MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
Africa Always Wins, South Africa Duck Hunting Zululand
The Blood River forms the headwaters of wetlands hunted in Kwazulu-Natal Province South Africa. Clayton Comins grew up in the South Africa wingshooting business. He and Ramsey discuss Zululand’s habitats, unique species, waterfowl management, hunting styles, people and extra special considerations.
Real Texas BBQ – Salt, Pepper and Time
Two-time World Champion Texas BBQ Pitmaster Grant Pinkerton explains real Texas BBQ to Ramsey Russell, setting him straight once and for all on why beef is indeed real BBQ. Pinkerton has been duck hunting for as long as he can remember, cooked his first steak in grade school, began smoking brisket before he could drive, and smokes what Ramsey describes as the bar-none very best BBQ he’s ever eaten. When and how did Pinkerton get into the BBQ business? How’d Pinkerton become a world champion pitmaster and what other accolades has he received? What defines Texas BBQ? When did brisket become so popular? How much does Pinkerton’s BBQ turn out per day?! What are some of his favorite waterfowl recipes? How does he prepare a brisket for the pit? This episode will leave your mouth watering. Postscript: “Yes. Beef ribs are real BBQ. Think beef-butter with a bark. Best I’ve ever had,” says Ramsey.
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BS’ing with Joe Briscoe
Nevermind thermometer readings soaring beyond 90 degrees, it’s blue-winged teal season and Ramsey Russell’s 2021 North American Waterfowl Tour is underway when he swings through Joe Briscoe’s JB Custom Calls shop to pick up some new teal calls. But there’s no such thing as quick visits between these 2 buddies. Their conversation runs the gamut from teal hunting to moonshine, from Texas blues music to custom guitars to Briscoe’s newest duck call invention that’ll have gray duck back-flipping into the decoys.
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A Thriving South Africa Game Management Industry
Most of South Africa can be described similarly to parts of South Texas: sprawling, brush-covered properties teaming with game animals managed under endless miles of high-fence. While watching a sporty dove and rock pigeon shoot, professional game manager Weynand De Jager describes the arduous undertakings required in reconciling herd numbers with habitat availability, and an enormous industry of supplying venison and game animal by-products worldwide. What do game managers like Weynand do? What’s cull hunting, how’s it differ from sport hunting, how’s it implemented and by whom? Why does Ramsey claim he might have “found his calling if this GetDucks thing doesn’t work out”? How heavily is this industry regulated, how quickly are game processed, meat wagons filled? What becomes of all that meat, what animal parts are used? How important is game farming to wildlife conservation in South Africa? Chalk this one up to really cool stuff learned on long drives between hunts, took me way out of my feather-covered wheelhouse and was too good not to share.
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Finding Comfort in Numbers, Then versus Now
Ramsey Russell joins Texas waterfowl hunting historian and author Rob Sawyer for a fast-paced, Texas-style blue-winged teal hunt at the beautiful Spread Oaks Ranch in coastal Matagorda County. After an incredible breakfast that included platter-sized country ham steaks smoked on-site, their conversation starts briefly with blue-winged teal hunting and habitat management before channeling through and infusing past and present mindsets of American duck hunting. Has it always been a numbers game or is there a little something more to it? Check out Robert Sawyer’s landmark Texas waterfowl history books using the link below.
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Oyster Bayou Observations, Gene Campbell
Following an epic blue-winged teal hunt in Chambers County, Texas, Ramsey visits with Mr. Gene Campbell at Oyster Bayou Hunting Club. Gene’s observations are based on more than a half-century of duck hunting and managing habitat in this fabled region. While good deal of their discussion pivots around habitat management practices (both moist-soil and submerged aquatics)–and y’all will want to hear this– other topics include blue-winged teal migrational status, avian influenza, black-bellied and fulvous whistling ducks, bag limits, sanctuary and more. A legendary figure in Southeast Texas waterfowling, Gene’s insights are invaluably timely.
Wetlands Management for Waterfowl: Fall Considerations
Waterfowl season is fast approaching the Deep South and preparing for the upcoming season is perfect timing to consider next year’s habitat management. Natural Resources Conservation Services Wildlife Biologist, Kevin Nelms, joins Ramsey Russell for another highly informative Wetlands Management for Waterfowl discussion. Fall disturbances, how and when to flood, invertebrates and other seasonal topics are talked about. Scroll back to hear parts 1-3 of this ongoing series of you’ve not yet heard them. A link to Wetlands Management for Waterfowl Handbook (PDF) is also attached.
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Heart and Hands Hospitality in South Africa
Rianna Bösman manages the 7-room Highveld Splendour Boutique Hotel in South Africa, treating guests to her amazing South Africa hospitality. GetDucks hunters sure love this stop along their South Africa hunting tour! What notable South Africa dishes does she prepare guests? Where’d she learn to cook and how’d she get into the hospitality business? What does she mean by having her heart and hands in the right place? Any secrets for dealing with so many guests from around the world? What’s South Africa aperitif concludes happy hour? Proper South Africa duck hunting experiences go beyond the duck blind. Here’s a small taste.
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Talking September Teal in Tiger Country
It’s teal season! Alligator sauce piquant–and all kinds of other great stuff–are stinking the pot, the fish fryer and grill are going, there’s a bouray game underway, LSU is on TV, cajun music is playing. Laughs and drinks galore. Just a typcial Saturday night in South Louisiana, but it’s September so we’ve all been blue-winged teal hunting. The 2021 North American Waterfowl Tour is underway and Ramsey visits with friends John Hebert, Deneshia Larson, Brent Sawyer, Chris Meche and Dale Bordelon to talk about everything under the sun they’re been talking about in the blind the past few days! Fun episode with friendships that were literally forged while blue-winged teal hunting here.
Blue-winged Teal Hunting Southwest Louisiana
Born and raised in a small farming community in southwest Louisiana, Damon Hebert of Hebert’s Custom Decoy Rigs, lives less than a mile from his family home. He moved due to recent storm damage. How’d he start duck hunting and hunt does he most remember with his dad? What’s it like hunting in this region, what habitat types are hunted, what are prevalent species? How are crawfish farmed, what’s the relation to rice farming? Why’d he swap to 28-gauge? Why did he patent his version of the Texas decoy rig? How does he catch bullfrogs–and how many did he say he catches during a season?! The 2021 North American Waterfowl Tour officially kicks off in southwest Louisiana!
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