Ep. 104 Season Outlook 2025–26: Refuge Managers on Water, Habitat & Access

Jeff sits down with a panel of California wildlife refuge managers to lay out what hunters can expect this season—water deliveries, flood-up timelines, food on the landscape, and how weather and pressure will shape bird movement from the opener through the late split.What you’ll hearWater & habitat status across key refuges: unit-by-unit flood-ups, moist-soil production, and sanctuary plans to hold birds after the first volleysAccess updates: road work, blind repairs, closed-zone adjustments, and any changes to check-station flow or shoot timesSpecies timing: teal on the front end, mallards and wigeon mid-season, specks/snows and divers as winter buildsWeather game plans: how managers react to storms, fog, and hard freezes—and how hunters can adapt to keep birds finishingAfter-season priorities: projects queued up for spring/summer that pay off next fall🦆 If this helps you plan your hunts, hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share the episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.