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Lifelong Arkansas waterfowlers Brent Birch and Cason Short discuss duck hunting's past, present, and future with various thought-provoking leaders in the duck-hunting community. The guys will discuss days afield, waterfowl conservation, and stewardship with the goal of leaving the sport of duck and goose hunting better than they found it.
Presented by Yeti, Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Sitka Gear, Purina Pro Plan, and Ducks Unlimited.
134 Episodes
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The 2025–2026 duck season proved one thing: success depended on where you stood and when you showed up. With mallard numbers down and dry conditions gripping much of the Mississippi Flyway and Central Flyway, many hunters faced a hurdle right out of the gate. Then, just as the season wound down, a blast of snow, sleet, and ice slammed the Deep South, locking up habitat and reshuffling birds overnight. For some, it was a last-minute gift that sent the season out on a high note. For others, it ...
Iconic North American waterfowler and legendary outdoor photographer Lee Kjos joins the show, carrying with him a lifetime of sunrises, wingbeats, and miles traveled beneath open skies. From the disappearing prairie potholes of Saskatchewan to the river bottoms of Missouri, Kjos shares what he’s seen this past season and the realities of duck hunting's struggles. His reflections are honest and, at times, sobering, but they are also rooted in a deep love for wild places and the birds that bind...
Perry Partain was raised in the L’Anguille River bottoms of East Arkansas, tagging along with his Depression-era grandfather on squirrel hunts and growing up in a time when ducks were abundant, unpressured, and limits could be taken without a duck call or a single decoy. Fast forward 40 years, and the world he knew has changed almost beyond recognition. In this episode, Partain offers a steady, clear-eyed look at what’s happening in Arkansas’s public flooded timber, what’s driving the decline...
Two of the sharpest minds in waterfowl science are back and they aren’t here to sugarcoat what's going on with the sport. Brad Cohen (Cohen Wildlife Lab) and Doug Osborne (Snowden Center for Waterfowl Excellence) dig into the hard truth behind duck hunting’s recent decline, what’s actually driving it, and more importantly, what we can do about it. They cut through the noise, separate fact from folklore, and lay out what truly matters versus what should fall further down the priority list. It’...
After a much-needed reset filled with friends, family, and chasing greenheads, Cason and Brent are back behind the mic just in time for the stretch run of duck season. In this episode, the guys kick around a handful of timely topics, from a measured take on the Woodruff County baiting bust to boots-on-the-ground observations of how the season has unfolded so far. They also dive into the challenges of unseasonably warm weather, the full-moon blues, and why even a little rain could change thing...
We hope everyone is experiencing a wonderful holiday season and the ducks are finding your decoys. With all that is going on this time of year, The Standard Sportsman is re-airing shows from this past summer that we believe are worth another listen. New episodes will return January 8, 2026, as duck season gets on the downhill slide. The New Year's edition replays an interview with Saskatchewan farmer and conservationist Lorne Scott...wise words from a tenured Canadian farmer who truly cares a...
With the holidays upon us and schedules packed, we’re taking a moment to revisit two favorite segments from this past summer. We start with Jason Smith, a southeast Arkansas rice farmer and duck hunter, followed by Scott Perry, founder of McAlister and Mountain Khakis and a traditional waterfowler in every sense of the word. Happy holidays, and thank you for being part of The Standard Sportsman. >> Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro ...
What do Arkansas’s world-class trout streams have to do with duck hunting? A lot more than most people realize. Fly fishing guide and avid duck hunter Jordan Case joins the show to reveal the unexpected ways these two passions intersect—and why Arkansas is facing a pivotal moment in protecting the habitat and culture that sustain both. Jordan also looks back on his early days in the duck woods, his journey as a competitive junior caller, and the invaluable lessons he learned under the mentor...
Duck season is officially underway across the Mississippi and Central Flyways, and the guys break down what they’re seeing both locally and across the region. They share early-season observations, discuss emerging patterns, and offer insight into how conditions are shaping hunters’ experiences so far. The conversation also turns to rules and regulations, including a preliminary proposal from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Arkansas’s upcoming two-year regulation cycle. Expect thought...
Christian Frierson’s duck hunting journey started with 8-hour weekend hauls from northwest Louisiana to the legendary Dave Donaldson Black River WMA in northeast Arkansas. Those road-warrior trips forged an obsession that eventually carried him into the Red River bottoms of southwest Arkansas, where his family acquired a piece of ground with raw potential. What followed was a decade-long evolution from wide-eyed public-land hunter to a meticulous habitat manager and committed steward of the r...
What does picking up trash at a public boat ramp have to do with reshaping the future of duck hunting? Arkansas hunter Ich Stewart joins the show to break down the rise of The Public Timber Project and how a simple cleanup effort became a movement, where it’s headed next, and a few big announcements that go far beyond trash bags and parking lots. The guys also dive into a candid conversation about public-land hunting culture, the “us-versus-everybody” mindset, and what it will take to build a...
Duck hunters love to debate season dates and often, those opinions line up perfectly with their own decoy spread. But for those who manage habitat, timing isn’t just about convenience; it’s about biology, migration timing, and season-long sustainability for private and public land duck hunters. Aligning habitat strategies with season frameworks requires balance, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of what ducks need—and don't—before, during, and after the season. Plus, David Schuessler,...
After a lengthy off-season, duck season is cracking open up north and knocking on the door down south. Reports out of Canada and the Dakotas are all over the map—mallards are spotty up there, but a few are finally filtering into Arkansas and beyond. Brent and Cason dive into what’s shaping the season ahead: mounting pressure on ducks that goes deeper than the gun, the idea of smaller limits for better hunts, and the “midpoint theory” that just happens to line up with this week. They wrap it a...
In an era when unity could be our greatest asset, duck hunters seem increasingly divided not just over tactics but also over identity, ethics, and access. In this thought-provoking episode, Brent and Cason unpack the growing tensions within the waterfowling community and where that energy could be better spent. Some of these debates carry weight, while others are rooted more in opinion than impact. From public vs. private land access to gear choices and regional rivalries, the hosts explore t...
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has become one of the most talked-about wildlife issues in recent years—raising concern, questions, and plenty of debate. Arkansas and its neighboring states are racing to understand and control its spread after a surge in cases. In this episode, the guys trade duck blinds for deer woods, sitting down with Cory Gray and Ralph Meeker from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and Dr. Marcelo Jorge from the University of Georgia to unpack what the latest research...
A new chapter in Arkansas’s waterfowl story is being written. Through the generosity of David Snowden Jr., Merritt Dyke, and a few passionate supporters, a bold vision for the future of ducks and wetlands is coming to life. At the University of Arkansas–Monticello, Dr. Doug Osborne and his team are leading the charge with the creation of the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence and the Dyke–Snowden Endowed Chair—a first-of-its-kind commitment to research that ties science to the soul of duc...
Back in 2017, Arkansas native Austin Foster started experimenting in his shop with one goal — to build the ultimate turkey load. What began as tinkering turned into obsession: countless tests, tweaks, and trial runs until he landed on a shotshell that blew his hunting buddies away. Word spread fast, and before long Rocky Ridge Ammo Co. was born. Today, the brand is redefining performance with premium, handcrafted TSS and stacked steel loads that waterfowlers swear by. In this episode, Foster ...
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Shawn Daniel grew up chasing mallards in the Arkansas timber, and after eight combat deployments with the Rangers and a stop in the corporate world, he’s come full circle. Today, Daniel leads Darby’s Warrior Support, a nonprofit dedicated to introducing military special operators to the traditions and healing power of duck hunting. In this powerful episode, Shawn shares how the camaraderie of the duck blind offers space for combat veterans to open up about their stor...
Theories abound as to how one attracts and holds ducks on a property. Imprinting is often associated with dumping corn after the season but is it all that effective? Cason and Brent sift through the impact of quality habitat before, during and after the season and its effects on public and private land hunting. There might be a little SEC football chatter as well. >> Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Ducks Unlimited, Sitka Gear, Diamond M Land Development, Perfect Limit Outdoors...
Gator Tail Outboards has become a household name in the waterfowl world, but it all started with a college side project. Founder Kyle Broussard began tinkering with shallow-water motors and turned that curiosity into an iconic brand. Alongside Bubba Watkins, who now leads sales, the two share the story of how Gator Tail grew from a single motor into a complete line of boats. But this episode isn’t just about duck boats. Broussard and Watkins open up about the troubling decline of Louisiana’s ...
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