Midwest Flyways Podcast

In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, the guys continue the story of Reelfoot Lake with Part 2, diving into the violent conflict that erupted over who actually had the right to control the lake. After the earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 transformed dry land into water, generations of local families came to rely on Reelfoot for fishing, hunting, and travel. But when private land claims began colliding with those long-standing public uses, the dispute quickly became much more than a legal argument. The episode gets into the rise of the Night Riders, a masked group that used intimidation and violence as the fight over Reelfoot intensified. The conflict ultimately led to the kidnapping of two men, the killing of Quentin Rankin, a major Tennessee National Guard response, mass arrests, death sentences, and eventually a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling over the lake’s legal status. Along the way, the guys mix the history with plenty of side conversations and joking around, from movie references to earthquakes, ancient seismic detectors, and the strange natural disasters that have shaped different parts of the country. What started as a fight over fishing rights became one of the strangest chapters in American outdoor history. In the end, the courts determined that Reelfoot Lake would be held for public use, helping preserve the same legendary waterfowl destination hunters still recognize today. Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Nick Johnson is back for his annual visit to talk waterfowl hunting, traveling the world, and some of the weird stuff he’s tried along the way. Nick and the guys get into everything from old-school duck hunters and spring goose hunting on James Bay to chasing waterfowl in Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Europe, and beyond. They talk about the places Nick has already hunted, the trips still on his list, and why some of the most interesting waterfowl hunting in the world happens far outside the places most hunters ever think about. The conversation also gets into changing hunting regulations in Canada, freelance hunting versus outfitters, and whether the giant pile pictures coming out of Canada and Mexico actually have as much impact on duck populations as people think. Nick breaks down why hunter numbers matter and what he believes really determines whether a hunt is going to be great or miserable: weather, juvenile birds, and how hungry the birds are. Nick also talks about turning Wingshoot Wisconsin into a full-time career, what guiding has taught him about bad hunts, and why keeping the right attitude matters when the birds don’t cooperate. And because it wouldn’t be a Nick Johnson episode without trying something ridiculous, the guys finish with live pigeon decoys, baiting pigeons, hawk attacks, and a few experiments that definitely sounded better on paper. Topics Covered: •Waterfowl hunting around the world •James Bay spring goose hunting •Changes to Canadian hunting regulations •Freelance hunting vs. outfitters •Weather, juvenile birds, and hungry birds •Building Wingshoot Wisconsin •Hunting experiments Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on Sports Guyz Only... Nathaniel is out, Carter's fantasy roster is already under investigation, and the first week of football has given the guys plenty of evidence to determine who does and definitely does not know ball. The Vikings lead things off after a rough opening performance from Kyler Murray that immediately has the guys concerned. The guys break down his bizarre first play, the hits he took, Minnesota's struggling offensive line, and whether the Vikings have another long season of quarterback and protection problems ahead of them. There are at least a few positives, though, with Christian Darrisaw looking like himself again and Justin Jefferson still doing Justin Jefferson things. From there, it's a full NFL Week 1 reaction. Bo Nix disappoints, Baker Mayfield somehow helps put up points despite an ugly performance, the Browns continue finding new ways to make their fans miserable, and the guys start reevaluating a few preseason takes. Carter's fantasy team gets picked apart, Gavin's Josh Allen reach suddenly looks a little smarter, and the early standings provide just enough evidence for Cal and Gavin to declare themselves the side of the studio that actually knows ball. The guys also look ahead to Week 2 with another round of picks and underdog locks. Plus, Caleb Williams' strong start sparks a surprisingly legitimate question: could he eventually become the greatest quarterback in Bears history? Plus: •Christian McCaffrey's latest fantasy concerns •The Browns' unbelievable opening-day record •Lane Kiffin mind games before LSU–Ole Miss •The Packers' recent collapse •Caleb Williams vs. the history of Bears quarterbacks It's Week 1 overreactions, fantasy football victory laps, Vikings frustration, and a whole lot of arguing over who actually knows what they're talking about. Thanks so much for listening to Sports Guyz Only and be sure to subscribe and review!   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, the guys recap a rough Minnesota goose opener and try to make sense of where the birds went. A lot of the geese that had been around for weeks seemed to disappear right before opener, teal reports were all over the place, and plenty of hunters around the state struggled to put together much of a shoot. Cal and Joey talk through their own opener experiences, hunting with the kids, and why early-season birds can change everything in a matter of days. From there, the conversation turns to the conditions heading into duck season. Water is extremely low in parts of Minnesota, some traditional areas are drying up, and the guys compare what they're seeing in the field to the latest waterfowl population numbers. Mallards are reportedly down, while several other species are up, but the amount of ducks they've seen this summer has them questioning whether the current counts are telling the whole story. They talk about survey routes, changing habitat, where birds may be moving, and whether collecting more data could give hunters a better picture of what is actually happening. The guys also get into band superstition, grouse hunting, early-season scouting, and plenty of the usual side conversations along the way. Topics Covered: •Minnesota goose opener •Early teal reports •Taking kids hunting •Low water across Minnesota •Band superstition •Getting ready for duck opener Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, the guys kick off Part 1 of the story of Reelfoot Lake, one of the most legendary places in American waterfowl hunting history. Before the duck calls, cypress trees, and famous hunting culture, there wasn’t really a lake at all. That changed during the massive New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, when the ground shifted dramatically, drainage patterns changed, and water flooded into the newly lowered landscape. The guys break down just how violent those earthquakes were, including eyewitness accounts of the Mississippi River temporarily appearing to run backward and sections of land dropping by several feet. From there, they look at how the new lake slowly developed into a waterfowl destination, eventually becoming known for huge numbers of ducks, unique hunting traditions, and its role in the early development of duck calling. As usual, the history lesson comes with plenty of side conversations—from trains and earthquakes to infrastructure, old American cities, and just how strange it would be to watch an entirely new lake form in real time. This is only the beginning of the Reelfoot story. Part 2 continues next week, when the guys get into the Night Riders and the violent fight that erupted over who actually controlled the lake. Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP