Ducks Unlimited Podcast

MONTHLY SPONSORSOld Timer Knives - https://www.theoldtimer.comMossy Oak - https://www.mossyoak.com/ Weatherby - https://weatherby.comMorton Buildings - https://mortonbuildings.comDuck Club Bourbon - https://duckclubbourbon.comBlack-bellied whistling ducks have gone from a rarity in Louisiana to one of the most recognizable birds on the landscape. But how did it happen, and what makes them so different from every other duck in North America?Host Dr. Jerad Henson sits down with Paul Link, Research Program Manager at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge and one of the leading researchers studying black-bellied whistling ducks, for a fascinating deep dive into one of waterfowl biology’s biggest success stories.Paul explains how the species expanded across the Gulf Coast, why traditional surveys struggle to measure their population, and what years of banding and research have revealed about their movements, nesting behavior, and survival strategies. The conversation also explores their unusual parenting style, long breeding season, adaptability to urban environments, and their surprising ability to avoid hunters.Topics CoveredThe history of black-bellied whistling ducks in LouisianaWhy their population exploded over the last two decadesNest boxes, giant clutches, and incredible parental careMigration, movements, and surprising band recoveriesWhy they thrive in cities, suburbs, marshes, and rice fieldsThe mystery of their low harvest and band recovery ratesDisease, survival, and population regulationListen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: [email protected]:Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

MONTHLY SPONSORSOld Timer Knives - https://www.theoldtimer.comMossy Oak - https://www.mossyoak.com/ Weatherby - https://weatherby.comMorton Buildings - https://mortonbuildings.comDuck Club Bourbon - https://duckclubbourbon.comMost people would quit after five straight losses. Tim Taylor kept going for more than 30 years.Recorded during the Federal Duck Stamp Contest at Ducks Unlimited headquarters, host Katie Burke sits down with artist Tim Taylor for a candid conversation about art, perseverance, competition, and the pursuit of one of wildlife art’s highest honors.Tim shares how a chance encounter with a magazine article introduced him to the Federal Duck Stamp Contest and launched a decades-long journey studying waterfowl, traveling the country, seeking feedback from top artists, and continually improving his craft. Along the way, he reflects on his friendship with Adam Grimm, the value of criticism, the evolution of illustration as a profession, and why he's still pursuing a Duck Stamp win after more than three decades.The conversation also explores the importance of mentorship, the Junior Duck Stamp Program, Norman Rockwell’s influence on Tim’s career, and what it takes to stay committed to a creative goal for a lifetime.Topics CoveredDiscovering the Federal Duck Stamp ContestGrowing up with dreams of becoming an illustratorLetters from Norman RockwellSurviving five straight first-round eliminationsLearning from Adam Grimm and other top artistsThe strategy behind a successful Duck Stamp entryThe importance of critique and mentorshipThe role of the Junior Duck Stamp ProgramWhy Tim is still chasing his first Duck Stamp winListen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: [email protected]:Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

MONTHLY SPONSORSOld Timer Knives - https://www.theoldtimer.comMossy Oak - https://www.mossyoak.com/ Weatherby - https://weatherby.comMorton Buildings - https://mortonbuildings.comDuck Club Bourbon - https://duckclubbourbon.comWhy does some venison taste gamey, and what can hunters do to prevent it?Ascend host Adrian Jessen sits down with wild-game chef Cate Meade, a former Top 4 MasterChef finalist and Chopped: Castaways competitor, to talk about cooking, hunting, foraging, and building a deeper connection with the food on your plate.Cate explains why overcooking and under-seasoning are two of the biggest mistakes people make with venison. She also explains when a salted milk soak helps, why she prefers dry brining, how ingredients like mustard, garlic, and herbs complement wild game, and why the right finishing temperature matters.The conversation goes beyond venison. Cate discusses growing up in Chicago, discovering hunting with her father, competing on reality television, foraging for morels and wild plants, safely identifying mushrooms, and turning her connection with the outdoors into a culinary career.In this episode:• Why venison can develop a strong or “gamey” flavor• How milk, salt, and dry brining affect wild game• The danger of overcooking venison• Cate’s favorite venison dish• A simple wild-game recipe for reluctant cooks• Safe and responsible foraging• What reality cooking competitions are really like• Learning to judge doneness by touch• Respecting and using what you harvestLearn more about Cate and find her recipes:https://www.wildwoodschef.com/Follow @wildwoodchef on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: [email protected]:Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

If you're a believer, and especially if you're not, don't miss this year's edition of DU Halloween. In this edition, Cam Hale and Kyle Philson of Expanded Perspectives Podcast team up with Ducks Unlimited’s Wade Shoemaker and onX's Lake Pickle for more unsettling stories from the woods and skies. Lake walks us through the most harrowing night he's ever had in the woods... and the only experience he's had that defies natural explanation. From there, Cam and Kyle recount viewer-submitted stories about the Jersey Devil, the white coyote of Comanche, a Thunderbird spotted over Alaska, and a few about everybody's favorite cryptid: Bigfoot.Sponsored by onX. @onXHuntThese stories are presented as personal accounts, listener submissions and folklore for entertainment and discussion.Watch the secret episode and continue into the Unlimited Scares playlist using the links below.SECRET EPISODE:UNLIMITED SCARES: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFYq1yV30ntJgv1mNsES2ASAxJ9jthYXgEXPANDED PERSPECTIVES: www.expandedperspectives.com@expandedperpectives@dosamigosproductionsONX:  @onXHunt Lake Pickle:@lake.dilpickle @lakepickleWade Shoemaker: @wadeshoemaker#Halloween #ScaryStories #ExpandedPerspectivesListen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: [email protected]:Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

MONTHLY SPONSORSOld Timer Knives - https://www.theoldtimer.comMossy Oak - https://www.mossyoak.com/ Weatherby - https://weatherby.comMorton Buildings - https://mortonbuildings.comDuck Club Bourbon - https://duckclubbourbon.comSometimes the hunting is great. Sometimes it isn't. The best trips are the ones you'd take either way.Recorded late at night after the final hunt of Paloma Blanco 2026, host Wade Shoemaker sits down with John Dunaway, Barton Ramsey, and Ryan Yarnell for an unfiltered conversation about friendship, family, traditions, and why one South Texas dove hunt has become a yearly reunion for some of the outdoor industry's closest friends.What started as a small gathering of friends has evolved into a multi-generational tradition that now includes kids, grandkids, chefs, outdoor brands, nonprofit fundraising, and stories that grow with every passing year. The group reflects on the origins of Paloma Blanco, the people who make it special, and why meaningful traditions don't happen overnight. They are built one year, one friendship, and one memory at a time. Topics CoveredHow Paloma Blanco grew from a simple dove hunt into a traditionThe role friendship plays in building meaningful experiencesWhy the hunting often becomes secondary to the peopleRaising kids around outdoor traditions and communityThe Golden Ticket fundraiser and conservation impactLessons on hospitality, generosity, and building cultureWhy anyone can create their own version of Paloma BlancoThe value of time spent outdoors with people you care aboutListen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: [email protected]:Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.