MOJO’S Duck Season Somewhere Podcast
Are Wintering White-fronted Geese Declining in Louisiana?
Paul Link is Louisiana Department Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks’s North American Waterfowl Management Plan Coordinator. Number of mid-continental white-fronted geese overwintering in southwestern Louisiana has declined drastically in recent years, and Link’s real-time telemetry studies has enabled a greater understanding of Louisiana specklebellies’ life habits and migrational patterns. What is the scope of this research and what does it entail? What factors could be contributing to decline of overwintering white-fronted geese in southwestern Louisiana? How are concerned hunter-conservationists becoming involved? Link shares a wealth of interesting information with Ramsey Russell about a fascinating topic.
Josh Raggio, Functional Art
From the Raggio Custom Calls studio in Raymond, Mississippi, Josh Raggio tells Ramsey about his getting into duck call making, about his walking away from a comfortable job in corporate America to chase his dreams. What is it about Raggio’s shop that seems more like an art studio than a typical shop? What are some of the most interesting materials he’s used to make duck calls? Why is each of his duck calls individually unique? And why doesn’t he yet sell CNC versions of his duck calls in catalogs?
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Duck Hunting Pop Quiz
Bigwater, Ramsey and mutual friend, Ryan Bianchini, share a few pearly pops one afternoon. Bigwater dodged the covid-19 bullet again, and describes why the upcoming Mississippi duck season leaves him with something to be desired. Biggie springs a pop quiz on Ramsey, a question-and-answer session that bounces through places, species, and past times like a smacked bluebill skipping across water.
Laird Hamberlin, Safari Club International or SCI
While at Mississippi hunting camp, Laird Hamberlin, Safari Club International CEO meets with Ramsey Russell. Laird describes his introductions to hunting, who and what he remembers most from his earlier days. He and Ramsey discuss SCI’s history, the pivotal role SCI plays as the largest pro-hunting and pro-wildlife organization on earth, how SCI benefits hunters and wildlife. It’s an informal and insightful discussion that all hunters will appreciate.
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Wren and Ivy
BC Rogers of Wren & Ivy retraces his origins to duck hunting among family and friends in cypress-studded, Mississippi Delta oxbows. How did those endearing influences effect him as a hunter, husband, and father? And what role did they eventually play in his development of a successful outdoor product line that embraces both classic styling and modern functionality? In today’s episode, we learn that beneath layers of leather and waxed cotton is an enduring tribute to family.
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Different Times, Bill Brewster
Bill Brewster, former Oklahoma Congressman and retired lobbyist, meets with Ramsey Russell at SCI Convention. They discuss wildlife topics ranging from quail hunting back in the good old days to the future of hunting. Bill tells about the time he went to the White House before dawn with shotguns and hip boots to take a US President duck hunting. Those were different times, for sure.
Mississippi Gumbo
In its present incarnation, gumbo is a combination of past and present, a delicious mixture of foolproof goodness in a pot. What constitutes “real gumbo” varies widely among regions, zipcodes, camps – even family members. But it’s all good. Benny Marascalco was born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, a region that’s as unique unto itself as roux. In today’s episode of Duck Season Somewhere, he and Ramsey catch up in a conversation that winds like Old Man River through a host of regional topics including duck hunting, habitat, beaver trapping, finding ancient arrowheads, and finally, Benny’s long-time passion for making really great gumbo. Whether you’ve made gumbo for generations or just getting started, you’re sure to enjoy today’s conversation.
Related Links:
Benny’s Gumbo Pages (20-plus years ago)
Retrieving Freedom
At age 30, Trent Dirks is a relative newcomer to duck hunting. Trent tells Ramsey Russell about coping with PTSD after returning from active duty in Afghanistan. How did Retrieving Freedom service dog, Tracer, help him find life purpose and then lead him to waterfowl hunting 4 years ago? Scott Dewey professionally trained competitive retrievers for over a decade before co-founding Retrieving Freedom. What are these service dogs trained to do, and how are they trained? Ramsey, Trent and Scott share a great conversation at SCI convention, it’s an interesting episode you’ll not want to miss.
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Lee Kjos, BOSS Shotshells, STOKED!
Lee Kjos is STOKED about the new website launch and this season’s extensive, new BOSS Shotshells product line! Everyone is – and it’s downright contagious! Like a red, white and blue cyclone sweeping through a deserted mining town, he and Ramsey Russell plow full-steam-ahead through a range of duck hunting topics. Wondering whether the Canadian border will be open to hunters, the two plan a specklebelly hunt together just in case.
Related Links:
The Boys of Rio Salado: The Good Old Days of Waterfowling Still Exist
Just A Mallard? Think Again
Just a mallard? There are about 13 mallard-like subspecies worldwide to include Mallard, Mottled Duck, American Black Duck and Mexican Duck right here in the good ol’ USA. How similar are North American mallard-like species and what are their common origins? Is the American Black Duck really becoming extinct due to hybridization with mallards, and are hybrids easily distinguished? What’s the difference between “New World” and “Old World” mallards and, importantly, how might this distinction impact duck hunting as we know it? Dr. Philip Lavretsky is a wildlife geneticist from the University of Texas at El Paso. A seasoned duck hunter, he answers these questions and more. “Whether you’re a die-hard mallard purist or next-duck-over-the decoys hunter, an ardent species collector or duck nerd, this is likely one of the most thought provoking duck topics you’ve heard in a long while,” says Ramsey Russell.
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