As a wetland regulator for the State of Michigan and avid duck hunter, I am over here chuckling hearing this panel of conservationists, whom I deeply admire, say things like, "This hypothetical specific area might not be a wetland, because it's not wet." While I recognize it's a supposition, y'all would not BELIEVE the amount of people I meet on a weekly basis who really think that. That hypothetical area that's actually a wetland "may" not be wet THAT specific day you're looking at it, but it's probably still regulated under Part 303. If it has hydric soils, evidence of hydrology a preponderance of mostly FAC, FACW or OBL wetland vegetation, it's a wetland. Is it regulated? Most likely. Definitely check with your local/ state folks about need for permits. Great show, guys!
Sorry Steve, the farmer isn't gonna ask for programs to restore the wetland, he's looking for an avenue to drain-it without loosing his USDA benefits. That's the Reality -predominately.
Farm the best and preserve the rest!!! Every farmer needs to be heavily incentivized to restore the prairie potholes and do away with so much tile drainage and send all their expensive fertilizer down stream. They’re always amazed at how much better crops do during drought years when they actually are incentivized to hold water on their farms.
Steve is right about waterfowl meat utilization. Many of ducks get breasted out and the rest thrown away. I don’t believe that’s regional, but a nationwide occurrence.
I agree about meat utilization. Had access lost to state land because rancher was complaining about hunter shooting ducks and leaving them, I saw those ducks, they breasted Buffleheads left the carcass, looked like a whole duck. Same with the recipes lots of breast recipes, same for your goose pastrami. Few recipes for the whole duck, those legs and carcass makes unbelievable soup broth.
Kentucky local here. I took my hunter safety right around covid. I had been shooting most my life. Our class included the field portion at the end. We were in a facility that did not allow shooting firearms. We all lined up, the instructor had a pellet rifle, loaded it, handed it over and you were expected to turn the safety to fire, shoot the target 10 yards away, turn back to safe and hand back to instructor. He looked at me and said "sorry man, its the rules we have to do it this way" I said no problem, whatever i have to do to pass lol. And went on my way
After listening to this podcast I thought to myself that the first Du dinner I went to was 1968 in Madison, Wi and that was a few drinks, a meal and watching movies of work in Canada no auctions or anything. The Rockford Il. dinner in 1970 was the first in the country to have raffles and auctions. The message has not changed since then. All the surveys and stuff is make work. Rain and snow makes up 90 % of the impact on the prairies. the rest is micromanageing. Thants my rant for the month.
Will, I have to say I'm slightly envious of your history with Ducks Unlimited. However, Big ag operations dedicated to farming for waterfowl have made more than a "micromanagement" impact on the migration. Winter weather, flooding, native wetland health and habitat do not influence the migration as much as it should. The natural world for waterfowl has significantly changed in the past 20 years, and they have adjusted to it.
From the PNW, and I wholeheartedly agree with Steve about meat wasting. So many people around here just breast out their ducks, and the rest goes in the trash. Thighs make the meanest chili.
I agree with Ryan I hunt many states HIP info is pre hunt at the license purchase I have been involved in many extended surveys The info has a lag for a year or two As I travel many states it seems conflicting info is collected Great podcast for the waterfowlers Always enjoy Thanks
Wish I got the notification for this lol I want more of this young newish to waterfowl and deer plus I just moved to Virginia. Soaking up as much as I can.
Totally agree with the underutillization of waterfowl. People spend an insane amount of money to outfit themselves to hunt ducks and geese and just breast out the birds. I've gotten pounds of amazing snack sticks from legs and wings that aren't shot up. Hearts and gizzards are great if done right, and the livers make an outstanding pate. Just seems wasteful to me. For context, we were always in the top 5% of total birds harvested in WA. Mostly mallards, wigeon, pintail, and teal. Was itba lotnof work? Yes. It was also a lot of work, expense, and time to hunt them.
Mr Rinella, you did not ruin the show. You said what needs to be said. Duck hunters are the most egregious hunters of all. Half the birds do not even get breasted out, they are thrown in a ditch or put in a trash bag and put in the trash. Most ducks are killed for Facebook and Instagram pictures. I've seen this for years. Back when I started duck hunting it was a gentleman's sport. Now it has become what our critics say, just people killing stuff for enjoyment. Now obviously not all are like this but 50% are. So sad.
Controversial opinion: Crop management and seasonal flooding efforts in the Midwest have destroyed duck hunting in the southern central and Mississippi flyways. The ducks don’t even come down until the last two weeks of the season. I used to be a die hard duck hunter. I used to kill TONS of ducks in Texas. Now I don’t even bother going anymore. Sure, I could go out and shoot a bird or two if I’m lucky. The days of 2 and 3 man limits in most parts of Texas are long gone.
I really liked Hunter's Ed. We got to go over to the local Pheasant and Deer club for a couple of weeks, and the field day was a blast! This was circa 1990. Of all the things I learned at hunters safety, I vividly remember shooting a flintlock and learning about paradoxical undressing from an instructional video about the dangers of hypothermia. Some fictitious dude lost in the woods. Our main Hunter's safety instructor was a local legend who taught the class for decades at the Field and Stream.
My hunter safety my field portion they used a 20ga with different loads we shot one round of each load all the way up to slugs we had to maintain barrel safety finger safety (fingers off the trigger until you’re ready to fire) and something mine did that I haven’t heard of since we had like an entire hour long conversation on NOT taking running shots on game
Not much of a duck hunter (have done it, it's been years and I was a kid). How do possession limits work when traveling out of state? Can I only possess ducks up to my home state limit?
Randall, I also did my hunters safety in Ohio about 20 years ago and I have the exact same story. Year later I couldn’t read the smeared ink on my hunters safety card.
I've been going to Saskatchewan since early 80's and have wondered if when potholes dry out and farmers plow them for planting they ever hold water like before. That plot of land has not been broken for 10000 years until then. An old duck hunter wants to know. Never have seen DU or Delta address this question in the 50 yrs, I have sent them money.
😂 I have to laugh, but who is having a hard time cleaning a fox squirrel to the point where they complain about it in comparison to other squirrels? I want to meet that guy and get a read on him. Something tells me he'll complain about catching a 40" pike because it's more labor intensive to clean than a pickerel.
What about the majority of the east coast where we never see many pintails if any at all. Here in Maryland and Virginia I’ve been hunting hard for 10 years and only shot 2 pintails. Only ever seen 5 shot in 10 years. Why would this benefit us to be able to shoot 3
Hey guys. From idaho, i like the app our fish and game came up with makes everything easy and a good tool if you dont have your regs on you. Im always honest on the survey its our responsibility
Yes these population studies are way wrong. The duck hu ting is completely over here in Northern California. It’s not worth going out there for 1 bird. Even the snow geese have disappeared. Normally we see flocks of snows in the thousands. This year they are in small groups of a couple hundred or less.
I’m going to disagree with Steve on the field day portion of hunter safety. I remember as a kid doing it in Tennessee - we had to safely load a shotgun and fire it at a clay pigeon twice. I was 8 years old and was surprised after I got my safety card (30 years later I’ve still got it!) how many people failed. Fire arm safety seems like common sense…but common sense ain’t so common as they say (even with a literal game warden standing over their shoulder).
Here in Florida, the hunter education course required to obtain a license ALSO qualifies you for a concealed weapons permit. 2 birds, 1 stone. Is it that way elsewhere?
Agreed. North Central Indiana hasnt ever been a fantastic waterfowl area but were still able to get our fill of ducks and geese off the local rivers and lakes but the last few years its been miserable. Barely even see birds locally anymore until after season ends and the winter cold is in full effect. It was 60 degrees on christmas this year and now seasons over and its just now getting below freezing. Dont even see birds move in until last week/after season but seasons stay the same.
As a wetland regulator for the State of Michigan and avid duck hunter, I am over here chuckling hearing this panel of conservationists, whom I deeply admire, say things like, "This hypothetical specific area might not be a wetland, because it's not wet." While I recognize it's a supposition, y'all would not BELIEVE the amount of people I meet on a weekly basis who really think that. That hypothetical area that's actually a wetland "may" not be wet THAT specific day you're looking at it, but it's probably still regulated under Part 303. If it has hydric soils, evidence of hydrology a preponderance of mostly FAC, FACW or OBL wetland vegetation, it's a wetland. Is it regulated? Most likely. Definitely check with your local/ state folks about need for permits. Great show, guys!
Sorry Steve, the farmer isn't gonna ask for programs to restore the wetland, he's looking for an avenue to drain-it without loosing his USDA benefits. That's the Reality -predominately.
Agree. While they like to see the wildlife, they will change the area if it would be beneficial to themselves financially
Farming for waterfowl is more lucrative than farming for grain.
Only gonna get worse with all the field tile being laid
Farm the best and preserve the rest!!! Every farmer needs to be heavily incentivized to restore the prairie potholes and do away with so much tile drainage and send all their expensive fertilizer down stream. They’re always amazed at how much better crops do during drought years when they actually are incentivized to hold water on their farms.
Steve is right about waterfowl meat utilization. Many of ducks get breasted out and the rest thrown away. I don’t believe that’s regional, but a nationwide occurrence.
I’m guilty of it, that’s how I was raised to do so but never again
Not uncommon to find full birds in the trash at a gas station or still at the boat ramp around here
@ you and me both
I agree about meat utilization. Had access lost to state land because rancher was complaining about hunter shooting ducks and leaving them, I saw those ducks, they breasted Buffleheads left the carcass, looked like a whole duck. Same with the recipes lots of breast recipes, same for your goose pastrami. Few recipes for the whole duck, those legs and carcass makes unbelievable soup broth.
I still have my Michigan Hunter Safety Cert from 2007, when i was 14. I use it as a bookmark in a copy of A Sand County Almanac.
She seemed like a really cool person, thanks for having her on.
Kentucky local here. I took my hunter safety right around covid. I had been shooting most my life. Our class included the field portion at the end. We were in a facility that did not allow shooting firearms. We all lined up, the instructor had a pellet rifle, loaded it, handed it over and you were expected to turn the safety to fire, shoot the target 10 yards away, turn back to safe and hand back to instructor. He looked at me and said "sorry man, its the rules we have to do it this way" I said no problem, whatever i have to do to pass lol. And went on my way
After listening to this podcast I thought to myself that the first Du dinner I went to was 1968 in Madison, Wi and that was a few drinks, a meal and watching movies of work in Canada no auctions or anything. The Rockford Il.
dinner in 1970 was the first in the country to have raffles and auctions. The message has not changed since then. All the surveys and stuff is make work. Rain and snow makes up 90 % of the impact on the prairies.
the rest is micromanageing. Thants my rant for the month.
Will, I have to say I'm slightly envious of your history with Ducks Unlimited. However, Big ag operations dedicated to farming for waterfowl have made more than a "micromanagement" impact on the migration. Winter weather, flooding, native wetland health and habitat do not influence the migration as much as it should. The natural world for waterfowl has significantly changed in the past 20 years, and they have adjusted to it.
I don't get people who hunt but don't like actually eating the animals.
As a new hunter id be interested in seeing alternative methods of hunting like duck huntin outta kayaks etc.
From the PNW, and I wholeheartedly agree with Steve about meat wasting. So many people around here just breast out their ducks, and the rest goes in the trash. Thighs make the meanest chili.
“Big Duck Energy” has to be a new meateater t-shirt. I laughed my ass off 😂😂😂
With an illustration on a good cypress hole, or rice field. 💯
I would by it the hour of release. Put "big ducks energy" with a fat Canadian Goose on it
I agree with Ryan
I hunt many states HIP info is pre hunt at the license purchase
I have been involved in many extended surveys
The info has a lag for a year or two
As I travel many states it seems conflicting info is collected
Great podcast for the waterfowlers
Always enjoy
Thanks
great show and guest, thank you!
Wish I got the notification for this lol I want more of this young newish to waterfowl and deer plus I just moved to Virginia. Soaking up as much as I can.
Totally agree with the underutillization of waterfowl. People spend an insane amount of money to outfit themselves to hunt ducks and geese and just breast out the birds. I've gotten pounds of amazing snack sticks from legs and wings that aren't shot up. Hearts and gizzards are great if done right, and the livers make an outstanding pate. Just seems wasteful to me. For context, we were always in the top 5% of total birds harvested in WA. Mostly mallards, wigeon, pintail, and teal. Was itba lotnof work? Yes. It was also a lot of work, expense, and time to hunt them.
Mr Rinella, you did not ruin the show. You said what needs to be said. Duck hunters are the most egregious hunters of all. Half the birds do not even get breasted out, they are thrown in a ditch or put in a trash bag and put in the trash. Most ducks are killed for Facebook and Instagram pictures. I've seen this for years. Back when I started duck hunting it was a gentleman's sport. Now it has become what our critics say, just people killing stuff for enjoyment. Now obviously not all are like this but 50% are. So sad.
Everybody run with the orange hat idea in every state! That is so much better!
Controversial opinion: Crop management and seasonal flooding efforts in the Midwest have destroyed duck hunting in the southern central and Mississippi flyways. The ducks don’t even come down until the last two weeks of the season. I used to be a die hard duck hunter. I used to kill TONS of ducks in Texas. Now I don’t even bother going anymore. Sure, I could go out and shoot a bird or two if I’m lucky. The days of 2 and 3 man limits in most parts of Texas are long gone.
In new york we don't have a field portion for hunting license, but we have one for archery.
I really liked Hunter's Ed. We got to go over to the local Pheasant and Deer club for a couple of weeks, and the field day was a blast! This was circa 1990.
Of all the things I learned at hunters safety, I vividly remember shooting a flintlock and learning about paradoxical undressing from an instructional video about the dangers of hypothermia. Some fictitious dude lost in the woods.
Our main Hunter's safety instructor was a local legend who taught the class for decades at the Field and Stream.
Listened to this coincidentally after Barbequing three Widgeon on the Weber whitch were delicious. NorCal
My hunter safety my field portion they used a 20ga with different loads we shot one round of each load all the way up to slugs we had to maintain barrel safety finger safety (fingers off the trigger until you’re ready to fire) and something mine did that I haven’t heard of since we had like an entire hour long conversation on NOT taking running shots on game
Not much of a duck hunter (have done it, it's been years and I was a kid). How do possession limits work when traveling out of state? Can I only possess ducks up to my home state limit?
Goes off the possession limit of the state you are hunting I am pretty sure. Most states follow the federal possession limit of 2 or 3 days.
Randall, I also did my hunters safety in Ohio about 20 years ago and I have the exact same story. Year later I couldn’t read the smeared ink on my hunters safety card.
I've been going to Saskatchewan since early 80's and have wondered if when potholes dry out and farmers plow them for planting they ever hold water like before. That plot of land has not been broken for 10000 years until then.
An old duck hunter wants to know. Never have seen DU or Delta address this question in the 50 yrs, I have sent them money.
That's not a beer there in front of you Cal!
😂 I have to laugh, but who is having a hard time cleaning a fox squirrel to the point where they complain about it in comparison to other squirrels?
I want to meet that guy and get a read on him. Something tells me he'll complain about catching a 40" pike because it's more labor intensive to clean than a pickerel.
What about the majority of the east coast where we never see many pintails if any at all.
Here in Maryland and Virginia I’ve been hunting hard for 10 years and only shot 2 pintails. Only ever seen 5 shot in 10 years. Why would this benefit us to be able to shoot 3
Come to California and see
Hey guys. From idaho, i like the app our fish and game came up with makes everything easy and a good tool if you dont have your regs on you. Im always honest on the survey its our responsibility
To Randall about his hunter safety card. Every hunter from ohio that hunts out of state does the exact same thing.😂
only reason the population is up because they havent had to migrate south the past 2 years.. they didnt start traveling until after duck season in MN
Yes these population studies are way wrong. The duck hu ting is completely over here in Northern California. It’s not worth going out there for 1 bird. Even the snow geese have disappeared. Normally we see flocks of snows in the thousands. This year they are in small groups of a couple hundred or less.
Can I be the guy in the corner when you explain that one to Farm Bureau?
Idk I lived and breathed waterfowl hunting when I was young. I quit because of the changes I saw and the disrespect for public lands and wildlife.
I’m going to disagree with Steve on the field day portion of hunter safety. I remember as a kid doing it in Tennessee - we had to safely load a shotgun and fire it at a clay pigeon twice. I was 8 years old and was surprised after I got my safety card (30 years later I’ve still got it!) how many people failed. Fire arm safety seems like common sense…but common sense ain’t so common as they say (even with a literal game warden standing over their shoulder).
Man, lot of wrong information on Arkansas duck hunting.
Anything in particular?
@@stephenjackkson4238 One Duck limit and 12 shell limit off the top of my head.
Arkansas offers a full online hunter ed with no field requirement . that what i did in 2014
Here in Florida, the hunter education course required to obtain a license ALSO qualifies you for a concealed weapons permit. 2 birds, 1 stone. Is it that way elsewhere?
Wisconsin is the same...well it counts as the training to obtain ccw permit at least
Steve, you ruined the show hahaha just kidding, great conversation.
loved it thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
💯
quak
Duck hunting has gotten significantly worse in the Great Lakes region.
Yep, they have been migrating later on in the season lately.
Agreed. North Central Indiana hasnt ever been a fantastic waterfowl area but were still able to get our fill of ducks and geese off the local rivers and lakes but the last few years its been miserable. Barely even see birds locally anymore until after season ends and the winter cold is in full effect. It was 60 degrees on christmas this year and now seasons over and its just now getting below freezing. Dont even see birds move in until last week/after season but seasons stay the same.
The meateater crew has become totally detached from reality.
Management tree haha 20:10
Ducks taste like muddy fishy chicken..
Some do for sure. Been a fan of Canada goose so far
What you talkin bout Willis??? You need to learn how to cook. A plucked wood duck or mallard on the grill is one of the best tasting birds on earth.
Imma be honest they aren’t very good. Some people have a preference for them they are lucky.
You ain't cooking hamburger. You cook them like a fine sreak , nice and rare with a good red wine and maybe some polenta, if you know to cook well.
That’s just crazy talk, duck is delicious