal hunting portion of the 2021 North American Waterfowl Tour with a visit to long-time friend and USHuntList outfitter Steve Biggers’s new lodge near El Campo Texas. Following a couple memorable morning hunts, they visit briefly about blue-winged teal, the migration, habitat, Steve’s new lodge and retrievers.
Related Links:
Best Texas Blue-winged Teal Hunts
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