Ducks Unlimited Podcast

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Maddox Batson on Music, Duck Hunting & Staying True to Yourself (Ep 804) Sep 01, 2026

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For rising country artist Maddox Batson, the outdoors isn't just a hobby. It's where he goes to slow down, recharge, and reconnect with what matters most.

Recorded live from DUX 2026, hosts Jimbo Robinson & Matt Harrison sit down with Maddox Batson for a conversation about family, music, hunting, and navigating success at a young age.

Maddox shares how his grandfather first introduced him to the outdoors, why duck hunting quickly became an obsession, and how hunting remains an important escape from the demands of a rapidly growing music career. The discussion also covers songwriting, social media, Nashville, mentorship, and the values that continue to keep him grounded as his platform continues to grow.

Along the way, Maddox talks about the influence of his parents, his appreciation for mentors like Lainey Wilson and Devlin "Duck" Hodges, and why being kind to others is one of the most important lessons he hopes to pass on to the next generation.

Topics Covered

Growing up hunting with his grandfather
How duck hunting became a passion
Moving to Nashville and pursuing music
The role social media played in his career
Songwriting and creative inspiration
Mentors in the music and outdoor industries
Why hunting helps him disconnect and recharge
Advice for young people navigating life and success

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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RELOADED EP303: History Series- Nash Buckingham & Waterfowlers For America Aug 29, 2026

Show notes

Dan Thiel, Executive Secretary of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. and Chief Operating Officer of Wetlands America Trust, joins podcast host, Katie Burke, in this part of a multiple part series discussing the history and formation of Ducks Unlimited. In this episode the pair talk about Nash Buckingham, the famous sportsman and writer, and the important role he played in the founding of our organization.

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Million-Dollar Decoys, Rare Duck Calls & the Hunt for History (Ep 803) Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

What makes a wooden decoy worth more than a million dollars?

Recorded live at DUX 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee, host Katie Burke sits down with Jon Deeter of Guyette & Deeter, one of the most respected names in the world of sporting collectibles, decoys, and duck calls.

The conversation explores the historic sale of the Jim and Diane Cook Collection, which produced the first two decoys in history to sell for more than $1 million at auction. Jon shares behind-the-scenes stories from the landmark sales, discusses the passion that drives serious collectors, and explains why collecting is about much more than prices and records.

The discussion also covers the thrill of discovery, including a newly found Victor Glodo duck call that surfaced just days before DUX, proving that important pieces of waterfowling history are still waiting to be found. Along the way, Katie and Jon discuss collector culture, first decoys, waterfowl heritage, and why the friendships built through collecting matter just as much as the artifacts themselves.

Topics Covered

The record-breaking Jim and Diane Cook Collection auctions
The first decoys to surpass $1 million at auction
Why collectors remember their first decoy forever
The history and significance of Victor Glodo duck calls
Waterfowl heritage and sporting collectibles
Decoy collecting culture and community
Hidden collections still waiting to be discovered
Why collecting is about more than money

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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Why Ducks Unlimited de Mexico Matters to Every Duck Hunter (Ep 802) Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

Birds don’t recognize borders. Conservation shouldn't either.

Host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with longtime Ducks Unlimited volunteer leaders Rogers Hoyt and Bill Ansell, along with DU Interim Chief Conservation Officer Craig LeSchack, to discuss the critical role of Ducks Unlimited de México (DUMAC) in North American waterfowl conservation.

From wintering habitat for millions of ducks to community-based conservation projects that improve wetlands and local livelihoods, DUMAC plays a vital role in sustaining waterfowl populations across the continent. The conversation explores the history of the organization, the influence of legendary conservationists like John e. (Johnny) Walker III, and how conservation efforts in Mexico directly support the ducks that hunters enjoy throughout the United States and Canada.

The group also discusses the John E. Walker III Research and Training Center in Celestún, the internationally recognized RESERVA training program, mangrove restoration, wetland science, and the importance of supporting conservation on a continental scale.

Topics Covered

The history and mission of Ducks Unlimited de México (DUMAC)
Why birds and conservation ignore political borders
Mexico’s importance to wintering waterfowl populations
The legacy of John E. Walker III and DUMAC leadership
Community-based conservation projects across Mexico
Mangrove restoration and wetland management
The RESERVA conservation training program
How DUMAC benefits both wildlife and local communities
Why you should join the John E. Walker III Society

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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RELOADED EP131: Waterfowl Identification And You Aug 22, 2026

Show notes

Host Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher discuss waterfowl identification and its importance for not only waterfowl hunters, but also birders. Mike talks about identifying characteristics of certain species and shares a handful of helpful tips to improve your waterfowl identification.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
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Carlton Ward Jr. on Wildlife Corridors, Panthers & Conservation That Lasts (Ep 801) Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

What if saving one species could help protect entire ecosystems and ways of life?

Recorded at Ducks Unlimited's 89th National Convention, host Jimbo Robinson sits down with renowned National Geographic photographer Carlton Ward Jr. for a conversation about storytelling, wildlife conservation, and the connections between people, landscapes, and the species that depend on them.

Carlton shares how a career that began documenting wildlife in Africa eventually led him back home to Florida, where he became one of the leading voices behind the Florida Wildlife Corridor movement. The discussion explores the role of photography in conservation, the importance of connected habitat, and how species like the Florida panther help tell a larger story about preserving working lands, watersheds, and wildlife for future generations.

Along the way, Carlton explains how storytelling helped inspire real conservation policy, why private land conservation matters, and how hunters, landowners, and conservationists can work together to protect landscapes at scale.

Topics Covered

Carlton Ward Jr.'s path into conservation photography
The Florida Wildlife Corridor project
Wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity
How photography can influence conservation policy
The story behind Path of the Panther
Florida panthers, bears, and landscape conservation
Private land conservation and conservation easements
Lessons for hunters and conservationists nationwide

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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Are Changes Coming to the May Survey? (Ep 800) Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Learn how the survey behind duck population estimates and hunting regulations is being evaluated for the future.

Host Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Dr. John Yeiser of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Frank Baldwin of the Canadian Wildlife Service to discuss an ongoing review of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey—one of the most important wildlife monitoring programs in North America.

For more than 70 years, the survey has provided the foundation for waterfowl population estimates, conservation planning, and harvest management decisions. Now, agencies and partners are evaluating how new analytical tools, technologies, and datasets can improve efficiency while maintaining the long-term integrity of one of wildlife management’s most important data series.

Topics Covered:

Why the breeding population survey is being reviewed
How duck population estimates influence hunting regulations
The role of banding, harvest surveys, and breeding surveys
Potential future uses of remote sensing and new technologies
Challenges associated with survey timing and changing conditions
Why long-term datasets remain critical to waterfowl management
How the U.S. and Canada work together to monitor duck populations

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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RELOADED EP81: Using Research to Understand Waterfowl Hunter Dynamics Aug 15, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Mike Brasher is joined in studio by a trio of special guests to discuss trends in waterfowl hunter numbers and the importance of recruiting our next generation of hunter-conservationists. Former DU Chief Scientist Dale Humburg, University of Nebraska PhD student Katherine Graham, and Professor of Human Dimensions Research Dr. Chris Chisznski share their expertise on this subject and provide insights gained from recently completed research.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
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Ryan Yarnell: Turtlebox, Duck Hunting & Protecting What We Love (Ep 799) Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Conservation starts with the small things, and the future of hunting depends on what we choose to leave behind.

Recorded live from DUX 2026, host Wade Shoemaker sits down with Ryan Yarnell, Hunt Marketing Manager for Turtlebox Audio, for a conversation about duck hunting, outdoor traditions, conservation, and the responsibility hunters have to protect the places they love.

Ryan shares stories from a lifetime spent outdoors, from growing up duck hunting with family in Arkansas and East Texas to guiding hunters, working in the outdoor industry, and eventually joining one of the fastest-growing outdoor brands in America. The conversation explores Turtlebox’s rapid growth, the importance of community, and why stewardship matters more than ever in today's hunting culture.

Along the way, Ryan reflects on public-land hunting, the value of mentorship, raising the next generation of outdoorsmen, and how simple actions like picking up trash or helping another hunter can leave a lasting impact on conservation.

Topics Covered

Growing up hunting in Arkansas and East Texas
Waterfowl hunting traditions passed down through family
Ryan's journey through guiding and the outdoor industry
Turtlebox Audio's growth and outdoor community
Public-land hunting lessons and stories
Raising the next generation of hunters
Conservation, stewardship, and hunter responsibility
Why small actions make a big difference outdoors

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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Paul Brisco on Decoy Collecting, Duck Hunting & Canadian Waterfowl History (Ep 798) Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Every decoy has a story, and some of those stories stretch back more than a century.

Host Katie Burke sits down with longtime collector, outdoorsman, and former Ducks Unlimited Canada volunteer leader Paul Brisco at the North American Decoy Collectors Show for a conversation about decoy history, waterfowling traditions, and a lifetime spent preserving pieces of North America's hunting heritage.

Paul shares how a chance encounter with a $40 decoy sparked a collecting journey that has lasted more than four decades. Along the way, he discusses the regional differences found in Canadian decoys, the connection between hunting and collecting, his long involvement with Ducks Unlimited Canada, and why hands-on learning remains one of the most important parts of the decoy community. The conversation also explores how hunting traditions, conservation efforts, and decoy craftsmanship have evolved over generations while remaining closely tied to waterfowl and wetlands.

Topics Covered

How Paul Brisco got started collecting decoys
Waterfowl hunting traditions in Ontario
Early involvement with Ducks Unlimited Canada
Regional differences in Canadian decoy carving
How form and function shaped decoy design
Market hunting, conservation, and changing waterfowl traditions
The importance of decoy shows and collector communities
Why collecting remains connected to hunting heritage

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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