Save it for the Blind Podcast

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Craig Wilson, owner of River Oaks Outdoors and a Senior World Duck Calling Champion to trace his path from SoCal refuge rat (Wister/Kern) to Idaho mallard country, and what that journey taught him about scouting, pressure, and staying calm on stage. Craig breaks down how to practice with purpose, the real differences between Main Street contests and meat calling, and why late-season California birds demand restraint on the call. He also dives into the shop side—how he builds custom call displays (smart dowels, snug fit, clean glass) and the little design details that keep a lanyard organized and a collection looking sharp.Episode highlightsSoCal to Idaho: how refuge days shaped today’s mallard-first approach, and why scouting beats sloggingContest nerves & routine: making the jump from good caller to stage-ready—and staying clean in Round 3Meat vs. Main Street: what actually carries to ducks versus judgesLate-season reality: why whistles and quiet spreads often beat hail calls in CaliforniaShop talk: River Oaks Outdoors display builds, dowel sizing, and protecting your calls the right way🦆 If this episode sharpened your calling or got you tinkering with your setup, hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share it with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard welcome Eben Herbert from the New Zealand Hunter Exchange to compare notes on waterfowling half a world apart—what shocked him about the Suisun Marsh, why California’s public access and species variety feel endless, and how late-season calling here differs from New Zealand’s “call hard, break ’em from the sky” approach. We hit rice country pits (illegal back home), foggy boat rides to island blinds, a tough-but-worth-it California quail mission, and even a little crab-and-rockfish bounty from Bodega Bay.Episode highlightsScale & access: the density of clubs and marsh across Suisun vs. the smaller, scattered options in NZ—plus why CA birds have “a hundred places to go.”Calling culture: aggressive hail-calling to pull distant flocks in NZ vs. whistles and lighter calling for pressured late-season birds in CA.Pit blinds & rice: first time hunting California rice; why true pit blinds are illegal in New Zealand.Fog, flood & plan B: how tule fog and high water forced mid-morning moves—and still produced solid straps.Taste test: why California ducks eat milder (hello, rice fat) than NZ birds on invertebrate-heavy diets.Checklist species: pintail, wigeon, teal, a Ross’s goose, and the ongoing quests for mallard and speck before wheels up.🦆 Like these cultural deep dives? Hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share the episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard welcome Cory Overton, California Waterfowl’s new Science Director, for a clear, field-level look at how modern telemetry is rewriting what we know about duck movements—and how that science feeds better habitat work and smarter regs. From the original PINSAT satellite project to today’s GPS/cellular tags and emerging smart bands, Cory explains what the data actually show: longer staging in SONEC/Klamath, pintail that roam like “five-year-olds on espresso,” fog-driven chaos that scatters birds, and why some geese will cross wildfires or even sit down on the ocean to ride out smoke. He also digs into CWA’s role training the next generation with UC Davis and how new assessment tools will tie real duck use to on-the-ground management.Episode highlightsTelemetry 101 to now — from old VHF triangulation to GPS/cellular tags and first-gen smart bands that could run for decadesWhat PINSAT taught us — SONEC as the spring gas station, and how routes/timing have shifted since the early 2000sFog, storms, and smoke — why pea-soup weeks burn calories, scramble patterns, and sometimes push birds hundreds of miles the “wrong” wayPintail vs. mallards — restless travelers vs. homebodies, and how that plays into the new pintail frameworkKlamath staging — more birds lingering north into winter, with some not dropping to the Valley until late (or at all)What’s next at CWA — postseason pintail banding, valley-wide habitat assessment tools, and a UC Davis pipeline for future wetland pros🦆 Like the show? Tap Follow, drop a quick review, and share this one with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Dwight Jones, founder of Closaway Outfitters (Uruguay) and CEO of Okmulgee Fields Inc., to unpack a boutique, American-run operation built for wild birds, predictable shoots, and no-surprises pricing. From why shore blinds mean no waders, to how legal baiting and lead shape reliable duck hunts, to the perdiz over dogs that steal the show—this is a clean, honest look at South American wingshooting done right. Learn travel logistics (LATAM into Montevideo, 2h40 lodge transfer, hunt the day you arrive), what’s truly wild vs. planted, and how Closaway keeps pressure low by resting ponds and limiting hunts. More at closaway.com/about-usEpisode highlightsWhy Uruguay, not just Argentina: high-quality mixed bag (ducks, dove/pigeon, wild perdiz) with shorter drives and afternoon duck hunts that “feel like a war at first light.”Predictable ducks, lower pressure: 30–50 ponds prepped each season, legal baiting, and ponds hunted only 2–3 times to keep birds finishing.All-inclusive, transparent pricing: airport transfers, daily gun rental, laundry, Wi-Fi, meals, and 125 shells/day included—no surprise add-ons at checkout.Guns, shells & safety: quality Beretta/Browning/Bennelli inventory, Magtech ammo, and shore setups that skip horses and chest-deep wades.Species & export notes: Rosybill, White-faced Whistling Duck, Speckled Teal—plus context on limited export rules for skins.Food & culture: Italian/Spanish-inspired meals, cook your harvest, and lodge life that feels like visiting a friend—not a hotel lobby.If you’re curious about a wild, fair-chase South American hunt—without the shell-bill sticker shock—this one lays out the full playbook so you know exactly what you’re getting into.🦆 Like the show? Hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share this with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Carson Odegard sits down with Jeff Smith to break down December’s numbers across California Waterfowl properties—what got better, what got buried under water, and how long tule fog and rolling storms shifted bird behavior. From Staten Island’s goose grind to surprise surges at Potrero Hills and Goose Lake, this is your clear, no-spin field report.By the numbers (December):Staten Island — 3.44 birds/hunter in Dec; season avg 4.3 (leaders: Aleutians, specks)Potrero Hills (Suisun) — 3.4 (up from 1.3 in Nov); spoons, GWT, with wigeon coming onGoose Lake (Tulare Basin) — 3.35; road-closure cancellations, but big success when open (spoons, ring-necks)Grizzly Ranch (Suisun) — 2.24; steady two-bird days (GWT, spoonies)Quimby Island (Delta) — 2.16; mallards + wigeon; slight dip from NovButte Creek Island Ranch (Butte Sink) — 1.83; GWT + ring-necksDenverton (Suisun) — 1.8; spoonies + GWTSanborn Slough (Butte Sink) — 1.74; wigeon + ring-necks; flood closures and deep waterPope Ranch (Dixon) — 0.71 for ducks (mallards); still a strong wild pheasant optionWhat shaped the hunt:Flooding & safety — county road closures and moving water shut some days down; expect a lag before birds re-concentrate after high water.Prolonged tule fog — helped rice country, hurt island visibility/pull at times.Migration pops — late-month pushes showed up in the Grasslands and south valley units.January outlook: Watch for wigeon and pintail to build in Suisun, mallard trickles where floodwaters recede, and more mixed bags at Staten as weather swings churn the Delta.🦆 If this recap helps your game plan, hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share it with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Merry Christmas! This episode drops right before the holiday—here’s to safe hunts, full straps, and time with your crew and family.Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard dig into listener questions—from “what time do you pack it in?” to the weather that really moves birds, why consistency (choke + ammo) beats tinkering, and how to tweak spreads when wind, fog, or pressure make ducks stubborn. They also hit species quirks (why wood ducks and late-season mallards can be maddening, and why specks act different in Suisun), plus the do’s/don’ts of hiding in tules vs. under trees. Want your question on the show? Drop it via the form at calwaterfowl.org → Save It for the Blind.Episode highlightsWhen to call it — why most hunts wrap by about 10:30 and how to read a dead morning versus a late biteBest weather — clear, cold, and a 5–12 mph breeze is better than big gale days; avoid full-moon lullsCalling smarter — practice outside (15 min/day), read wing tips and butts, and remember that whistle work wins in CaliforniaChokes & shells — pick one choke and one velocity… and stop switching mid-seasonHide choices — tules give 360-degree cover; trees can block shots and make ducks warySpreads that finish birds — go lighter with more motion as pressure builds; pull spinners in fog or overcast if birds hang at 40Refuge tactics — scout the pond line, move early if birds are setting elsewhere, keep the sun at your back, and leave a landing hole🦆 Merry Christmas and thank you for riding with us this season. If this helped your game, hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share it with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Alex Keil, president of DEMERBOX, to unpack how a garage-built, Pelican-case speaker turned into a made-in-USA workhorse for hunters and outdoor crews. From Zac Brown’s early buy-in to today’s South Florida build shop, Alex walks through durability tests (yes, trucks and shotguns), smart features like USB-C/A charging, true ported sound with a waterproof plug, 40-hour battery life, and why the team still repairs your unit years down the road.What you’ll learnOrigin story, built for abuse — TV-set audio tech meets Pelican cases; Zac Brown helps scale; U.S. assembly keeps it tough and fixable.Real features that matter — ported audio you can plug for water, floats, doubles as a dry box, and charges your phone inside the case.Specs & models — DV2 (dual-driver stereo) vs. the smaller 1150 case; pair up to six; $249 and $399 price points.Beat-it-up testing — ladder drops, truck tires, even 12-gauge at 70 yards—and it keeps playing.Use cases — from camp music to call box duty, first-aid storage to poolside sound; why outdoor folks are the natural audience.What’s next — cleaner one-button pairing, accessories, and more rugged gear on the roadmap.If you want a speaker that survives the hunt truck, keeps your phone alive, and still thumps at 100%, this episode breaks down the kit—and the culture—that make DEMERBOX a legit piece of field gear.🦆 Dig the convo? Hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share the episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Mark Regalbuto, CEO of MIGRA Ammunition, for a straight-shooting talk on California waterfowling and the nuts and bolts of building precision shotshells. They cover why California is richer duck country than most folks realize—ocean to marsh to rice—and how public-land access shapes the hunt. They also dig into navigating California ammo regulations, COVID-era growth, sustainability trends like biodegradable components, and where MIGRA sees innovation and partnerships heading next.What you’ll hearCalifornia, underrated and accessible — from salt to rice, there’s “a little bit of everything” on public ground.Regulatory reality — the extra hoops to sell and distribute ammo in-state, and why folks hope those rules don’t go national.Scaling through the surge — how COVID demand impacted MIGRA’s operations.Greener components — where biodegradable wads/cases are now and what could make them mainstream.Roadmap & relationships — waterfowl loads, crossover ideas, and how a boutique brand partners in a crowded market.CWA partnership — closing thanks and a welcome to MIGRA as a new corporate supporter of California Waterfowl.🦆 Like the show? Hit Follow, leave a quick review, and share it with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Carson Odegard (fresh off dad duty) and Jeff Smith run a quick, no-nonsense update on how November hunts went across CWA properties—and what’s opening up for December. From Staten Island’s lights-out start to new rice blinds coming online (including veteran blinds), this one’s your fast guide to where birds are working and how to grab a spot.What you’ll hearCarson’s back and lining up winter hunts—then straight into a November conditions snapshot.New access coming online: Gatti is filled and running as a veteran blind; Whitman is up next—and it’s veteran access as well.O’Banion rice blind: still has open dates—good chance to slip in before the next weather bump.Potrero (rice) additions: new Sunday dates in December—reserve your blind at calwaterfowl.org.Hot start at Staten Island: first hunts were phenomenal—as good an opener as we’ve seen there.What’s next: final regular-season draw coming up with a “bunch of really good hunts” to apply for.If you’re planning the next pull, this quick hit tells you what’s hunting, what’s about to, and where to jump on remaining dates.🦆 Like these intel episodes? Tap Follow, drop a quick review, and text it to your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

This week, Jeff sits down with Kevin Azzopardi and Jason Cline of Pardi Calls (Yuba City, CA) to trace how a family machine shop that built industrial turbocharger parts turned its precision tools toward duck and goose calls. Kevin and Jason break down the design choices that make their calls easy to run—and easy to maintain—plus what’s next from the shop.What’s insideMachine-shop roots → call-making: from trains and tugboats to tone boards, why precision machining shaped their sound and reliability.Field-first design: threaded speck call guts and user-friendly assemblies you can take apart, clean, and reassemble to the same tune.Materials that matter: early aluminum bodies, today’s acrylic & wood (with anti-swelling sleeves), and a whistle designed to cover teal-to-pintail notes.New gear coming: a snow call in testing, composite/brass options, and limited custom engraving runs.Family operation: the move from the Bay Area to Yuba City (1998), in-house machining, and local anodizing that keeps tolerances tight.Where to find them: online and at the Bridge Street showroom—pick up a call, run it in person, and choose the look you like.Hunting talk: Gray Lodge stories, public-land realities, and why today’s “adult-onset” hunters are raising the calling bar.If you’re chasing a call that’s easy to blow, tough enough for rice country, and built by folks who hunt, this conversation gets you under the hood at Pardi Calls.🦆 Like the show? Hit Follow, leave a quick review, and share the episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff sits down with Mike Cole—CWA Gold Benefactor, rice grower, lifelong duck hunter, and serious decoy collector—for a grounded, from-the-bootstraps story of how passion turns into habitat, community, and a legacy worth passing on. From carving lessons after school to developing clubs in the Butte Sink, Mike maps the moves, mistakes, and mileposts that shaped his waterfowl life—plus why he and his wife poured so much into Chesapeake Bay retrievers and California Waterfowl.What’s insideRoots & mentors: the early days that hooked him on ducks—and the carver who lit a lifelong fascination with working decoys.Chasing birds north: leaving the Delta for the Butte Sink, joining a club, and learning the realities of leases, partners, and pressure.Building ground the hard way: second mortgages, burn requirements, summer refuge negotiations, and the year-round grind it takes to keep wetlands producing.Dogs that do the work: how Mike and Julie went all-in on Chesapeakes, from weekend trials to national-level success.Decoys with stories: cross-country hunts for classic blocks, how to spot originality, and the pieces he’s still chasing.Why give back: on becoming a CWA Gold Benefactor, supporting hunt programs for years, and making sure the next generation has a place to learn.If you care about ducks, dogs, and doing things the right way, this is a blueprint—equal parts inspiration and practical wisdom—for building a life around waterfowling.🦆 Like what you’re hearing? Hit Follow, leave a quick review, and share the episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff Smith checks in with three boots-on-the-ground voices to break down how California’s opener really went—and what to expect as November weather finally shows up. Guests include Garrett Spann (Manager, Yolo Wildlife Area), Derek Seweck (Wildlife Habitat Manager, Upper Butte Basin), and Orlando Rocha (Environmental Scientist, Grizzly Island Wildlife Area).What you’ll hearOpener by the numbers — solid starts in spots, soft elsewhere; teal and wigeon led many straps while mallards were patchy.Why it felt “quiet” — late rice harvest, limited flood-up in key zones, and a streak of 80°+ bluebird days that scattered birds.Flood-up status & timing — which units are online now, what’s filling next, and how that will shift day-to-day bird use.Local patterns — Yolo’s steady trickle of new water holding birds, Upper Butte’s wood-duck swing not materializing (yet), and Grizzly Island’s east vs. west marsh differences.Youth & access intel — how the Howard Slough youth area and nearby rice options are structured (free roam vs. blinds), plus what to expect on busy Saturdays.Pintail reality check — 3-bird limit is on the books, but most hunters haven’t hit it… yet; watch for classic December–January rice flights.Hunt smarter in the lull — read wind and pressure, pivot units as new water comes up, and be ready when the first real fronts push fresh birds.If you’re lining up your next reservation or boat-in plan, this roundtable gives you a clear read on conditions, timing, and the moves that’ll matter when the weather finally flips.🦆 Dig the intel? Hit Follow, drop a quick review, and text this episode to your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff sits down with Brian Huber and Jason Coslovich to unpack this summer’s banding push and preseason pintail work—what changed with more water on the landscape, how night-lighting in the Klamath Basin actually happens, and why your band reports keep California’s harvest models honest.What’s insideSac Valley bounce-back: swim-in traps, summer water, and a strong run of molting mallards and wood ducks.Klamath after dark: airboats, spotlights, big crates—plus what red-painted bands mean and how crews avoid re-capturing fresh birds.Transmitters 101: what they reveal about nesting and molt, the tradeoffs for different species, and why units keep upgrading the tech.Preseason pintail nets: how state/CWA crews coordinate shots, handle big mixed flocks, and keep mortality low.Oddballs & highlights: redheads and ruddy ducks in force, shorebirds with tiny tags, and a handful of long-lived recaptures.Do your part: how to return a transmitter, why reporting every band matters, and how those data feed adaptive harvest decisions.Get involved: Aleutian trapping help, the Colusa Dinner, college camps, and the Rice Levee nesting program (with grower payments).🦆 If this helps sharpen your season, tap Follow, drop a quick review, and share it with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff sits down with a panel of California wildlife refuge managers to lay out what hunters can expect this season—water deliveries, flood-up timelines, food on the landscape, and how weather and pressure will shape bird movement from the opener through the late split.What you’ll hearWater & habitat status across key refuges: unit-by-unit flood-ups, moist-soil production, and sanctuary plans to hold birds after the first volleysAccess updates: road work, blind repairs, closed-zone adjustments, and any changes to check-station flow or shoot timesSpecies timing: teal on the front end, mallards and wigeon mid-season, specks/snows and divers as winter buildsWeather game plans: how managers react to storms, fog, and hard freezes—and how hunters can adapt to keep birds finishingAfter-season priorities: projects queued up for spring/summer that pay off next fall🦆 If this helps you plan your hunts, hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share the episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Director of Fundraising Jason Minsky joins Jeff Smith to break down how California Waterfowl keeps the lights on and the wetlands wet—banquets, sweepstakes, merch, and a statewide volunteer network that turns passion into real habitat, hunter access, and youth programs. From the 80th-anniversary celebrations to new “bingo + Let’s Make a Deal” nights, this one is a clear map for anyone who wants to help.Episode highlightsWhy fundraising matters: where event dollars go across conservation, hunts, education, and advocacy—right here in California.Volunteer pathways: join a local banquet committee, help “night-of,” or step up to start a new event in your town.ELP (Event Leadership Program): a 5–6 month training track building state, regional, and district leaders from our volunteer base.Ways to give beyond banquets: sweepstakes entries, the gun-a-week calendar, and a refreshed merch line (limited hat drops, fall gear).Membership 101: attending most CWA events includes your annual membership—plus youth Sprig options and life-member perks.Find your fit: upcoming banquets across the state, plus new, high-energy bingo nights that bring in friends who are new to CWA.If you’ve ever said “I should get more involved,” this is your step-by-step. Pick a lane, bring a buddy, and help keep California’s waterfowl future strong.🦆 Join the crew: Hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share this with your blind buddies. Ready to plug in? Head to calwaterfowl.org → Get Involved to volunteer, enter the sweepstakes, or find an event near you.

Waterfowl historian Yancey Forest-Knowles closes the series with a tour of California’s fog belt and beyond—Humboldt Bay, the lagoons north and south of Crescent City, Laguna de Santa Rosa, and the Central Coast from Elkhorn Slough to Morro Bay. We trace how tides, eelgrass, railroads, and reclamation shaped these marshes—and what that means for today’s hunters.Episode highlightsNorth Coast primer: why this stretch is a critical coastal link in the Pacific Flyway and how fog, rain, and working pasturelands still hold birds.Humboldt Bay traditions: public-forward Brant hunting, the roots of sculling, and the gear and etiquette that make it work.Access that remains: boat-in opportunities on flood years, small state parcels, and farm-pond possibilities when conditions line up.Club lore & culture: from early island and bay clubs to the stories of trains stopping at clubhouses—what’s gone, what survived, and why.Central Coast check-in: how most wetlands were converted a century ago, and where hunters still find openings around Elkhorn Slough, Salinas, and Morro Bay.If you’re curious where coastal waterfowling came from—and how to approach it with respect today—this finale ties the history, access, and conservation ethic together.🦆 Like the series? Tap Follow, leave a quick review, and share this one with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Carson and Jeff sit down with John Veon (UC Davis PhD candidate, wetlands & waterfowl) and Andy Atkinson (manager, Bird Haven Ranch) to unpack a five-year experiment in integrated wetland management—using swales, shorter irrigations, and year-round connectivity to cut mosquito production while boosting macroinvertebrates and duck use.What you’ll learnWhy the Valley needs a reset: California flipped its natural water rhythm and now only ~7–10% of naturally functioning wetlands remain—so managers are rebuilding function, not replicas.How the system works: keep wet swales connected through summer and swap 10-day irrigations for ~5-day (or less) pulses to protect annuals (think Timothy), grow food plants, and starve mosquito cycles.Predators, not spray: longer access to water (≈140 days vs. ~20) grows dragonfly/other predators that hammer larvae—nature doing the heavy lifting.Public health partnership: day-to-day coordination with Butte County Mosquito & Vector Control aligns human health (West Nile) with better wetlands.Running cheaper, smarter: timing pumps at night avoids brutal demand charges and still feeds the swales—biology and the power bill pulling the same way.Water source matters: colder well water slows bug production; lift-pump or warmer sources can change bird use patterns.Measuring results: wood-duck fecal DNA diet work, USGS telemetry, and game-camera grids track how birds and wildlife actually respond.If you manage a club pond, volunteer on public ground, or just want sharper habitat instincts, this episode lays out a clear, field-tested blueprint you can scale to your place.🦆 Like the show? Tap follow, leave a quick review, and share this one with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

We’re celebrating 100 episodes of Save it for the Blind with a friendly, fast-paced trivia throwdown. Our hosts Jeff Smith & Carson Odegard welcome a stacked CWA panel—Brian Huber (Wood Duck Program Coordinator & Waterfowl Biologist), Jason Coslovich (Egg Salvage Program Coordinator & Waterfowl Biologist), and Kevin Vella (Regional Biologist & Land Trust Coordinator)—to test what we all think we know about ducks, geese, history, and the laws that shaped American waterfowling.What you’ll hearCWA origins and early club lore—plus the real first name of the organization.Record-breakers: oldest banded birds, the highest-flying duck, and the fastest verified flight.Law & policy classics: MBTA (1918), the lead-shot ban (1991), and the first federal duck stamp (1934).Tools & traditions: the NES Duck Hunt effect, why sink boxes got outlawed, and sound IDs from the sea duck world.Lightning round stats: IOC’s current species count and other numbers every waterfowler should know.MOJO Blade Giveaway (Episode 100)Go to our Instagram or Facebook and find the Episode 100 reel.Like, comment, and share that post to enter. Do it on both platforms to double your chances.Deadline: Enter by September 19. Winner notified: September 26.No purchase necessary. U.S. residents, 18+.🦆 Thanks for riding with us to 100. If you enjoy the show, tap Follow, leave a quick 5-star review, and share this episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations (and the flyway) thriving.

Karl Gunzer, Director of Purina’s Sporting Dog Group, joins Jeff and Carson to trace his path from Montana duck hunter to California trainer to industry leader—and to lay out clear, field-tested basics for keeping a retriever healthy, steady, and ready for season. We also talk California’s under-appreciated waterfowl culture and public access opportunities that still produce strong hunts.Episode highlightsFuel that works: why performance diets (e.g., 30/20) prioritize fat as a dog’s primary energy source—and how that translates to stamina in the field.Who feeds what: Pro insights from major championships where a large majority of starters are on Pro Plan.Grain-free vs. science: Purina’s take on grains, “novel proteins,” and choosing formulas based on evidence—not marketing.Feeding for performance: why Karl favors one evening meal before work, plus simple hydration tips like floating kibble.Weather & calories: how cold snaps change energy needs (rule-of-thumb adjustments).Tests decoded: the real differences between field trials and hunt tests, and why both can make better gun dogs.Why Purina backs conservation: connecting dog nutrition, rice country, and on-the-ground habitat work with groups like CWA.🦆 If this one helps your dog work better this season, hit follow, leave a quick review, and share it with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with waterfowl historian Yancey Forest-Knowles to unpack the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta—its island clubs, levees and tides, and the public access that still lets you chase mallards and specks on big water today.What you’ll hearHow the Delta was built — from early private island claims and hand-built levees to today’s twin pressures of saltwater intrusion and export pumping.Club lore & big names — Twitchell Island’s first club (1880), Venice and Mandeville’s eras, and the “Mallard Hole” stories tied to Barron Hilton and Hollywood guests.Flood risk is real — why peat islands subside and how Jones Tract’s 2004 failure floated a clubhouse away.Public opportunity — boat-in spots and state-permitted floating blinds at Frank’s Tract (plus Big Break, Stone Lakes, Decker & more), and the on-water etiquette that keeps it working.Access rules that matter — anchor next to levees to hunt, but don’t set foot on them.Today’s mix of ag & restoration — CWA ownership on Quimby and habitat work across Medford, Sherman, and sister islands.From 19th-century market hunts to modern floating blinds, this one maps the Delta’s history and gives practical pointers for anyone looking to do it right on big water.🦆 Liking the series? Tap follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.