Podcast
Ducks Unlimited Podcast
Hosted by Ducks Unlimited Inc. · EN
Ducks Unlimited Podcast is a constant discussion of all things waterfowl; from in-depth hunting tips and tactics, to waterfowl biology, research, science, and habitat updates. The DU Podcast is the go-to resource for waterfowl hunters and conservationists. Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands conservation.
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Episodes
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RELOADED EP223 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 11: AHM – Alternative Hypotheses and Optimal Decisions
2d ago00:35:34Tap to summarizeIs duck harvest mortality additive or compensatory? Is duck production strongly or weakly density dependent? Which habitat features most influence duck production? And how are optimal duck harvest regulations selected in the face of this imperfect knowledge? The DU Podcast is again thankful to be joined by Dr. Jim Nichols, retired senior scientist and Adaptive Harvest Management expert, to dig deeper into the workings of AHM and how annual duck regulations are selected. SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
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Seeing Beyond the Duck: Conservation at Scale in the Great Lakes & Atlantic Region (Ep 773)
4d ago00:41:54Tap to summarizeThe Great Lakes and Atlantic Region may be Ducks Unlimited’s largest and most diverse — and it’s where conservation relevance is helping drive growth in habitat delivery.In this episode, DU podcast host and Senior Waterfowl Scientist, Dr. Mike Brasher, continues our trip around the regions with Jamie Rader, Ducks Unlimited's Director of Operations for the Great Lakes & Atlantic Region. Spanning 21 states from Maine to Minnesota, Jamie oversees one of DU’s fastest‑growing conservation teams and shares what it takes to deliver wetland conservation at scale in landscapes shaped by people, agriculture, and development.Jamie reflects on his path from West Tennessee duck hunts to graduate work in Hawaii, mentorship under legendary waterfowlers, and leadership across nearly every DU region before taking the helm in Ann Arbor. From there, the discussion turns to breeding conditions, migration, and the innovative partnerships driving record conservation growth across the region.In this episode, listeners will hear about:Jamie Rader’s career path through Ducks Unlimited and field biologyMentorship, duck hunting culture, and lessons learned in the blindThe scope of the Great Lakes & Atlantic Region (“the five M’s”)Explosive growth in staff, funding, and conservation delivery since 2020Spring breeding conditions across the Great Lakes, Midwest, and NortheastFlooding, snowfall, and late‑season wetland replenishmentMajor conservation programs including H2Ohio and Chesapeake Bay initiativesWater quality funding as a pathway to waterfowl habitat gainsWorking lands conservation with farmers and producersSoil health, wetland restoration, and nutrient reduction strategiesExpanding DU’s relevance beyond traditional waterfowl audiences“Seeing beyond the duck” in coastal, urban, and population‑dense regionsWhy relevance, partnerships, and innovation are essential to future successThis episode highlights how Ducks Unlimited continues to adapt — delivering habitat for waterfowl while meeting the broader environmental needs of people and communities across the Great Lakes & Atlantic Region.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
Transcribe →People Still Matter: Conservation Policy, Advocacy & the Power of Relationships (Ep 772)
6d ago01:06:48Tap to summarizeConservation isn’t just about habitat — it’s about people, relationships, and showing up when decisions are being made.In this episode, host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with Bill Cooksey, Partnerships Program Leader for the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, to talk about a career spent at the intersection of conservation, policy, industry, and grassroots advocacy. Bill brings decades of experience from Avery Outdoors, National Wildlife Federation, and now TWF, offering a unique perspective on how conservation decisions actually get made — and why personal relationships still matter more than emails, posts, or press releases.The conversation spans conservation advocacy, wildlife policy, changes in the hunting community, misinformation, and how sportsmen can still shape the future if they’re willing to engage directly.In this episode, listeners will hear about:Bill Cooksey’s path through the outdoor industry, conservation NGOs, and policyThe role of state wildlife federations and how they differ from national organizationsWhy conservation advocacy is ultimately about relationships and trust“Pick up the damn phone” — why real conversations still move the needleHow sportsmen influence policy at the state and federal levelsProtecting hunting rights through proactive engagementA landmark Tennessee case involving duck hunters and municipal restrictionsWhy misinformation spreads faster than science — and how to respond productivelyChanges in how hunters get information and engage with conservationThe decline of CRP, habitat loss, and consequences for duck populationsThe chronic underfunding of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceWhy engagement — not social media outrage — creates real impactPractical advice for contacting legislators and making your voice heardReasons for optimism about the future of waterfowl conservationThis episode is a reminder that conservation success still depends on individuals willing to speak up, build relationships, and advocate for the resources they care about.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
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RELOADED EP220 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 10: AHM – Champions, Objectives, and Regulations
1w ago00:39:39Tap to summarizeDr. Jim Nichols rejoins the DU Podcast to share stories about early champions of Adaptive Harvest Management and how they promoted it as a better way of setting harvest regulations, with unexpected support resulting from unusual political maneuverings in the mid-90s. Dr. Nicholas and Dr. Mike Brasher also begin discussing key components of AHM, including harvest management objectives and regulatory packages, with a goal of demystifying some of the “black box” of AHM. SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
Transcribe →The Duck Factory: Grasslands, Easements & Why Permanence Matters (Ep 771)
2w ago00:46:27Tap to summarizeIf North America’s duck populations are the engine of waterfowl hunting, the Prairie Pothole Region is its factory—and keeping that factory running requires permanence, partnerships, and people on the land.In this episode, DU Senior Waterfowl Scientist and host, Dr. Mike Brasher, continues the regional operations series with Dr. Johann Walker, Director of Operations for the Great Plains Region, based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Johann brings more than two decades of experience working in the heart of the prairie duck factory and offers a candid, detailed look at habitat conditions, conservation delivery, and the role of permanent easements in sustaining duck populations and rural communities.The conversation covers current wetland conditions across the Dakotas, migration timing, and how improved spring moisture may influence breeding distribution this year. From there, it dives deep into DU’s most important conservation tool in the prairies: voluntary grassland and wetland easements.In this episode, listeners will hear about:Spring habitat conditions across the Prairie Pothole RegionWet years vs. dry years and what Johann has seen over 22 years on the prairiesHow migration timing interacts with available wetland conditionsWhy permanent grassland and wetland easements are critical for the future of duck productionHow the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Small Wetlands Acquisition Program worksWhy easements are voluntary, minimally restrictive, and landowner‑drivenHow Duck Stamp dollars directly fund prairie easementsThreats to conservation easements and what DU is doing to defend them Why permanence matters for both wildlife and working ranchesThe rancher’s perspective on protecting grassland for future generationsPhilanthropic support accelerating large‑scale habitat protectionAdditional DU programs restoring grasslands, wetlands, and migration habitatExpanding public access while supporting private landownersWhy protecting prairies today matters for hunters tomorrowThis episode offers one of the clearest explanations yet of how Ducks Unlimited protects the prairie duck factory—and how every duck stamp buyer plays a role in that success.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
Transcribe →3x World Champion: Goose Calling, Competition & Craft with Chance Wadsworth (Ep 770)
2w ago00:30:39Tap to summarizeBecoming a world champion doesn’t happen by accident — it happens through discipline, repetition, and an unrelenting desire to improve.In this episode, host Matt Harrison sits down with Chance Wadsworth, a three‑time undisputed World Live Goose Calling Champion and founder of Quill Creek Calls, to talk about competition calling, practice mentality, design philosophy, and how elite calling translates to real‑world hunting success.Chance shares his journey from growing up in the outdoors to discovering contest calling, the mindset required to win at the highest level, and why greatness comes down to doing the fundamentals over and over — even when it’s not fun.In this episode, listeners will hear about:How Chance first got into waterfowl hunting and goose callingDiscovering contest calling and chasing a competitive edgeWhat separates world champions from everyone elseWhy “desire and repetition” matter more than talentHow Chance approached practice early in his careerUsing focused, intentional practice to refine skillsThe mental process of stepping onto the world stageWhy defending a title is harder than winning the firstWhat judges listen for in elite live‑goose routinesThe importance of cadence, flow, and realismCommon mistakes beginners make in goose callingAccepting failure and building a strong calling foundationStarting a call company and designing the Quill Creek Mark ITranslating contest calling into real‑world traffic huntsStaying motivated after winning at the highest levelWhether you’re a competitive caller, a die‑hard goose hunter, or simply someone who appreciates mastery of a craft, this episode offers insight into what it takes to truly separate yourself from the field.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
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RELOADED EP219 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 9: An Intro to Adaptive Harvest Management
2w ago00:45:18Tap to summarizeConcern for waterfowl populations and frustration with the status quo of duck harvest management in the late 80s stimulated new ideas for setting annual regulations and learning about their effects. Dr. Jim Nichols, retired senior scientist from Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and one of the godfathers of Adaptive Harvest Management, joins the DU Podcast to introduce waterfowl harvest dynamics, adaptive management, and the regulatory atmosphere that ultimately produced AHM.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
Transcribe →Water, Nature & Community: Inside DU’s Evolving Partnership with Dow (Ep 769)
3w ago00:44:34Tap to summarizeDucks Unlimited and Dow have partnered for decades to deliver real conservation outcomes — but this relationship is now entering a new and innovative phase.In this episode, host Dr. Jerad Henson is joined by Dr. Amy Beasley, Sustainability Director for Water and Nature at Dow, and Dr. Ellen Herbert, Ducks Unlimited’s Sustainability Director, to explore how a long‑standing corporate conservation partnership has expanded beyond traditional project delivery into a strategic, science‑driven collaboration. The discussion traces the 70‑year history between Dow and Ducks Unlimited, highlights milestone conservation achievements, and then digs into how the two organizations are now working together to help Dow evaluate land assets, water and nature risks, and community connections in ways that benefit wildlife, the environment, and long‑term business resilience.In this episode, listeners will hear about:Dow’s journey into sustainability and why water and nature are inseparableA 70‑year partnership between Dow and Ducks UnlimitedEarly landmark conservation investments tied to the North American Waterfowl Management PlanWetland restoration projects in Michigan’s Shiawassee BasinCanadian Prairie Pothole and parklands forage programs benefiting ranchers, ducks, and water securityHow DU’s science and geospatial expertise supports corporate land‑use decisionsThe shift from project delivery to strategic conservation planningWhy watersheds, habitat, and community access matter to both conservation and industryReal‑world examples, including Dow’s Carrollton, Kentucky facilityMeasuring impact, building a business case for conservation, and scaling successHow private industry can reduce water risk while improving habitat and community outcomesThis episode offers a rare, transparent look at how conservation organizations and global companies can work together — not just to restore habitat, but to create long‑term resilience for people, wildlife, and communities.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
Transcribe →Southern Region Conservation: Wetlands, Water Control & the Future of Duck Habitat (Ep 768)
3w ago00:43:44Tap to summarizeDucks Unlimited’s work in the Southern United States is complex, diverse, and more critical than ever.In this episode, host Dr. Mike Brasher continues the regional conservation series with Jerry Holden, Senior Director of Operations for Ducks Unlimited’s Southern Region. Jerry oversees DU’s conservation delivery across the southern portions of the Mississippi, Central, and Atlantic Flyways, managing one of the organization’s largest and most diverse conservation portfolios.The conversation spans from duck hunting conditions and flyway dynamics to large‑scale engineering, coastal resilience, private‑lands conservation, and some of the most significant land protection efforts in DU’s history.In this episode, listeners will hear about:The 2025–26 waterfowl season across the Southern Region and why outcomes varied so widely“Spatial discontinuity” and how migratory birds create winners and losers each seasonThe scope and purpose of DU’s Southern Region field offices across the Gulf Coast and MAVWhy engineering is central to DU’s coastal resilience work in Texas, Louisiana, and the Atlantic CoastHow Ducks Unlimited partners with NRCS to implement Farm Bill conservation programsClearing up misconceptions about DU’s work on private landThe growing role of conservation easements and permanent land protectionA historic donated conservation easement in coastal South CarolinaDU’s leadership role in restoring Arkansas’s greentree reservoir systemsBalancing public expectations with long‑term forest and wetland sustainabilityWhy DU continues expanding the public land base across the Southern landscapeThis episode offers an inside look at how DU delivers conservation at scale—often in places where water, land use, and wildlife interests intersect most intensely—and why that work matters now more than ever.SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
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RELOADED EP217 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 8: Adapting to Change, 1970s to the 1990s
3w ago01:04:24Tap to summarizeThe ideas of “fair” and “equitable” in harvest distribution have been a challenging undercurrent for regulatory decisions over the years. Dale Humburg and Ken Babcock join the DU Podcast one last time to discuss zones and splits, “shortstopping” in geese, the frustration it caused, and how managers tried to adapt. Also discussed are lead poisoning, non-toxic shot regulations, and the birth of Adaptive Harvest Management, each of which brought their own need for adaptation. SPONSORS:Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks UnlimitedWhether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.
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