The Standard Sportsman

The technology regarding suppressed shotguns is advancing, but how long will it take to become useful afield? Host Cason Short knows a ton about the subject from a layperson's standpoint and shares where the industry is headed. The passage of the Big Beautiful Bill and its $0 tax stamp on suppressors has generated considerable buzz. The guys also get into pressure and the role that shotgun blasts play. From subgauges to the potential future viability of suppressors to lessen the disturbance of ducks.

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan...

Duration: 00:48:13

Waterfowl bands are the most coveted trophies in waterfowling, while providing essential data to Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM). With the recent news of proposed budget cuts that could impact bird banding, the guys sift through some of the history of banding, discuss how banding has tapered since the 1980s and 1990s and just where Arkansas ducks come from per banding encounters. They also share a handful of entertaining stories on banded ducks and geese from over the years.

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The...

Duration: 01:21:12

Southeast Arkansas farmer and passionate waterfowler Jason Smith joins the show to sift through the hurdles farmers are facing in the current economy and how that impacts the ducks. He also shared intimate knowledge of Cutoff Creek Wildlife Management Area and expounds on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s plan to implement more walk-in-only areas in other WMAs. The guys also delve into the impacts on farmers and subsequently ducks with the passage of Big Beautiful Bill, the effects of a wet spring and early summer in Arkansas, the ethics and consequences of leaving unharvested crops for ducks, an...

Duration: 01:24:08

Retired U.S. Navy Diver John Barklow joins the show to share his remarkable story that led him to his current position as Senior Product Manager for the Big Game product line at Sitka Gear. He connects the dots on how his time as a diver and then training Navy SEAL teams for cold-weather combat made him uniquely qualified to take the company’s product line to a whole new level. Barklow also launched an initiative titled "Knowledge from Storms" to educate hunters and outdoorsmen on how to survive in extreme conditions.

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Duration: 01:08:57

Stephen Findley is a passionate waterfowl hunter with a deep respect for the sport's heritage. Based in Alabama, he owns Vertical, a marketing firm that serves some of the biggest brands in the outdoor industry. For over a decade, Stephen has worked as a photo and video creative in the outdoor industry. His passion for waterfowl hunting runs deep, and it shows in how he approaches his craft and the culture surrounding it. Findley joins the show to share his views on duck hunting culture, the value of taking kids and adults hunting, non-residents, and much more. 

T...

Duration: 01:04:26

Scott Perry is a consummate Arkansas duck hunter who respects the sport's traditions and heritage. Along with his twin brother, Jason, he started the iconic McAlister brand from the 1990s, the premium outdoor brand Mountain Khakis, and dusted the cobwebs off Duxbak. Perry shares some behind-the-scenes stories of starting those brands and navigating the outdoor apparel industry. The guys also have a robust discussion of the romance of waterfowling and some identity issues the sport is going through today. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: T...

Duration: 01:11:30

Chris Sprangers is the Managing Partner and Director of Outdoor Brands for North House Outdoors. They are one of the bigger players in the outdoor marketing space, and Chris has spent a few decades in the outdoor industry, including a stint as Brand Partnership Manager at Cabela’s. He joins the show to pull back the curtain on what goes into branding an outdoor company and what it takes to survive in the ultra-competitive waterfowl industry. A dedicated waterfowler and fisherman, Sprangers also shares some stories from brand photo shoots and the trials and tribulations of getting content good en...

Duration: 01:13:41

There's nothing to hunt, so might as well talk about it. Despite being at the front end of summer, plenty of things are going on that impact waterfowl. In this week's episode, the guys share some intel about the May Pond conditions, planting season struggles in the deep south, and baby boomers fading out of duck hunting. Even Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill has some good and some bad for ducks. Finally, Cason and Brent kick around a new concept presented at the last AGFC Commission meeting that could impact future duck seasons. 

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Duration: 01:10:42

Dave Duncan, Ph.D. (retired), worked across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, focusing on pintails. Throughout his professional career, he’s shown a true passion for this particular duck and how to turn the tide on its decline. Duncan joins the show to discuss the past, present, and future of the pintail population while sharing some concerns with the new regulations set to go into place this coming season. This episode is worth a listen as Duncan shares some keen insights about this magnificent bird.

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pr...

Duration: 01:09:44

Lorne Scott has spent a lifetime invested in conservation in Saskatchewan while seeing an inordinate amount of change on the landscape. The family has farmed in the Prairie Pothole Region since 1915 and has seen it all. Scott pulls back the curtain on Prairie Canada with eye-opening insights into what is going on north of the border. The guys discuss non-existent wetland policies in Saskatchewan, habitat deterioration, staggering bird loss, Big Ag, the decline in native Canadians' interest in waterfowl hunting, Americans, tariffs, and out-of-whack drake-to-hen ratios. Listeners will want to stick in until the end, when Lorne provides insights...

Duration: 00:57:41

Waterfowler Matthew Cagle created a groundbreaking decoy weighting system that revolutionized the waterfowl industry. Fast forward to today, and his company is one of the leading gear companies in the game. Cagle joins the show to talk about how Rig ‘Em Right came to be and how the company remains innovative in a copycat world. We also jump into a frank discussion on how the current trade wars and tariffs impact the hunting industry. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine and...

Duration: 01:09:56

Duck hunters are skilled at finding scapegoats as to why their seasons don’t go so well. One of the hotter topics is the amount of and the ability to hunt over flooded crops. Namely corn. Is it legal? Should it be legal? When was it allowed? Who governs “normal agricultural practices”? Mike Brasher of Ducks Unlimited joins the show to break down the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 1998 and clarify what it did and didn’t do for duck hunting. 

Changes to U.S. Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on Baiting Laws - DU Magazine

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Duration: 00:56:11

Tim Willis has spent nearly 25 years conserving his home state of Arkansas’s flooded timber legacy and numerous Ducks Unlimited habitat projects throughout the country. Willis and his team help state agencies with consulting strategies and maximize conservation dollars. In this episode, he outlines DU’s role in ensuring waterfowl have effective habitats at all ends of the flyway now and in the future. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Sitka Gear, Purina Pro Plan, Ducks Unlimited, and Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine

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Duration: 00:47:27

There were Technical Difficulties with the early AM upload, so please ignore that version and listen to this one for the full interview.

Bradley Cohen, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and heads the Cohen Wildlife Lab at Tennessee Tech University. Cohen and his team of students have and continue to shed a lot of light on modern-day mallard behaviors. Cohen talks through landscape conditions and habitat management practices impacting what hunters see afield, including telemetry data, migration timing, refuges, and responses to human interference.

Visit the Cohen Wildlife Lab online...

Duration: 01:07:25

Bradley Cohen, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and heads the Cohen Wildlife Lab at Tennessee Tech University. Cohen and his team of students have and continue to shed a lot of light on modern-day mallard behaviors. Cohen talks through landscape conditions and habitat management practices impacting what hunters see afield, including telemetry data, migration timing, refuges, and responses to human interference.

Visit the Cohen Wildlife Lab online at https://www.cohenwildlifelab.com or follow their work on Instagram @cohenwildlab.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Tom Beckbe, Ducks Unlimited, Purina Pro Plan...

Duration: 01:07:25

If you’re wondering what’s on the minds of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission regarding turkey zones, the future of Arkansas duck hunting as it relates to private land, public land, non-residents, unruly behavior on the WMAs, habitat, and pressure management, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss. 

Current AGFC Commission Chair JD Neeley and Philip Tappan join the show to have a candid discussion about the state of some hot-button issues in Arkansas that spill across all waterfowl destination states. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Perfect Limit Outdoors, Ducks Unlimited, Tom Beckbe, Purina...

Duration: 01:24:23

Despite all the duck seasons in North America being closed, plenty is going on within the world of waterfowling. Brent & Cason look at the impact the recent storms will have on this coming duck season, game warden access to private ground without a warrant, USFWS director confirmation hearings and waterfowl destination states desire to reduce pressure by limiting non-residents. Reducing non-residents to a few weekdays is the potential play for Kansas and Oklahoma...but will it work?

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Ducks Unlimited, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck...

Duration: 00:50:27

Levi Pillow has over 50 years experience hunting the famed Dave Donaldson Black River WMA in Northeast Arkansas. Going from gentlemen’s agreeement to who hunted where with permanent decoy spreads to today’s chaotic overcrowding, he’s seen it all. Pillow shares that history along with changes he and a group of hunters from the WMA recently proposed to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission with a non-resident draw as the key effort to manage the unrelenting pressure.

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina...

Duration: 01:29:58

A diverse background ranging from dirt work to duck guide led Hunter Johnson to managing habitat for a pair of top-notch Arkansas duck clubs. With one on the famed Grand Prairie and the other in the Cache River Bottoms, Johnson employs diverse strategies to attract and hold ducks throughout a sixty-day duck season. The guys discuss habitat, food plots, timber stand improvement (TSI), flooded unharvested crops, pressure management, and scouting. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Ducks Unlimited, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Lile Real Estate and Purina Pro Plan.

Duration: 01:14:47

Cason and Brent analyze the rest of the post-season survey responses on numerous issues heavily discussed amongst Central and Mississippi Flyway waterfowlers: spinning wing decoys, season frameworks, pintail limits, outfitters, conservation order, and ecological and cultural issues impacting mid-continent mallards.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Lile Real Estate, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Purina Pro Plan and Tom Beckbe.

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Duration: 01:44:25

In February, The Standard Sportsman podcast conducted a post-season survey covering various hot topics within the duck hunting community. After collecting responses from hunters across 41 states, the guys are ready to share the results with some intriguing analysis.

The guys also share an opportunity to support winter banding research by the Osborne Lab at the University of Arkansas-Monticello. Dr. Doug Osborne has been a repeat guest on the show, and his team's efforts provide valuable insight into the behaviors of the modern-day mallard up and down the Central and Mississippi Flyways. 

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Duration: 00:51:25

Dustin Roddy focuses on recreational real estate, habitat development and management primarily in the Cache River basin of east central Arkansas. His intuitive approach to match what the ducks need to what a property can provide has led to numerous successful projects on his resume. The guys discuss various habitat strategies, observations, being a good neighbor and of course, pressure management. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Tom Beckbe, Sitka Gear, KC Laser Co., Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, and Ducks Unlimited.

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Duration: 01:11:25

Our buddy and Drake Waterfowl’s Vice President of Development Jim Ronquest joins the show again. He’s fresh off the NWTF Convention and shares insight into Drake’s new campaign, “Make Boat Ramps Great Again.” We also dive into Jim’s square-body Chevrolet truck restoration, duck boats, reuniting with John Stephens, and the future of RNTv. Be sure to stick in until the end, where we talk about what worked with last year’s habitat projects, what’s on the list this year, the mast crop bust, and other oddities from this past season.

Thanks to our sp...

Duration: 00:56:56

In an attempt to get the pulse of waterfowlers in the Central and Mississippi Flyways, The Standard Sportsman has put together a survey covering many of the hot topics in the sport today. If you’ve got a take on the state of the sport, here is one opportunity to share your thoughts regarding frameworks, limits, social media, outfitters, influencers and habitat...good, bad or indifferent. Stay tuned for a future episode on the results.

To take the survey, please visit www.thestandardsportsman.com/survey

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Ducks Unlimited, Tom Be...

Duration: 00:48:25

Missouri Department of Conservation’s Migratory Game Bird Coordinator Reid Viegut joins the show to talk about a research project he worked on while at the University of Missouri. Partnering with the MDC, the project involved the deployment of drones coupled with machine learning to count waterfowl from the air. Viegut talks through the three different stages of the research and the results as well as what’s left to be done to push the technology to implementation. 

Be sure to take The Standard Sportsman's post-season survey. The guys will tabulate the results and review everyone's input on an...

Duration: 01:00:18

Memphis native John Smolko serves as Sitka Gear’s Waterfowl and Turkey Specialist and travels the world on outdoor adventures. Smolko joins the show on the heels of Sitka’s foray into the knee boot game and hints at some upcoming new products from the brand. John elaborates on Sitka’s research & development efforts and the benefits of GORE-TEX. Finally, the crew sifts through some thoughts on this past duck season with input from Smolko’s travels to Arkansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, and beyond. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Lile Real Estate, Tom Beckb...

Duration: 00:59:54

Ducks started and stayed concentrated up and down the Central and Mississippi Flyways this season. That led to mixed results for the masses with a significant dependency on whether you had early habitat or not. The hosts talk through some impacts with the rafts of ducks holding tight to the north, Arkansas's habitat shortfalls, hen harvest clarity, GPS transmitter mallard behaviors. Then a little fun sharing some personal highs, lows, and disappointments with some waterfowl brands and their messaging this season. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Ducks Unlimited, Sitka G...

Duration: 01:17:52

Hunters across the country are scratching their heads on this duck season, and theories as to why it has struggled for so many abound. Cason and Brent sift through a handful of issues that came together before and during the season that are having a bonafide impact. They also wade into whether duck seasons should be managed for maximum opportunity or maximum population. The hosts tackle a touchy subject in just how much money is and the role of those standing to benefit from liberal seasons impacting season outlooks and reports afield. Plus, tune in for another hat giveaway...

Duration: 01:24:26

Do you have your own water cooler and chat room theories about what is happening with mallards and why their behaviors and migration paths are changing? Dr. Doug Osborne of UA-Monticello and the graduate director at the Five Oaks Ag Research & Education Center joins the show with a very candid look at the waterfowl science community, sex and age ratios, game farm genetics, when duck season should end, and most importantly...what happened with this latest cold & snow front—a must-listen-to separate fact from fiction plus a new keyword, another TSS hat drawing.

Listeners interested in entering th...

Duration: 01:18:59

A winter storm barreled through Kansas and Missouri, leaving nearly a foot of snow and prolonged below-freezing temps in its wake...but will that be enough to push ducks to Arkansas for the final few weeks of the season? Cason and Brent sift through some variables locally and in the flyway that could be a factor on just how many push south. The guys also get into some culture/community adjustments waterfowlers and brands in the industry should consider if improvements in future seasons are of value.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, Perfect Limit...

Duration: 01:04:35

Happy New Year to all the listeners of The Standard Sportsman podcast. With jam packed schedules around the holidays, we’ve pulled portions of two highly entertaining conversations out of past episodes with John Stephens of RNT Calls and J Stephens Custom Calls and Bill Cooksey of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. 

Thanks for taking time to listen to the show during this time with family and friends and best of luck the rest of the season. 

Shout out to the show's sponsors who make this all possible: Tom Beckbe, Ducks Unlimited, Sitka Gear, KC Laser Co...

Duration: 01:09:41

Happy holidays to all the listeners of The Standard Sportsman podcast. For this week’s episode, we’ve pulled two conversations out of past episodes with David Snowden and Perrin Partee. David explains the rationale behind reducing the mallard hen limit to one while Perrin discusses habitat and the bounceback of the mallard population from Canada to Louisiana. 

Thanks for taking time to listen to the show during this time with family and friends and best of luck the rest of the season. 

As always, we appreciate our sponsors Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Sitka Gear...

Duration: 00:33:29

With the holiday season fast approaching, the guys have a little fun with a mostly light-hearted duck season wish list. Some wishes benefit the ducks, some gear they’d like to see, and some to elevate what’s left of the season in the southern part of the flyway. 

The Standard Sportsman Podcast would like to wish all our listeners happy holidays, and thanks for listening!

Thank you to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Ducks Unlimited, Sitka Gear, Purina Pro Plan, KC Laser and Perfect Limit Outdoors.

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Duration: 00:53:55

This week on The Standard Sportsman, the guys recap the first split of the Arkansas duck season and the outlook heading into the second season. With a significant and lengthy run of cold weather up north, ducks are on the move, but have they made it to the deep south yet? Instances of a potential Avian Flu outbreak appear to be occurring with young snow geese. Cason and Brent also get into opportunity vs. experience, the duck hunting sub-culture items and their impact on days afield, and Arkansas setting the bar for the future of the sport.

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Duration: 01:13:54

Retired Louisiana and Minnesota waterfowl biologist Dave Rave follows up his uber-popular “Where are the Ducks?” episode from last season with a fresh take on mallard populations, sex ratios, season frameworks, and limits. Rave details how the early start to the season in the north may be just as damaging to populations as the late January hunting in the south, SWDs, and numerous other management practices that he believes require reevaluation for mallard populations to rebound and hunters to stay in the sport.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Tom Beckbe, Ducks Unlimited, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro...

Duration: 01:22:34

Ducks Unlimited's National Director of Event Fundraising David Schuessler shares some of the amazing items up for auction during DU's Into the Vault online auction. This is an insightful episode for collectors of DU guns, art, and other gear. David also shares how DU gets its hands on these collectibles, many of which are one of a kind. We even talk a little duck season after Schuessler's recent trip to West Texas and the Arkansas opener.

Thanks to your sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Sitka Gear, Lile Real Estate, Ducks Unlimited, KC Laser, Perfect Limit Outdoors and Purina Pro...

Duration: 00:50:00

The 2024-2025 Arkansas duck season is upon us, with high anticipation for what the season will hold. The guys sift through feedback from their network across Canada, Kansas, and Missouri, as well as conditions and populations within the state. They also break down the midpoint theory, Halloween mallards, and a few duck-hunting culture items. A must listen to start or for early duck season regardless of where you hunt. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Ducks Unlimited, Tom Beckbe, Sitka Gear, Perfect Limit Outdoors, KC Laser and Purina Pro Plan. 

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Duration: 01:04:20

Located in Batesville, Arkansas, Rob Roberts Custom Gun Works is one of, if not the leader in performance shotguns and rifles. Rob joins the show with an entertaining take on improving your success pulling the trigger, and clears up some misconceptions and myths about shotguns. He covers chokes, forcing cones, shot strings, and shell selection and even provides commentary on Saskatchewan and high-performance rifles. 

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Duration: 01:26:23

Grant Sinclair (@grant__sinclair) grew up duck hunting the famed Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee and now travels throughout the continent chasing ducks and geese. On top of being a skilled waterfowler, Grant is remarkably talented when it comes to capturing waterfowl on camera. His videos have built a huge following on social media, and the channel also serves as a platform for him to call out some questionable behavior in the sport. He shares some of his experiences freelancing north of the border over the past 15+ years and the changes he’s seen across all of duck and go...

Duration: 01:24:45

Tom Decker is a certified Wildlife Biologist in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program. He leads the Partner with a Payer initiative and is a vital part of the communications team at USFWS. Headquartered in Vermont, Decker joins the show to talk about the ins and outs of how conservation is funded on the federal and state level, how the Pittman Robertson tax works and clears up several misconceptions about funding for wildlife.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, Purina Pro Plan, Tom Beckbe and Lile Real Es...

Duration: 00:52:17

Kolby Keith (@livingskiestaxidermy) hails from waterfowl-rich Kansas but spends the fall north of the border guiding for Prairie’s Edge Outfitters (@prairies_edge_outfitters) in Saskatchewan. Keith provides a “boots on the ground” assessment of this year’s fall flight, habitat conditions in Prairie Canada, and the “Americanization” of waterfowling north of the border. He shares insights into an influx of pressure in SK, illegal guiding, and the changes he’s seen in his seven years guiding up there.

Thanks to your sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, and Tom Beckbe.

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Duration: 01:27:16

There’s a movement afoot giving more attention to the degradation of duck-friendly habitat in Prairie Canada. As the dry conditions persist and modern-day agriculture advances, ducks are the ones paying the price. Tune in to learn more about the long-running decline and which province is attempting to turn the corner.

The guys also talk a little preseason specklebelly as the early season fast approaches.

Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Purina Pro Plan, Ducks Unlimited, Sitka Gear and Lile Real Estate.

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Duration: 00:52:49

Phil Thorpe has nearly 30 years of experience flying breeding population (BPOP) and May Ponds surveys for the USFWS. He provides insight into how the survey process works from a counting perspective and what he saw from the air this past spring and summer. Thorpe cuts through the data and number crunching to provide human observations about duck numbers and habitat.

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Duration: 01:21:12

The research-based Five Stages of the Hunter accurately defines a hunter’s attitudes afield and towards the resource. Brent and Cason share their journey through the stages and tell some entertaining stories from different parts of their career. They also dive into the need for companies to progress past the “Limiting Out” stage in their online branding and social media, serving as a mentor to young hunters.

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Ducks Unlimited, Tom Beckbe, Sitka Gear, and Purina Pro Plan. 

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Duration: 01:32:39

With the season fast approaching, Cason and Brent touch on a few trending topics with hurricanes and duck food. Fresh out of a kickoff meeting, they discuss year two of the AGFC Director’s Advisory Council. Then the guys wrap the show clarifying a few things regarding their personal stances on the state of waterfowling.

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Duration: 01:06:07

Willms is the Assoc. Vice President for Public Lands for NWF, an attorney and goose hunter based in Wyoming. He joins to show to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Chevron Doctrine. Willms details what the Chevron Doctrine is, why it’s important to waterfowl and conservation and what happens next with federal agencies management of wildlife and related conservation programs. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Ducks Unlimited, Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Sitka Gear, and Purina Pro Plan. 

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Duration: 01:01:44

Cheever Farley calls Texas home and focuses on resource-first management of duck properties in northwest Texas and southwest Oklahoma. He shares management strategies for this part of the world and expounds on the rapid escalation in pressure in what used to be a lightly hunted area. Farley weighs in on possible solutions to ease pressure through outfitter reform to ensure ducks and geese are around and huntable for future generations.

Thank you to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Lile Real Estate, Ducks Unlimited, Tom Beckbe, and Purina Pro Plan.

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Duration: 01:29:17

Brent and Cason peel back some layers on the May Ponds, Breeding Population (BPOP), and Harvest Data reports, pulling out some intriguing details worthy of discussion. The guys share fresh insights from concerned waterfowl biologists plus breakdown key metrics that caught their attention beyond the high-level charts seen on social media. If you like to nerd out on duck stats and/or want to better understand what’s going on with waterfowl, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. 

Escape from Mediocrity by Johnny LynchTelling female and male mallards apart in September is a tough probl...

Duration: 01:08:51

Corporal Troy Faughn has over 13 years of experience in wildlife enforcement and specializes in waterfowl. He shares some violation stories with various rules and regs, as well as clarifications every hunter needs to know. Faughn hits on baiting, ratoon crops, party hunting, boating issues, and more. Plus, he shares some thoughts on SWDs in the public woods again and shell limits. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Purina Pro Plan, Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Ducks Unlimited, and Sitka Gear.

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Duration: 01:23:19

Scott Stephens, Ph.D. serves as the Sr. Director of Prairie and Boreal Forest Conservation Strategy for DU. This episode was recorded one day prior to the USFWS releasing BPOP and May Pond Counts but he shares his pre-release thoughts for this year’s counts, harvest impact, speck and pintail populations, PPR conditions, Boreal Forest productivity, and more. Stephens connects a lot of dots for duck hunters in this episode. 

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Duration: 01:15:28

Representing a firm started by his father in 1993, Gardner along with a top-tier team of land specialists represent some of the finest waterfowling properties in Arkansas. We talk about current trends in the industry, what defines a true legacy property, performing due diligence on a prospective property and more.

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Duration: 01:12:41

Hunters are abuzz about some recent rules and regulations impacting Alberta's non-resident, non-Canadian hunters. The guys also discuss the reversal of the Chevron Deference, which could impact numerous federal policies benefiting ducks and geese. Cason and Brent also dig into the promotion of "outlaw" behavior within the waterfowling community.

Thanks to our sponsors, Tom Beckbe, Sitka Gear, Lile Real Estate, Purina ProPlan, and Ducks Unlimited. 

Stay tuned to a special announcement from Natural Gear regarding HuntFest at Fort Thompson August 23rd and 24th. 

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Duration: 01:03:27

It's hard to believe one year has passed since we launched the first episode of The Standard Sportsman podcast. We revisit some hot topics from past shows as well as provide some insight into things currently abuzz in waterfowling.

Thanks to our sponsors: Ducks Unlimited, Lile Real Estate, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Tom Beckbe and Lite Boots. 

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Duration: 01:10:38

Brent and Cason share insights into winter duck habitat strategies, the new dark geese options in Canada, conservative rules and regs, and the demise of the fall flight index dataset. 

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Tom Beckbe, Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, Purina Pro Plan, and Lite Boots. 

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Duration: 01:12:23

Radcliff Menge left behind an established legal career to launch Tom Beckbe. Nine years after starting the brand behind a single jacket, Menge shares Tom Beckbe's origin, how it's grown, and where it's headed, including an exciting new collaboration with an industry stalwart.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Ducks Unlimited, Lile Real Estate, Tom Beckbe, Purina Pro Plan and Lite Boots.

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Duration: 01:10:20

Hosts Brent Birch and Cason Short trade stories and a few laughs while trying to cope with the off-season dog days of summer blues. Tune in to hear a few game warden stories, the dumbest thing either has done afield, the most famous person they’ve hunted with, and a few memories with their fathers.

Thanks to our sponsors: Lile Real Estate, Sitka Gear, Tom Beckbe, Purina Pro Plan, Ducks Unlimited, and Lite Boots. 

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Duration: 01:09:13

Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Famer Bill Cooksey has a lifelong track record of elevating the voices of sportsmen from around the country to support wildlife habitat restoration. His decades of experience in the world of waterfowling made for an awesome interview every duck hunter should hear.

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Duration: 01:23:35

A native of Hot Springs, Congressman Bruce Westerman is a dedicated outdoorsman and currently chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources. He joins the show to discuss several issues on Capitol Hill impacting duck hunting in the Natural State and beyond.  Westerman provides updates on the harmful BIDEH legislation, wokeism in the USFWS, how waterfowlers should tackle the anti-hunter movement, and more.

Thanks to our sponsors: Sitka Gear, Tom Beckbe, Ducks Unlimited, Lite Boots, and Lile Real Estate. 

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Duration: 00:55:37

Corey Dunn is a native Arkansan and the Director of Development for Ducks Unlimited Arkansas. He joined the show to discuss all the support and projects DU has in the state. Their efforts range from banding/GPS transmitter projects to supporting the restoration of state-owned GTRs, an endowed professorship at UA-Monticello, and much, much more.

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Duration: 01:10:54

Ethan Dittmer is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Nebraska with a background in waterfowl hunting. He’s worked in Arkansas and Kansas with a keen focus on mallard ecology. Dittmer shares the results of his research project regarding pressure and sanctuaries in the White River Bottoms of Arkansas and GPS work in SE Kansas. Ethan's research provides some eye-opening facts about how mallards behave when humans are and aren't around the wintering grounds.

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Duration: 01:14:33

Kile Jones had a unique road to climbing the ladder in the outdoor industry. He is now Apex's Director of Marketing and Sales and a two-time world champion goose caller. Jones shares his experiences in the outdoor industry and some fresh takes on current waterfowling culture. Tune in for his thoughts on the Mack’s/Bass Pro merger, as both are Apex customers. 

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Duration: 01:29:26

Ray is an accomplished retriever trainer working under the legendary Mike Lardy, guiding numerous Field Trial Champions. He’s now a Senior Specialist in the Sporting Division with Nestle Purina. Voigt shares insights into high-performance dogs, picking puppies and trainers, and proper nutrition for sporting dogs.

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Duration: 01:01:53

Renowned taxidermist Shane Smith and his pal Matt Goodrich have traveled to several far and way places to chase ducks we never see in the Mississippi Flyway. These guys share their adventures south of the border chasing black brant and other species and spots waterfowl no longer go to like they once did. Sound familiar? 

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Duration: 00:45:32

Renowned taxidermist Shane Smith and his pal Matt Goodrich have traveled to several far and way places to chase ducks we never see in the Mississippi Flyway. These guys share wild adventures as they pursue King and Pacific Eiders in the Bering Sea. This is part one of a two-part series with Shane and Matt. 

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Duration: 00:44:21

Audrey Mayes grew up in south Texas and moved to Arkansas two years ago to be the Senior Marketing Coordinator for Remington Ammunition. Mayes shares the focus and versatility of Remington’s shotshell lines, working with and competing against their sister companies and getting more women authentically involved in waterfowling. 

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Duration: 01:12:20

The hosts take a look at Texas Parks & Wildlife and the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission taking action outside of the recommended USFWS frameworks to conserve waterfowl important to their respective states. 

Cason and Brent also dive into the mission of The Standard Sportsman podcast and provide a clearer understanding of their viewpoints and takes related to waterfowl, conservation and more.

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Duration: 01:13:47

Mississippi native Ed Wall is a remarkably talented photographer and videographer who captures images for notable brands like Mossy Oak, Drake Waterfowl, and Ducks Unlimited, to name a few. Wall shares stories from running a camera during hunts, successes and failures from this past season, and dumb luck and missed opportunities with the camera.

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Duration: 01:09:27

Ardent conservationist, former Delta Waterfowl and The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas Board Member, and current steward of the family’s duck club, Kingdom Come, just outside of Stuttgart, Arkansas. 

David strongly believes the mallard hen limit in Arkansas needs to be reduced and elaborates on why this is important for the future of mallard duck populations. He makes a great case from several different angles as to why this is important now and how this move by hunters will benefit waterfowling's future. 

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Duration: 01:19:12

Dr. Doug Osborne is at the forefront of cutting-edge waterfowl research through the Osborne Lab at Univ. of Arkansas-Monticello and the Five Oaks Ag Research & Education Center. Osborne joins the show again to provide late and post-season movements of mallards and observations made afield during the spring banding season. We get into out-of-whack sex ratios observed amongst the mid-continent mallards, age ratios, banding history, and where the ducks went during the big mid-January freeze.

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Duration: 01:26:54

Champion of Champions & 3x World Duck Calling Champ, call collector, call maker, and the driving force behind the current iteration of RNT Calls. Stephens joins the show to talk about how he got into the sport, the history of RNT and how the company has grown into one of waterfowling’s iconic brands.

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Duration: 01:19:24

Strait Lake founder Max Sharp shares how the Woodruff County, Arkansas waterfowl destination came to be, how the club functions to hold massive amounts of ducks during the season and their banding efforts. Another ardent duck hunter talking ducks! 

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Duration: 01:17:49

The guys tackle recent hot topics that have emerged since duck season ended in January.  They sift through updated data on mallard hen and specklebelly goose populations with a cause for concern, the end of the AGFC Rules & Regs Survey and what's next, head-scratching numbers produced by the USFWS, and much more. No guest this week, but this episode should satisfy any duck season hangover you may still be suffering.

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Duration: 01:07:50

Eric Rinehart picks up where he left off, covering more hot topics in duck hunting. If you like listening to a passionate waterfowler get fired up about spinning wing decoys, harvest numbers, and how the northern states and Canada need to tighten up, this is the episode for you.  

LISTEN TO PART ONE

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Duration: 00:57:36

Known across social media channels for his presence on Daybreak Outdoors YouTube Channel and his role as the head honcho at North Delta Outfitters, Eric Rinehart is a straight shooter when it comes to protecting the resource and perpetuating the sport for future generations. The guys cover a wide range of topics, so if you like duck hunters having a raw conversation about duck hunting, you will love this episode. 

This is part one of two part interview so stay tuned for part two next week. 

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Duration: 00:45:07

Originally from Johannesburg South Africa, Dr. Robert "Robbie" Kröger, is the Executive Director of Blood Origins a 501c3 non-profit he started in 2020. Blood Origins is simple in its execution - create content that conveys the truth around hunting and hunters around the world to the non-hunting majority. 

Kröger and the guys get into harvest vs. kill semantics, social media and pile pics, hunting narratives, and discovering your "why." This episode is a thought-provoking must-listen for the modern-day waterfowling hunter. 

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Duration: 01:09:13

On February 16th,  the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission released their survey for the next two-year cycle of rules and regulations across all fishing and hunting.  Public land hunter Chris Harrell and non-resident public land hunter Alex Johns (Brown Water Lanyards) join Cason and Brent to walk through the waterfowl-related portion of the survey, sharing insights that every waterfowler should listen to before completing the survey.

2024-25 Season Dates60 or 74 Day Goose SeasonNon-Resident WMA AccessOpen or Close Duck Season on ChristmasMud Motors and much more

Take the AGFC Survey

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Duration: 01:23:16