FowlWeather Podcast

Agriculture is the number one reason for wetland and grassland loss in North America, but it is also a necessity, feeding the planet is a necessity and farm policy also plays a huge role in keeping duck habitat and the ducks with us. Today we visit with Dr. Mark McConnell of Mississippi State University’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture. Mark is the James C. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Upland Gamebird Ecology and Bryan Endowment for Bobwhite Restoration. His work may center around upland gamebird conservation, but his breadth of knowledge about ag policy affecting conservation for all wildlife is his real gift. Dr. McConnell is well-known for his understanding of precision agriculture and trade-offs and compliments between healthy farms and healthy wildlife populations. Join us today to learn more about how ag policy is affecting grassland and wetlands habitat across duck country USA and beyond.

My friends across duck country, I ask you one question, are the duck done for? Are you willing to let duck populations fade into oblivion. We talk about the weather and how it affects duck migration a-lot on the FowlWeather Podcast, but we know one thing for sure, if ducks are never produced, it does not matter what the weather does, ducks that don’t hatch can’t come south each duck season.  We also know that ducks need wetlands to produce more ducks. But here we are, the USFWS for some reason isadvancing a proposal that could reduce the 1.7M acres of wetland easements that they hold. And remember these are wetland easements paid for with your Duck Stamp dollars, and as far as we can see, they may be gone in the coming years, wetlands possibly gone forever. With over half of the prairie pothole wetlands already gone and duck numbers struggling, we don’t want to lose more acres. As noted on the FowlWeather social media posts and on this Monday mornings episode, we were working to get waterfowl experts on to dissect and help us learn about what is happening with FWS prairie pothole wetland easements and we aimed high because we have both Dr. Scott Stephens, Senior Director of Conservation Strategy and Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist with us tonight. Both of Ducks Unlimited, these men are passionate duck hunter-conservationists and we are honored to have them on the FowlWeather Podcast to help us learn about this important topic. The way I like to state it when people ask about this potential FWS policy change…… the FowlWeatherPodcast position and what we tell them is this “this all could be worse than bad”.

In this episode we are going to talk to you through 3 lenses, why you should be curious, why you should be concerned, and why you should be excited about the coming duck season. Among the general themes you will hear about breeding ground conditions, the coming El Nino, policy surrounding waterfowl conservation and management, more local state policies about draw systems and habitat management, and the state of waterfowl education and science in US.

Montana is a destination for many, but it doesn’t run on its own. Heather Harris is the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks as Grassland & Wetland Coordinator for the state. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Trent University, that’s in Canada, and her M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Mississippi State University. She grew up in Northern Ontario where she spent most of her time outdoors. She spends a good portion of her spare time hunting turkey, waterfowl, upland birds and big game and training her bird dog Riggs. She also happens to be DrMike’s sister-in-law so this one is fun! Join us for another great interview on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Chesapeake Bay is the birthplace of American waterfowling. The bounty…the abundant fish, shellfish, and waterfowl made being a waterman a reality, but the bounty of the bay and its watershed, also made it a place to live and thrive. As populations grew in the Chesapeake watershed so did the pollution and other environmental problems; waterfowl are still abundant in the bay, but are the hay days of the bay gone forever? Can we bring it back to its glory days? Today we meet with two great guys from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, that know a lot about the Chesapeake Grayson Haynes, Government Affairs Advisor, and Jim Kauffman, Pennsylvania Field Representative and Wildlife Health Coordinator.

Situated just off the North Shore of Oneida Lake sits Toad Harbor Taxidermy. We meet with avid duck hunter and taxidermist Matt Colesante. Matt focuses on realism in his mounts, separating his great mounts from just good mounts of others. We sit down w/ Matt, his father Rip, and son Connor, 3 generations of taxidermist and duck hunters, in the shop to talk waterfowl taxidermy, tricks and tips for getting a good mount to the taxidermist, and his evolution from the love of ducks to a premier taxidermist of the region.

Some are calling it a Godzilla El Niño, a Super El Niño of monster proportions, but will it all unfold as told? In 2015, NASA scientists coined the informal term Godzilla El Niño to describe a weather pattern that massively distorts the jet stream and causes extreme global temperatures. DrMike dives deep into what the coming El Niño means for the summer growing season, duck production, duck migration, and duck hunting conditions. Plus, a turkey season bust, farm news, and planting and hunting plans for the 2026 season.

Coastal North Carolina is rich in waterfowling history and Ed Farley, hailing from the Matamuskeet region exemplifies the NC state motto Esse Quam Videri, the motto in Latin reads as genuine, honest, and disciplined, rather than just appearing to be so. Ed Farley, Manager of Conservation Programs for VA, NC, SC, and GA grew up with wetlands and ducks in his blood and followed that tradition into a career that benefits all the great people across duck country USA. Today we join Ed to hear his story of waterfowl wonderment and growing into an impactful hunter-conservationist.

Minnesota has seen substantial challenges in keeping wetlands and grass on the landscape for ducks. With this, duck numbers and duck hunter numbers have plummeted. The Living Lake Initiative restores and protects wetlands and shallow lakes in Minnesota and Iowa, focusing on enhancing water quality and habitat for waterfowl in the Prairie Pothole Region. We meet with Jake Chronister of the Living Lakes Initiative to learn more.

Time to talk turkey tactics. Like duck hunting the calling, the interaction with the bird is what makes turkey hunting more than just shooting. Today, with turkey season closing in the south, going at mid-latitudes, and still yet to open in many places in the north, DrMike talks turkey killin’ tactics. Whether you didn’t get your birds and your season is closed, you are in mid-battle with a bird you just can’t kill, or you are dreaming of those misty woods, just getting green to hear your first gobble of the season, this is your episode. Join us for turkey time tactics.

Mistakes are easy to make, but with lessons learned Ryan DuLaney brings a wealth of information to the FowlWeather Podcast. What are the most common mistakes in waterfowl habitat management and what are the easiest wins to get ducks in front of your blind. With diverse experience managing private lands, Ryan rejoins us to talk lower Miss water woes, failing farms under a crushing economy, mallard decline in the Delta, but most of all – growing season tips for duck hunting success.

Policy wizard, John Devney of Delta Waterfowl joins the FowlWeather Podcast for a review of financial woes of our USFWS National Wildlife Refuge system. He defined delayed infrastructure and why our refuges aren’t keeping up. What can be done? Not much if you don’t have funds to keep up with critical wetland infrastructure, don’t have the staff necessary to properly manage duck habitat, and you don’t have access to enough places to hunt.

With ducks moving back north it is time to start thinking about habitat and habitat management for the coming growing season. DrMike hits the hot button habitat decision-matrix for the coming season.  What conditions to create? What foods to grow? and how it all goes down on public v. private lands. Plus, we dive into some prairie conditions updates and what the coming spring and summer will bring for breeding ducks.

We meet with Dr. Scott Stephens, Senior Director of Conservation Strategies with Ducks Unlimited. A staunch advocate for wetlands conservation, Scott details the accomplishments made and the challenges ahead to helping sustain ducks and duck habitat across duck country in the USA and Canada. A long-time waterfowler, we dig deep into the weeds with Dr. Stephens about what is needed to make the prairies and boreal tick and keep producing ducks.

For some it was the season of the storm, for others the best season they can remember, others the worst season ever, the winter that has not yet happened. The 3rd year of the FowlWeather Podcast brought us a welcome calming of the fake news by other podcasts, drought but ducks for many, and the corn conversation came to a head. We also recognized once again that weather plays a major role in duck migration timing and the later-season Duck Shuffle, plus that telemetry doesn’t tell us everything. Today we dissect these hot topics for the year and analyze how well long-term duck migration forecast played out throughout Duck Country. 

In the boot room of camp, Chris Beckman (Beckman Game Calls) and Forrest Carvajal (Pond Creek Duck Calls) talk finding honey holes, social media monsters and heros, BPOP changes, weather, flooded corn, and more, plus your last duck migration forecast of the season – did the ducks move? Find out, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Winter storm Fern bears down on duck country USA and the FowlWeather Podcast team is here with a Special Edition: Weather Alert episode to help your hunt through the storm. Will it makes duck migrate farther south or just a big Duck Shuffle? Will the cold break before the end of January? Who gets the snow and who gets the ice, where are the ducks now and where will they be by late January, all today on this mid-week storm update.

The FowlWeather Podcast team travels to Arkansas to hunt with Chris Beckman of Beckman Game Calls. Hatchie Coon is a hunt club with history. A sit-down w DrMikeand Chris Beckman at Hatchie Coon Hunting and Fishing Club drills deep down into what makes duck country USA the place to be. There is more to be positive about in duck country USA than social media shows. All that and our exclusive duck migration forecast, all this week with video on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Well-intentioned but missing the mark, we dissect Senator John Kennedy’s Corn Letter to the USFWS. That, a thank you to the FowlWeather Podcast listenership, and your duck migration forecast, all this week on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Join us in Part 2, of Merg Squad 3.0, Bard, Frack and DrMike are joined by deer enthusiast (and duck hunter) Jack...roast duck, goose sausage, and bourbon fueled conversation...maybe more deer than ducks, but always great conversation with good friends.

The Corn Episode Part 2.2 digs deep into the legalities of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and what constitutes baiting when hunting migratory birds with Mike Oropallo lawyer and Partner with Barclay Damon LLP.

We couldn’t do a season without getting together with the Merg Squad. A long, long time ago, just like that movie – in Part 1of Merg Squad 3.0. Bard, Frack, Jack, and DrMike dig into the 2025 drought and ducks, a good “merg” year, but an odd weather year…and snow goose harvest and management.

The Corn Episode Part 2.1 is another exploration into the role of corn in the world of ducks. Joined by Heath Hagy we dig into a pile of corn lingo, habitat management, and what corn means on the landscape for ducks.

The darkest days of the year. Does reverse migration exist?, DrMike says nope. Listen in to get the skinny on the science. That and your migration forecast for the week, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Walt Rhodes joins the FowlWeather Podcast with his invention – ShotSweeper – after the hunt make the next bite safer. An innovative tool that detects non-toxic shot in meat. The first tool to detect non-toxic shot in gamebirds. Everyone has been there, don’t make another trip to the dentist after your next duck dinner. Join us today to hear about ShotSweeper and Walt’s wonderful career as a biologist.

The TRCP mission is to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish. Haven’t heard of them? Well you will today, from habitat work in the lower Mississippi Valley, to the pothole country where our ducks are raised, to helping provide greater access to hunters and anglers, TRCP’s Director of Private Lands Conservation, Aaron Field, and their Director for the Center of Fisheries and Mississippi River Program, Chris Maculuso join us from Minnesota and Louisiana to detail all their great work. That exclusive interview and your duck migration forecast, all this week on the FowlWeather Podcast.

The mid-season lull in duck action is a known problem and common conversation across duck country USA. What causes it? And how to combat the lull. That, a Kitchen Conversation teaser with the Merg Squad and our exclusive migration forecast, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

The COLD is coming and the FowlWeather Podcast team dives into the numbers to review how snow and ice cover have changed throughout the flyways. We also have MALLARDS ON THE MOVE, where will they peak this week. Also our migration forecast, and some listener Q &A, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

The Polar Vortex is primed to unleash the coldest we’ve seen in decades during November and December, but will it all come to be? The atmosphere is primed and DrMike details the howling winds, squalls, Alberta Clippers, noreaster’s, the Jacks Reef Lake Effect, and all that makes ducks move south. Wishing y’all the best of the season and predicting it all the FowlWeather way. Your second instalment of the Long-Term Forecast and your duck migration forecast for the coming week, all today and more on the FowlWeather Podcast.

FowlWeather MIGRATION ALERT…we do not report ducks that have already shown up, we predict migration and provide FowlWeather MIGRATION ALERTS. MIGRATION ALERTS before that migration has even happened. This week, we also cover photoperiod vs. weather duck migration, how ducks are not bucks, and so much more, plus, your only duck migration forecast available. All this week on the FowlWeather Podcast.

What will this fall and winter season bring? Will it be ducky? Or are we in another lull until January, find out today in the first of two Long-term Weather Severity Forecasts! DrMike digs deep into data that predicts or winter weather, that and your weekly duck migration forecast.

Nick Hoffard is the General Manager of The Barker Ranch. A world class 2,000+ acre duck hunting club located in West Richland in Washington State. Tasked with wetland and hunt management of the ranch, Nick brings a wealth of expertise to the discussion w DrMike, today on the FowlWeather Podcast. That and your duck migration forecast, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Public lands duck hunter, call maker, competition caller, and host of the Off The X podcast, we are joined by Forrest Carvajal. Learn what it takes to fool the ducks, but mostly, we talk ducks, duck hunting, and being positive about all that is duck country. That and your duck migration forecast, all this week on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Ducks don’t sit still and neither should you, do you need to chase them to the ends of the Earth?, goodness no, but when the time in right, strike and do it with strategy, do it with precision, do it the FowlWeather Podcast way. Hunt the ducks, hot from the north. But also sit some days out because fighting every day makes no sense, fight when the fight is right. That, your migration forecast, comment on hunting success/or not, public lands biologist apathy for duck hunting, the northeast drought continues, the corn comment continues, all that and more, today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

The long awaited first duck migration forecast of the season, we also recap the Weather Severity Index and why it works so well, plus crop harvest is in full swing, will the dry continue in the east?, and some secrets to finding the duck honey hole, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Today we cover “Use what you shoot 101”, the hurricane season meltdown, an October duck weather forecast, busy, busy episode; nearly on the eve of the 1st of October Orion greets us and the dawn, winter is on its way. We tackle it all head-on in an age when waterfowl should be respected, revered, and honored more than ever. Join us, for thoughts on duck country USA, and respect for all the ole hen mallards out there…all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Released on the first day of Fall, hints of Fall weather in the air and, in this episode, DrMike breaks down the migration, harvest numbers across the country, keeping faith in duck hunting, and a high-pressure system dubbed The Death Ridge. Hurricane season remains quiet, teal seasons are here, but numbers are down for many, how are folks fairing across the country for teal. All today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

It is Duck Season Somewhere. We are joined by Ramsey Russell. Quickly becoming a story telling legend. We dive deep with Ramsey about his beginnings, his take on the status of duck hunting in North America, and what’s his next adventure. We cover the culture of duck hunting, 3 pintail limit, are ducks doomed?, has the migration changed?, and what happens if we go to a 30-day season?. Join us for a fun, fact-filled episode of the FowlWeather Podcast.

Jacks Reef isn’t even an incorporated township, sitting along an old section of the Seneca River, now cut off by an addition to the Erie Canal and sitting in swamp country, USA, Jacks Reef is a long-gone entity from times past when mule drawn barges and brothels were the theme of the day. Nowadays, DrMike calls Jacks Reef home, in this episode DrMike takes on the critics, those calling him out for being a NY kid. In this fun, packed, story telling episode, we also further dissect the BPOP survey and AHM reports along with a tropical update, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

The Waterfowl Status Report is out; later than normal but still in time for the flyway meetings. Did the FowlWeather Podcast predict it correctly?, was the Mallard BPOP estimate down 10%? and May Pond by another 15% this year? In this BONUS episode DrMike breaks down the BPOP. Are we in a restrictive season in the MS flyway for 2026? Did the eastern Mallard population stay high enough for a 4 mallard bag per day for 2026 in the Atlantic Flyway? Find out today in this important BONUS, BREAKING NEWS episode of the FowlWeather Podcast.  

Harvest doesn’t matter, but it does. DrMike explains why harvest doesn’t matter, but also how it can and does for some species. 10 things you can do to save the ducks. We respond to your hate mail. We reflect on the past 2 years of the FowlWeather Podcast. We compare and contrast the North American and Europeans models of waterfowl conservation and hunting, plus a big announcement from the Beckman Game Calls – FowlWeather Podcast collaboration. Hint – it involves duck calls – all today, on the FowlWeather Podcast.

Read em’ and Weep – Facts Matter. The FowlWeather Podcast: The forecast to your next successful hunt! What does the duck season for Fall and Winter 2025-2026 have in store for us? Will the ducks arrive on schedule like the good ole’ days or will it be another year of swatting mosquitoes and empty skies. It is pretty early but there are some tell tale signs showing up in the atmosphere, so DrMike sticks his neck out again to let us know what weather factors we should consider for our 25/26 duck season.

Chris Beckman is a dedicated call maker from Louisiana. His claim-to-fame is his unique designs in his flagship call, The Edison, and making the first adjustable cut-down duck call, The Groundbreaker. We meet w/ Chris to talk about the evolution of the cut down and how his advancements in duck call design make his calls, really, really, really sound like a duck.

We welcome Ethan Dittmer to The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professional Series. Ethan Dittmer is a PhD student at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln working with Dr. Mark Vrtiska, Dr. Jay VonBank, and Tom Bidrowski on the Southeast Kansas Mallard GPS Project. This research focuses on the wintering ecology of mallards in the region, specifically their use of public lands, sanctuary areas, and various landcover types, as well as their broader movement patterns within and beyond Southeast Kansas. Ethan pursued a career in waterfowl research driven by his passion for duck hunting on public land and is committed to conducting applied research that supports contemporary waterfowl management and conservation.

Now is the time my friends to check in on your wetlands, growing season check-ins are critically important for intervention. Water conditions have been challenging for many this year with flooding of woods and croplands throughout the southeast and rains forcing late-drawdowns in the upper Midwest and into the northeastern US. Now more than ever is the time to take the time for a growing season check-in for problem plants and infrastructure issues. DrMike gives a priority checklist for your wetland and upcoming season, all this week on the FowlWeather Podcast.

The misinformation machine is at it again and blurting out words from the many corners of the coffee shop. Blurting out words without even trying. In this episode we detail how reward banding really works and how those data are used, the legals on flooded corn, and we once again revisit the idea of calendar vs. weather migrators. It’s all so easy, but y’all keep the conspiracy train running, making it all so much more difficult than it should be. A taste about how duck population models works and we also hit on the first hints of a La Nina, that and more, all today on the FowlWeather Podcast.

We welcome Dr. Matt Dyson to The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professional Series. Matt is currently a Research Scientist with the Institute of Waterfowl and Wetlands Research of Ducks Unlimited Canada where he evaluates the behavioural and demographic responses of waterfowl to landscape change to improve conservation delivery. Matt joined IWWR in 2021. Matt’s doctoral research investigated the nesting ecology of ducks in the boreal forest and his Masters work was on the nesting and brood ecology of wood ducks in southern Ontario. Matt’s current research continues to advance our understanding of ducks through the evaluation and testing of management assumptions for important breeding areas, including the prairies and boreal. Matt’s work is also focused on identifying research needs and designing studies to fill key knowledge gaps in our understanding of waterfowl ecology.

Adaptive Harvest Management or AHM for setting waterfowl harvest regulations was formalized in 1995. It not only provides an objective decision-making tool, but it also helps improve our understanding of drivers of duck populations by testing competing models through time. Listen in today as DrMike details how AHM changed the duckseason setting process, plus a prairie drought update, hurricane season, and more.

Dr. Jim Dubovsky joins the FowlWeather Podcast to detail changes in the federal frameworks through time. DrJim details the history and evolution of seasons setting frameworks.

We welcome Dr. Blake-Bradshaw (Abby) to The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professional Series. Abby is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Forbes Biological Station located in Havana, IL where she conducts applied research across a variety of topics to inform management decisions. Current projects include studying how waterfowl respond to spatial and temporal changes in hunting intensity and evaluating temporal patterns in calling behavior of the federally listed Eastern black rail to inform future monitoring efforts for this cryptic wetland species. Abbycompleted her PhD at Tennessee Tech in Dr. Brad Cohen’s lab where she studied the influence of sanctuary disturbance, weather, and landscape characteristics on waterfowl harvest opportunity in western Tennessee. Abby also has 17 scientific publications ranging from effects of extreme weather on duck migration, how game-farm genetics affects spring migration in mallards, and marshbird use of wetlands. When not conducting waterfowl and waterbird research, she enjoys spending times outdoors birding, hunting, and fishing, playing video games, watching horror movies, and caring for her numerous house plants.