Dive Bomb Squadcast

Revival Year! After a 2-year break, Nathan, Cody, and Ashur return to bring the Dive Bomb podcast back—now on video! Ashur discusses the reason for the hiatus and what listeners can expect moving forward. Cody dives into big updates, including the new HQ location, SquadFest 2025, and Kings Bend Farms, while Ashur shares details from the first few road trips, early season reports, and what's in store for the rest of the season. Tune in for exciting news and the future of Dive Bomb!

With a busy season ahead, this episode of the Squadcast was bittersweet as it's the last time you will hear from us for a while. We first touched on a quick recap of SquadFest 2022 before making an official announcement for SquadFest 2023, so be sure to mark your calendars for July 28th-29th, 2023! We then get into freelance waterfowl hunting basics and the steps you need to take to experience success while doing your own thing in unfamiliar territory. Get your buddies together, load up the dogs, step outside your comfort zone, and go somewhere and make some memories!

SquadFest is amongst us, and Cody and Ashley are here to help break down all the great things you can expect in year 2! From exclusive show specials from Dive Bomb Industries and our incredible vendors to the retriever combine challenge, Rut Daniels meet-and-greet, cornhole tournament, countless food and drink options, and oh yeah, the best duck and goose callers in the world competing for over $30,000 in prizes! You do not want to miss this exciting, free-admission, waterfowling event for the entire family!

Coming off a tremendous 2021 season where Michael Pittman Jr. made 88 receptions for 1,082 yards and 6 TDs, the expectation is even higher for 2022 with the arrival of veteran quarterback Matt Ryan. This duo was recently named NFL.com's 3rd best new QB-WR combo, so don't be surprised to see big things happen in Indy this season! What may surprise you is Pittman's love for all things outdoors and a new love for waterfowl hunting after spending a significant amount of time in the middle of the Mississippi Flyway the last couple of seasons. Sports fans and outdoor enthusiasts will love this episode as we go back and forth between playing football at the highest level and chasing waterfowl. You'll also hear a funny story from Pitt's rookie season and his ejection in week 15 last season against the New England Patriots!

In the world of waterfowl, social media can be an intimidating place for a new hunter or someone looking to get into the sport, as it often feels like everybody is an expert and has been hunting their entire life. This episode with Jordan Nisly is an encouraging reminder that it's never too late to get into waterfowling and quickly experience a ton of success. From his day job as a butcher at the family shop to banded racing pigeons to his introduction to waterfowl hunting and starting a YouTube channel, we had a blast covering many different topics during this conversation!

From chasing ducks on small ponds in high school to now co-owning a waterfowl outfit in Alberta, Canada, and guiding at one of the premier outfitters in North America, Cadillac Creek Outfitters, Cole Townsend lives and breathes waterfowl hunting. Being only 27 years old, Cole has extensive guiding experience and knows what it takes to be successful as this industry continues to evolve. Listen along as we go back to the roots of his guiding career and the path that led to where he is today. You may also be surprised at his favorite and least favorite things about guiding waterfowl hunts!

When the last shot of waterfowl season is fired, most outdoorsmen do not go into duck depression until the fall, but they move on to the next outdoor passion in their lineup. Some turn to fish, some turn to turkeys, some turn to trapping, and some to all the above. In this episode, we have a chat with Drew Comer, who turns his attention to bowfishing for giants in the spring in addition to everything else listed. If bowfishing interests you, give a listen as Drew dives into basic bowfishing strategy, the equipment you will need, and where it can take you if you get serious about it!

There are certain areas of waterfowl hunting that are extremely grey where you can quickly end up on the wrong side of the law, even when you had no intention of doing anything illegal. In this episode, we are joined by Pennsylvania Game Warden, Mike Workman, to talk about some of the most common waterfowl issues discussed on social media, such as party hunting, pile pictures, separating birds, donating birds, tagging and transportation, possession limit, and processing. Tune in and learn how you can play it safe this season in the field!

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard the famous catchphrase “Didn't Go 20” by the hilarious hunting parody alter ego, Rut Daniels. While everyone in the hunting community knows Rut, they may not be as familiar with the man behind the character, Mr. Bud Fisher. Join us on this episode as we chat with Bud about his background, the origin of Rut Daniels, and those famous one-liners. We even get his take on Will Smith's slap heard 'round the world! You don't want to miss this one!

14-year big league veteran, 3-time All-Star, 2-time Silver Slugger, and now the owner of legendary Sure-Shot Game Calls, Jay Bruce, joins us on this episode of the Squadcast. We had a blast on this one as Jay took us back to his roots of waterfowl hunting, shared some incredible stories from his time in the major leagues, and how he came to be the owner of a call company that's been around since 1959. Jay has big plans on how they will put Sure-Shot Game Calls back on the lanyards of waterfowlers across North America and rejuvenate this iconic brand. If you are a sports fan with a passion for waterfowling, you will love this episode!

Kyle Fagler, owner of Guides Choice Retrievers out of Burns, Wyoming, joins us on this episode to talk about several great topics. We first touched on some new Dive Bomb products such as the dog vest, dog bumpers, and bumper bomber that Kyle had been prototyping for us all season. We then dive a little deeper into real hunting situations one will encounter while in the field with their gun dog and how to approach them. This episode is a must-listen for any gun dog owner looking to maximize their off-season training sessions and prepare for the obstacles ahead during the season.

In this episode, we interview Mr. Charles Whitwam, the founder of Howl for Wildlife. We dive deep into the conversation about their dedication to protecting our wildlife resources and how all outdoorsmen have the opportunity to have their voices heard. We learn about the driving forces behind this organization, why it started, and their goals over the next few years.

Join us on this episode of the Squadcast as Forrest, Cade, and Kile dive deep into conversation with Dave Owens of Pinhoti Project. Conservation, ethics, contest calling, trapping, and stewardship to the sport are all hot topics of discussion, and we enjoyed every minute of this spirited conversation.

When you spend as much time chasing wild game as Gunner Pickett, it becomes natural to want to preserve these memories through the art of taxidermy. Listen along to hear what's been going on in his world and the awesome story of how he came to be the owner of a taxidermy business. From guiding waterfowl, turkeys, and big game to an incredible hunting story of his recent 198-inch whitetail harvest on his family property in Colorado, we had a lot of fun catching up on this one!

With the advancements of technology playing a larger role than ever in the game of turkey hunting, we sit down with Hunter Farrior, owner of Spring Legion and author of Ballad of a Turkey Hunter, to discuss some of his "old school" ways of thinking, preserving the resource that we love, and what it is that drives that niche group of hunters to the spring woods with such a passion.

On this episode of the Dive Bomb Squadcast, we talk with the one and only Jeff Colwell of Front Range Guide Service. We had a great conversation about the Front Range of Colorado, and why it is one of the most difficult places to consistently kill Canada geese, as well as a few tricks you can use to consistently kill geese where you live! We also talk about Jeff's early days as a guide, and the road that led him to where he is now! You won't want to miss this one!

With numerous cover shots, two-page spreads, and over 350 photos published in DU Magazine alone, there's no doubt that if you're a waterfowler, you've seen the work of Doug Steinke. He's well known as a man who has a knack for capturing emotion in his photography, and in this episode of the Dive Bomb Squadcast we dig into how he pulls it off. We also touch on the different stages a hunter goes through, and a wealth of Central Flyway waterfowling knowledge so buckle up and get your notepad out because this information-packed episode is guaranteed to have something for everybody.

The wigeon king of the Pacific Northwest, The Denim Dangler! Matt Judy doesn't run an outfitter, he doesn't run a guide service, so what does he do that allows him to chase waterfowl day after day? You guys are going to love the back and forth in this one as we talk about his love for Mtn Dew Kickstart, the scout loop, hunting with big groups, and huge piles. We appreciate Judy and everything he has done for Dive Bomb Industries- he has been a great ambassador for the brand and has become a very close friend!

On November 13, 2021 the World Waterfowl Calling Championships in Easton, Maryland were turned into the Mike Benjamin show. Mike opened up the night with a win in the 2-man live goose before capturing another win in the 2-man live duck. Then came the solo stuff- a win in the live goose, a win in the live duck, and a 2nd place finish in the open goose. In this episode, we caught up with Mike to talk about his historic night on stage and what this means for his future in contest calling. You'll also hear about the redemption he wants at SquadFest next summer as well as how he plans to use a 2nd place finish in the contest he wanted the most to motivate him moving forward. Mike is one of the most stand up individuals in the waterfowl industry and we couldn't be happier for him and his success!

For over 30 years, Wildfowl has been a go-to source for information and entertainment for North American duck and goose hunters, sharing the best waterfowl tactics, gear and stories. Join us in episode 48 as editor-in-chief Skip Knowles tells us about his early background as an outdoor writer, the ins and outs of being a chief editor, and all the pieces and personnel it takes to put a magazine together from start to finish, Freelance writers and photographers will also learn key information from Skip on steps you can take to increase your odds of having your work recognized and potentially featured.

Callers from all around the world come to Easton, Maryland once a year to showcase their skills and hope to be immortalized in the history books of Championship Calling. Vice President of the Waterfowl Festival and World Champion caller Teddy Hoover joins the Squadcast to talk all about the upcoming 50th Waterfowl Festival & the various Calling Championships that will take place during this action packed 3 day event. With audiences of 600+, five championships and incredible prize packages on the line, the stage is always set for an exciting time!

Here we are mid-October and what a season it has been so far! In episode 46, the Dive Bomb Travel Squad joins the Squadcast to recap the first quarter of the 2021-2022 waterfowl season and some of the incredible and funny things we have been blessed enough to experience up to this point. From the 100 blue-winged teal in Texas, the monster double-double in Alberta, to Cade getting knock out by a falling honker in Michigan, we had a lot of laughs on this one and can't wait to see what the second quarter of the season brings!

No beating around the bush in this episode. Forrest Carpenter & Kile Jones join the Squadcast to get straight to the point in addressing the most common questions we receive on a daily basis. Do flocked decoys really make a difference? How much flocking do I need in my spread? What's the deal with the black and whites? Can you mix silhouettes and full bodies? We hope by addressing these topics in depth you will be more confident and successful next time you hit the field!

In the past, the main issue from our Canadian customers has been duties and brokerage fees attached to their orders once received by customs. We have always wanted a distribution center north of the border, but we had to be sure we found the perfect man for the job. After just a few conversations with Ben Commodore, we knew he had the drive, attitude, and experience to run Dive Bomb Canada with the same efficiency and attention to detail as HQ in St. Louis. In this episode, you'll learn more about our Alberta operation, how Ben feels about the way things are going so far, and what his long term goals are for Dive Bomb Canada.

Keeping things in order while managing work and 3 young kids while your husband stays on the road over half the year is a tall task for any woman. In this episode, we sat down with Kelli Tolliver to find out how she maintains a healthy relationship and family under this ever-changing household structure. She also gives advice on how to support your significant other while they are chasing their dreams, what to look for in a new relationship, as well as her likes and dislikes of this unusual lifestyle.

Bluestem Waterfowl has rapidly become an outfitter that everyone is keeping an eye on due to their consistent success day in and day out. In this episode we learn what prompted Arkansas native Michael Spain to leave the bucket list destination of his stomping grounds for North-Central Oklahoma. Michael also talks about what it takes to run a successful waterfowl outfit, expectations for the upcoming season, and his take on roost hunting. You'll also learn about an unusual routine he has before going to bed at night that will leave you scratching your head!

As the best time of year gets closer, we have aggressively been expanding our already impressive line of products to meet customer demands in preparation for the upcoming waterfowl season. There has been a lot of talk about products that are on the way, and the boss Cody Stokes is here to reveal what's talk and what's truth. What's the scoop on the vertical field blind and when will they hit the market? Will Dive Bomb be releasing a fully comprehensive line of technical gear? We also discuss red hot topics like the fully flocked V2 Canadas, Kickback, Stealth Sheet ghillie blankets, PowerFlag, Pintail floaters, footwear, and much more!

Brothers, both very talented duck callers and World Champions- Cory the 2019 World Live Duck Champion and Jody the 2007 World Champion. In Episode 40 of the Dive Bomb Squadcast we learn their background and the events that led to their success through the contest calling circuit over the past 2 decades. What kind of competition is there between one another? How do they feel about their performance at SquadFest last month? Who do they consider their toughest competitors and what makes them the biggest threat? These guys have a great supporting relationship, but also very harsh critics of one another so we had a lot of good laughs during this one!

Now that we've had some time to reflect on the first ever SquadFest, Kile Jones & Cade Trickey join us in Episode 39 to break down the event in more detail while answering some questions that have been raised about the future of the event. How did we rate SquadFest as a whole? What kind of feedback have we gotten from the vendors and attendees? Will we need a larger venue next year? We also put Kile on the hotseat regarding the GOAT conversation before briefly discussing the upcoming waterfowl season and some of the trips we have planned!

Being the first ever Dive Bomb SquadFest, we had no idea what to expect going into this thing. It didn't take long for us to see all the hard work and preparation paid off as this event turned out to be an absolute grand slam. Please excuse the background noise as we ran this set LIVE right in the middle of the action!First, we were joined by World Champion Duck Caller and one of our contest judges for the weekend, Mr. Todd Copley to hear his thoughts on the event. Next, Rams QB Devlin "Duck" Hodges and World Champion Caller Trevor Shannahan stopped by to talk shop and give their predictions on the main events. Tyler Heaton then sat down with us after he swept both our Novice Meat Duck and Open Meat Duck contests winning $6,000 along the way. We wrapped up this episode with World Champion Goose Caller and the winner of our Open Goose contest, Robbie Iverson.

From their impressive compilation of media work with some of the top outfitters & guide services in the world, to their intriguing articles & waterfowl inspired recipes, Split Reed has rapidly become one of the leading hubs for all things waterfowl. Having a team with this many moving parts can be quite complicated; listen along as co-owner Duncan MacLeod joins us to talk about the early stages of Split Reed, to the team they have assembled to make this company grow so quickly. You will also learn about their plans for the upcoming season as well as what they hope to accomplish in the future!

With the growing influence of social media and the ability to establish oneself as a outdoor media professional, there has never been more hunters capturing waterfowl through the hunt with high quality equipment than we are seeing now. Erik Guggenheim has been heavily invested in waterfowl media for a long time and had a major impact on this explosion of turning waterfowlers not only into guides, but also talented media professionals through his influence at Ranger Creek in Haskell, Texas. We also talk about Guggie's upbringing, graduating from Harvard, his friendship with Tyra Banks, most memorable photographs, and much, much more! Erik is truly one of the most interesting and talented gentlemen in the waterfowl industry.

Since its establishment in 2017, FowlCo Outfitters has exploded on the scene with their impressive piles, beautiful accommodations, and strong social media presence. We caught up with owners Josh Teff, John David Blagg, and Aaron Seifritz to learn the origins of FowlCo and how this insanely successful operation came to be. We also discuss how they met, how they decided on the location, as well as the highs and lows of running a full service waterfowl outfit.

Migratory waterfowl possess an incredible ability to constantly adapt to the changing climate and environmental factors. Add in the fact that lower Mississippi Flyway mallards are receiving an unprecedented amount of hunting pressure, and the patterns of the "good old days" start to change. Dr. Osborne cites the driving factors behind these behavior changes and what their banding data is revealing about the mallard migration to the deep south. We also discuss hybrid ducks, band programs of the past, and how the dry prairies and late harsh winter may negatively effect the fall flight index.

If you are the owner of a waterfowl retriever, you do not want to miss this one! In Episode 33, we caught up with Marty Roberts, owner of Sporting Life Kennels to talk all-things gun dogs. We touch on several controversial topics such as breaking dogs, whining dogs, and the pros and cons of British & American Labradors. You will also learn the story of "Simba," the Dive Bomb dog that almost never was. Marty also shares steps you can take to help turn your dreams of a Rockstar gun dog into reality!

There is nothing wrong with being pretty, but there is a stigma attached to pretty girls and hunting that it’s mostly smoke and mirrors. In Episode 32, we caught up with Danielle Halverson to discuss some entertaining topics such as social media “huntresses” and thirsty dudes in the DM’s. You’ll also learn all about her background, how she supports her passion for traveling and hunting, and what it takes for genuine female hunters to separate themselves from the fakes.

June 11th – 12th, LIVE at Dive Bomb Headquarters in Maryland Heights, Missouri we are holding the first annual Dive Bomb SquadFest. While this festival is centered around calling contests that will amount to over $30,000 in prizes that includes cash, Dive Bomb prize packages, guided hunt packages, and calls from our vendors, this event is going to have something to offer for everyone in attendance - Great food & drinks, informative seminars, new products, call vendors, raffles, warehouse tours, & can't forget the cornhole tournament! This will be the ultimate off-season networking event, you don't want to miss it!

Nick Costas has been a huge contributor to the growth of Dive Bomb Industries with his go-getter mentality & hard work over the last few years. The thing is, at some point in our lives we are all faced with making difficult decisions regarding our future & the path we should take. Within the last year, Nick has had some doors open & opportunities arise to pursue personal growth in this industry. What's been cooking that ultimately led to making the decision to walk away from Dive Bomb? In Episode 30 you'll learn all about his plans for the future. what he takes away from his time with DB, & how he's feeling about this next chapter of life.

We often hear about hunting accidents, but it's normally through the grapevine and not a firsthand account. After we learned of this story that led to the loss of a man's life, we wanted to have our friend Armando Vendittozzi on to share his account of this tragedy that occurred in an effort to help spread gun safety awareness. We know the gun safety speech can be repetitive whenever you are hunting every day, but all it takes is a split second for an accident to occur that can change the course of your life or loved ones lives forever.

SmackEM Outdoors is a collection of four outdoorsmen based out of Fargo, North Dakota with a growing YouTube channel & social media presence. In Episode 28 we caught up with one of the founders, Collin Clarey, to talk about how they all met, how they got started, & what we can expect from SmackEm in the future. We also hit the rewind button to October 22 to re-live the epic 134 bird burner in the blizzard we enjoyed together. If you want to hear all the inside details on how this epic hunt went down, you're going to love this episode!

On Episode 27 of the Dive Bomb Squadcast we get personal with Joey Vassallo, owner of Midwest Flyways. Joey has worked hard to become advanced on a call & has many successful calling videos on YouTube. Have you ever wondered why he has not competed in contests & if he ever expects to change that? We also talk about out why Midwest Flyways was created, long term goals, & a little about their uncensored podcast. We hope you guys enjoy this casual, laid back conversation!

Staying engaged with a wildly popular YouTube channel & operating a brand new waterfowl outfit while still being present with the family must be pretty challenging, right? On Episode 26, we catch up with Bobby Guy over the phone while out scouting to talk about the good, the bad, & the ugly of running a outfit in Central Kansas. Listen to what drives Bobby to consistently put Sandhill Flyway clients on high caliber hunts while staying on top of the YouTube channel that helped him achieve these dreams!

Face tattoos, ear plugs, vibrant sunglasses... Cadillac Creek Outfitters are different. Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, there is no denying they have grabbed the attention of waterfowl hunters all over the country. In Epsiode 25 we talk to Cadillac Creek front man Toby Brohlin about the end of his music career, the beginning of Cadillac Creek Outfitters, the inspiration behind their style, & how their hunting technique has changed since exclusively running Dive Bomb decoys!

School is in session! Episode 24 is an hour & 45 minutes of pure waterfowl knowledge. Seasoned waterfowlers Rusty Heron & Brett Hendricks sit down to discuss some of the most frequently asked questions that surround chasing big Canada geese: Flocked vs un-flocked? Spread size & shape? Socks? Flags? What to do if birds are flying over & showing no interest? We cover all of these topics & so much more, you don't want to miss this one!

There is no magic waterfowl 8-ball, but if we can share a little information from our experiences to help someone along the way, that's always the goal! On Episode 22 we sat down with our very own Forrest Carpenter & Kile Jones to answer some user submitted questions directly from our Facebook group "Dive Bomb Industries Forum & Fan Page." How do you identify a good field for running traffic? How do you determine if you should setup for a front shoot or side shoot? What happened with Kile Jones & Fred Zink? Listen along as we answer these questions and many more!

Imagine being so good at something you are forced to retire at just 20 years old. After being the youngest caller ever to win the Senior World Goose Calling Championship at just 16 years old in 2003, his 2nd title two years later, & his 3rd title two years after that, Hunter Grounds was no longer allowed to compete in the World Goose Calling Championship. Episode 22 takes us back in time to the prime of Hunter Grounds competition calling career & what he needs to accomplish to cement his legacy as the GOAT.

What happens when you are traveling across North Dakota & come across a pile of birds? You get a room at the nearest hotel of course! On our last road trip, we ran into Donny Ottaway, Zach Martin, & Ryan Applegate, three avid Dive Bomb users who were also hunting the same area. After a quick introduction, it was evident we were going to enjoy each other's company. Listen along on Episode 21 as we talk about joining forces with Donny & the guys for one awesome hunt & one not so awesome hunt. We had a great time working together toward a common goal while making new friends along the way. Hear Donny's side of the story & what his thoughts were before & after hunting with the Dive Bomb crew.

Can you imagine waterfowl hunting in Canada 30 years ago? That is what Fall 2020 COVID Canada was like with the border closure. Our friend Kolby Keith just got back from guiding in Saskatchewan for the past 6 weeks, listen along as he explains what it was like hunting huge concentrations of waterfowl with zero competition. Going weeks at a time on the prairie without ever seeing another waterfowl hunter sounds pretty amazing, right?

The #1 question that we see over & over again... "Can you mix Dive Bomb silhouettes with full bodies?" On Episode 19, Nick Costas & I sat down with our toughest sell yet, Mr. Alex Russo, owner of Flatland Flyways. Being an outfit that was exclusively running the most premium full body decoys on the market, how was Nick able to convince Russo to give Dive Bomb 2-D decoys a shot & what has been their experience since doing so? Russo is a humble man with a great story running a premium outfitter, you guys are going to love this one!

With the amount of competition on social media, it's now harder than ever to get recognized by reputable brands in the outdoor industry. In Episode 18, you will learn from 3 guys that all took vastly different paths that ultimately led to a full-time paid position with Dive Bomb Industries. Listen along as Nick Costas, Forrest Carpenter, & Cade Trickey explain what it takes to set yourself apart from others to get your foot in the door!

The molt migration has been an increasingly popular topic for waterfowlers over the last few years, especially in the upper states of the Mississippi Flyway. With more hunters taking to the field in September & increased social media exposure, the fall molt migration is becoming recognized as an incredible early season opportunity. Listen along as we talk with Jordan Kiel of Reaction Waterfowl about understanding molts & what to look for. Located in Southern Minnesota, Jordan has plenty of experience with these early migrators, so you definitely don't want to miss this one!