FowlWeather Podcast
The FowlWeather Podcast provides science-based weather forecasts to help hunters plan successful hunts. It offers predictions tailored for hunting conditions. The podcast is available on platforms like Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.
Episodes
Ep. 145 – The Blind Leading the (Duck) Blind – PART 2 – Defending yourself against the same old fake news
Last episode we detailed the 4 types ducks hunters, the Homers, the Haters, the Conformists, and the Skeptics. Today we jump into defending yourself against the same old fake news, hen harvest matters, we can’t do anything about habitat, we can’t do anything about the weather, and the problem is that there are more hunters than ever before. We also have an update about the assault on duck habitat
Ep. 144 – The Blind Leading the (Duck) Blind – PART 1 – How we talk ducks
In a social context there are 4 types of duck hunters, which one are you? Do you believe everything you hear, the true Homer Duck Hunter (Homer Syndrome), are you at the other end of the spectrum as a Hater (Hater Syndrome), or do you fall in between, either just needing information to fit your narrative, the Conformist Duck Hunter (Conformist behavior), or are you the Skeptic Duck Hunter (Skeptic
Ep. 143 – BONUS EPISODE: BPOP INITIAL REACTION
The numbers are in and we have the initial reaction of DrMike coming at you today. What species are up, what species are down and where did it all go down. DrMikebreaks down the numbers with his initial reactions to the 2026 Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. What does it mean for your coming waterfowl season?
Ep. 142 – Duck Conservation is Driven by Science
Is anti-science the new norm? With all the ongoing anti-science chatter, we have definitely emboldened the conspiracy theorists. That has certainly bled over into the duck world. But we also just saw the conservation community come together and support science when the ducks are really in trouble; when the Prairie Pothole Region, the Duck Factory was in jeopardy; when duck habitat once again saw a
Ep. 141 – Effects of Ag Markets on Duck Habitat w/ Dr. Mark McConnell
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
SPECIAL ALERT – ARE THE DUCKS DONE FOR? w/ special guests Dr. Scott Stephens and Dr. Mike Brasher
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 al
Ep. 139 – The Coming Duck Season Through 3 Lenses, Why To Be Curious, Why To Be Concerned, and Why To Be Excited
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, an
Ep. 138 – Montana Grassland & Wetland Coordinator – Heather Harris
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 o
Ep. 137 – Saving Chesapeake Bay: The Birthplace of American Waterfowling
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
Ep. 136 – Toad Harbor Taxidermy w/ Matt Colesante
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
Ep. 135 – Godzilla El Niño Cometh?
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 migrat
Ep. 134 – East Coast Accomplishments w/ Ed Farley of North Carolina - Esse Quam Videri
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
Ep. 133 – Minnesota’s Living Lakes Program – Jake Chronister – Bring Back the Ducks
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 L
Ep. 132 – Time to Talk Turkey Tactics
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 y
Ep. 131 – The Do's and Don'ts of Waterfowl Habitat Management
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
Ep. 130 – John Devney – An SOS or SONWR – Save Our National Wildlife Refuges
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 do
Ep. 129 – What’s Habitat Got To Do With It? Everything!
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
Ep. 128 – Dr. Scott Stephens – Ducks Unlimited
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 prai
Ep. 127 – Duck Season 25-26 Recap: The season of the storm, the corn, and for some, the duck season that never happened
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
Ep. 126 – Chris Beckman and Forrest Carvajal Solve the Duck World’s Problems
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.
Ep. 125 – SPECIAL EDITION: WINTER STORM FERN
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 tod
Ep. 124 – Hatchie Coon Hunting and Fishing Club
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 mi
Ep. 123 – Senator John Kennedy’s Corn Letter to USFWS
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.
Ep. 122 – Kitchen Conversations: Merg Squad 3.0 Part 2
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.
Ep. 121 – The Corn Episode Part 2.2
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.
Ep. 120 – Kitchen Conversations: Merg Squad 3.0 Part 1
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.
Ep. 119 – The Corn Episode Part 2.1
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.
Ep. 118 – The Winter Solstice Episode: Does Reverse Migration Exist?
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.
Ep. 117 – Walt Rhodes of ShotSweeper:After the Hunt Make The Next Bite Safer
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 biolog
Ep. 116 – Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Works For The Ducks
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 Missi
Ep. 115 – Explaining the Mid-Season Lull
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.
Ep. 114 – Say It Ain’t Snow
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.
Ep. 113 – The HAY is IN the BARN: The 2nd Long-Term Migration Forecast
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
Ep. 112 – FowlWeather MIGRATION ALERT!
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.
Ep. 111 – Our First Long-Term Weather Severity Forecast of the Year
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.
Ep. 110 – The West is the Best: Washington State, Barker Ranch w/ Nick Hoffard
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.
Ep. 109 – Forrest Carvajal: From Beginner to Competition Calling
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.
Ep. 108 – Mixed Bag: Biologist Apathy, Drought Days, BBD, Corn Comment, and Declining Duck Hunters
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, com
Ep. 107 – Your 1st Duck Migration Forecast and WSI Reboot
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.
Ep. 106 – Eat What You Grow Because You Grow What You Sow
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
Ep. 105 – The First Day of Fall
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 Fowl
Ep. 104 – Talkin’ Ducks w/ Ramsey Russell
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
Ep. 103: Jacks Reef Life: A Country Boy Can Survive
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
Ep. 102 - BREAKING NEWS: BPOP Breakdown
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 mall
Ep. 101 – Your Cup of Tears: “Stop Saying Harvest Doesn’t Matter”
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
Ep. 100 – Read Em’ and Weep: The Fall and Winter Weather for 2025 – 2026
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 s
Ep. 99 – If it Sounds Like A Duck….w/ Chris Beckman of Beckman Game Calls
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.
Ep. 98 – Ethan Dittmer in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
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
Ep. 97 – Wetland Management Check-In w/ The Experts
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 ch
Ep. 96 – Fake News All Over Again: Reward Bands, Flooded Corn, and What Makes a Duck Migrate
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, makin
Ep. 95 – Dr. Matt Dyson in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
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
Ep. 94 – Adaptive Harvest Management: From Smoke Filled Rooms and Strong Voices to Application of Sound-Science
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 sea
Ep. 93 – The History of Duck Season Frameworks w/ Dr. Jim Dubovsky, retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Central Flyway Representative
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.
Ep. 92 – Dr. Abby Blake-Bradshaw in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
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
Ep. 91 – Tim Maron in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
We welcome Tim Maron to The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professional Series. Tim is a graduate of SUNY ESF where DrMike teaches and currently working with Winous Point Marsh Conservancy where he has assisted duck banding, duck blind brushing, various wetland and waterbird projects, and assisted as a punter during the hunting season. In the Fall, Tim will matriculate at The Ohio State Unive
Ep. 90 – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly -- Why are Waterfowl Population Trends So Different Among Species?
Most folks know the Clint Eastwood movie, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Well this is The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in population trends among species of waterfowl through time. Why do some species populations do well (The Good), why do some species cycle so strongly (The Bad), and why did some species populations tank and then never recover (The Ugly). First and foremost, we live on an amazin
Ep. 89 – Grant Rhodes in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
We welcome Grant Rhodes to The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professional Series. Grant is in Dr. Kevin Ringelman's avian ecology lab at the University of California Davis working collaboratively with the Delta Waterfowl Foundation. His research is focused on using drone-based methods to better understand waterfowl brood abundance and duckling survival in relation to habitat characterist
Ep. 88 – Apples and Oranges: Why Breeding Waterfowl Surveys Don’t Equate to Mid-Winter Survey Data
Breeding waterfowl surveys do not predict mid-winter and migration surveys. Non-breeding season surveys have very specific objectives. They should not be compared to breeding waterfowl survey numbers. DrMike details why the USFWS breeding waterfowl and mid-winter surveys are Apples and Oranges…they are not comparable. DrMike goes off again! “I don’t have ducks, but they predicted ducks”…TEARS. Boo
Ep. 87 – Cory Highway in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
We welcome Cory Highway to The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professional Series. Cory Highway is a Ph.D. student at Tennessee Tech University, working under the guidance of Dr. Bradley Cohen. His research centers on the ecology of wintering mallards in western Tennessee, with a particular focus on enhancing landscape connectivity for wintering waterfowl. A dedicated outdoorsman, Cory is pas
Ep. 86 – Jewelry with a Jingle, Why Band Waterfowl? The 2025 DataStream series
Among the absolute cornerstones of waterfowl conservation and management is banding data. While recovery rates of bands on passerines like chickadees might be 2% at best, because waterfowl are harvested species, we have an abundance of recovery data to use in population modeling for tracking migration. Why is banding data so vital to waterfowl management in North America? Find out today on The Fow
Ep. 85 – Hannah Sabatier in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
We welcome Hannah Sabatier, Hannah is our first Canadian born guest on the Young Waterfowl Professionals Series, hailing from Manitoba, she has been working on the prairie since 2018, but new to working with breeding waterfowl for the past 3 years.Hannah just completed her MS degree at UW Steven’s Point w Dr. Ben Sedinger on drone detection of waterfowl, and will be headed to work with Dr. Mitch W
Ep. 84 – The Harvest Information Program - The 2025 DataStream series
How does the USFWS and Canadian Wildlife Service track waterfowl harvest? How do they track the number of waterfowl hunters and their harvest? Today on The FowlWeather Podcast we cut through the BS to report the facts about how we keep track of duck harvest and hunter metrics. In response to a massive amount of misinformation coming across your wavelengths, The FowlWeather Podcast embarked on the
Ep. 83 – Dr. Ryan Askren of Five Oaks in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
We welcome Dr. Ryan Askren, Ryan works to promote science-based, waterfowl management on the landscape through Five Oaks’ research and education program near Stuttgart, AR. He is principal investigator on several mallard movement ecology projects and research related to bottomland hardwood regeneration with the goal of improving our understanding of waterfowl-habitat relationships to inform better
Ep. 82 – Is the BPOP wrong? The 2025 DataStream series
In response to a massive amount of misinformation coming across your wavelengths,The FowlWeather Podcast embarked on the 2025 DataStream Series. It can be attractive to find conspiracies that help explain what you observe as a duck hunter, or maybe you’ve even thought up some fun fake news yourself. The reality is that the long history of data used in waterfowl conservation and management in North
Ep. 81 - Catrina Terry in The FowlWeather Podcast Young Waterfowl Professionals Series
All of us in the profession of Waterfowl and Wetlands science, conservation, and management came from somewhere, these are the stories of young, passionate conservationists that have made their passion for the ducks into a career. Catrina Terry is the waterfowl research scientist for Ducks Unlimited’s Great Plains Region. Catrina started with DU in May 2021 to head up the undergraduate research pr
Ep. 80 – BONUS EPISODE: Turkey Tag Out Tips and Why Are Turkeys Tanking?
With turkey seasons open across the south and turkeys starting to strut their stuff all the way to Canada there is no better time to talk turkeys. What do the experts have in common? How do they tag out wherever they go? Also, we tackle a tough one, why are turkeys tanking including a hypothesis that my own lab at ESF has started to tackle? Is it habitat, is it predators, is it disease, is it weat
Ep. 79 – The History of The Mallard in North America Part 4: DOMESTIC THIS! Game-Farm Mallards w/ Dr. Phil Lavretsky and Dominic Hockenbury
All you ever wanted to know about king greenhead in this 4 part series about the History of the North American Mallard. In our final episode in this series, we talk to Dr. Phil Lavretsky and PhD student Dominic Hockenbury about ongoing mallard genetics research in North America. Are wild mallards doomed by game-farm genetics? What is the future of the wild North American mallard?
Ep. 78 – The History of The Mallard in North America Part 3: Instant Mallards, Just Add Water – The Ebb and Flow of Ole’ Greenhead
All you ever wanted to know about king greenhead in this 4 part series about the History of the North American Mallard. In Part 3, we hit the highlights about changes to the mallard population through time and our historical and current approach to harvest management. Why did we have restrictive seasons before but not today? We also talk turkeys, the breakup of the Polar Vortex, and nasty narrativ
Ep. 77 – The History of The Mallard in North America Part 2: Mallard Ecology and Habitat Management for the Ole’ Greenhead
All you ever wanted to know about king greenhead in this 4 part series about the History of the North American Mallard. In Part 2, we hit the highlights about what makes the greenhead population tick. What runs the mallard population? How does winter, spring, and summer make the mallard machine run? Dead hens don’t lay eggs, right? But fat hens do, and once those ducklings hatch, what do they need
Ep. 76 – The History of The Mallard in North America Part 1: Greenheads Galore
All you ever wanted to know about king greenhead in this 4 part series about the History of the North American Mallard. Species split into black ducks, mottled ducks, Mexican ducks, and the greenheaded mallard. With 14 mallard like ducks across the globe the greenheaded mallard is the most widespread. We start out with a quick update on the Polar Vortex for our weather nerds, clean up some mallard
Ep. 75 – La Niña What?: The Duck Season Recap
How did The FowlWeather Podcast long-term predictions about fall and winter weather affecting duck migration play out? Find out today on this jam packed episode of The FowlWeather Podcast. Do you nerd out about weather and duck migration? This is the episode for you!
Ep. 74 – Burn It All Down Episode Part 1: The Mis Information Rhetoric About Waterfowl Management Must End
The conspiracies, mis information, lack of judgement in comment, and tearing down of the waterfowl community must end. DrMike is fed up and digs through the latest and greatest of the idiocracy coming across your wave lengths about the state of waterfowl across North America…that and we dig into some of the latest mallard, redhead, and canvasback population models – is it guns or habitat that run
Ep. 73 – Where Are The Ducks?
Where the heck are the ducks? Well, there are less of them for sure. DrMike breaks down the polar plunge forecast, how food really matters, is your lease just junk, male to female ratios in the harvest and your duck migration forecast, all this week on The FowlWeather Podcast.
Ep. 72 – Kitchen Conversations – Reverse Migration: Florida Boys Hunt New York – Part 2
More of the Florida boys, tales of falling in the marsh, what happens in Florida on a cold front? Part 2 of the Floridians at the farm in Jack Reef.
Join us for Part 2 of this fun filled Kitchen Conversation, we learned so much about Florida from the Florida Boys. Among many things, mottled ducks and hybridization with game-farm mallards are on the menu in this episode of the Kitchen Conversation.
Ep. 71 – Duck Country USA: Everybody Lies
A naïve observer would think that everyone lies in the duck world. The biologists lie about numbers and locations of winter ducks, the hunters lie about not seeing ducks, the hunters lie about killing ducks, the non-profits lie about flooded corn to the north, the biologists lie about the number of ducks on the continent. Lies, Lies, Lies. DrMike cuts through the BS in another information packed e
Ep. 70 – Kitchen Conversations – Reverse Migration: Florida Boys Hunt New York – Part 1
Some Floridians do the reverse migration and come to the farm at Jacks Reef to talk ducks, gators, frozen iguanas, Mosquito Lagoon, and about a place called “the Zoo”.
Join us for another fun filled episode of the Kitchen Conversations, we learned so much about Florida duck hunting.
Ep. 69 – With Ducktober Well Behind Us, Cometh The Cold (AND THE DUCKS)!
It has been days since the October sun and the real cold is coming. Reflection on the duck season and thoughts on the cold to come….we also rebut comments about Episode 67 – Why Every State Needs a Draw Hunt For Ducks. All you did was justify the comment…that, what do ducks do when it gets really cold?….and the week duck migration forecast…. all on this and more in this episode of The FowlWeather
Ep. 68 – Kitchen Conversations – DrNick Masto and DrMike Debate Telemetry in a Truck Ride
DrMike and DrNick Masto debate telemetry while driving around the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. DrMike works to not give away all his hunting spots, but the main point of the discussion between DrMike and DrNick is to showcase how scientists debate and discuss controversial topics. At the end of the day, we are all friends and focused on making the information we use to manage waterfowl better. We m
Ep. 67 – Why Every State Needs A Draw Hunt For Ducks
Bring on the hate mail, but survey says….you need a draw hunt. DrMike details how surveys tell us what all hunters want, but what states are too afraid of the politics to pull the trigger on. Overcrowding, boat races, and swamp fights ta’ boot, gotta’ love a good ole duck hunt in the new age though, right?
Ep. 66 – A Christmas Warm Up? – Is Your Goose Cooked?
Merry Christmas from The FowlWeather Podcast Team! The weather maps are red, showing warmer than average through Christmas, but does that mean cold barrels? The FowlWeather Podcast Team dissects the weather in detail, forecasts into January, we talk hunting ducks in the heat, thoughts on cleaning and eating ducks, and your duck migration forecast, all this week on The FowlWeather Podcast.
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