Duck Summit Recap

Episode 502 of the Midwest Flyways Podcast podcast, hosted by Midwest Flyways, titled "Duck Summit Recap" was published on April 16, 2026 and runs 62 minutes.

April 16, 2026 ·62m · Midwest Flyways Podcast

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Joey Vassallo and Cal Ness break down one of the biggest waterfowl conversations Minnesota has seen in years: the Minnesota Duck Summit. Held in Nicollet near Swan Lake, the summit brought together more than 300 hunters, conservationists, biologists, and agency officials to ask a simple question: where have all the ducks gone? Joey and Cal dive into the biggest topics from the event, including declining mallard numbers, the push to reduce the hen mallard limit from two birds to one, concerns over early September seasons, hunting pressure, and whether Minnesota’s current regulations are doing more harm than good. The guys also discuss the growing belief among hunters that ducks are being pressured off public water too early and too often. At the summit, 78% of attendees said hunting pressure is pushing ducks off public land, while 93% supported creating or expanding duck refuges. Many hunters also supported later openers, ending September duck hunting, and earlier daily closing times to give birds more rest. Are Minnesota’s duck problems being caused by habitat loss, modern agriculture, predators, hunting pressure, or all of the above? Joey and Cal sort through the arguments, the science, and what changes could shape the future of duck hunting in Minnesota. Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

Episode Description

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Joey Vassallo and Cal Ness break down one of the biggest waterfowl conversations Minnesota has seen in years: the Minnesota Duck Summit.

Held in Nicollet near Swan Lake, the summit brought together more than 300 hunters, conservationists, biologists, and agency officials to ask a simple question: where have all the ducks gone? Joey and Cal dive into the biggest topics from the event, including declining mallard numbers, the push to reduce the hen mallard limit from two birds to one, concerns over early September seasons, hunting pressure, and whether Minnesota’s current regulations are doing more harm than good.

The guys also discuss the growing belief among hunters that ducks are being pressured off public water too early and too often. At the summit, 78% of attendees said hunting pressure is pushing ducks off public land, while 93% supported creating or expanding duck refuges. Many hunters also supported later openers, ending September duck hunting, and earlier daily closing times to give birds more rest.

Are Minnesota’s duck problems being caused by habitat loss, modern agriculture, predators, hunting pressure, or all of the above? Joey and Cal sort through the arguments, the science, and what changes could shape the future of duck hunting in Minnesota.

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP