The Wildfowl Podcast

A 2020 feature story dubbed biologist Dr. Chris Nicolai of Delta Waterfowl, “The Indiana Jones of Waterfowling.” One of our favorite stories to ever run in WILDFOWL Magazine tells of a dedicated waterfowl warrior who has deployed airplanes, helicopters, and net-guns to study waterfowl and lived right among nesting goose colonies. Don't miss his tales of snoring pintails, the state of bird banding, avian flu, decoy carving, and the Duck Factory's current status heading into the breeding season. Thanks for listening!If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, leave us a rate and review, share with your friends, follow us @wildfowlmagazine and visit wildfowlmag.com to learn more.

Join Skip, Big Jim, and Ratch as WILDFOWL doubles down on podcasts, announcing a new one for retriever owners hosted by Associate Editor Nathan “Ratch” Ratchford. This new show was created to help you with things like vetting breeders, incorporating steadiness in daily life, cutting edge training (“dog coaching”), and choosing the right breed for you. Nate will host expert guests and hopes to build a community around the spirit of training your dog yourself while supporting his new D.I.Y Duck Dog column in the magazine. Thanks for listening!If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, leave us a rate and review, share with your friends, follow us @wildfowlmagazine and visit wildfowlmag.com to learn more.

Host Skip Knowles is on-scene in Alberta with MOJO Outdoors and Hidden Prairie Outfitters. It's the thrilling end of the snow goose migration, where millions of geese fuel up on grain and stage before “leaping the trees” on the long flight to the tundra where they breed. Learn why the geese drop their guard and adult birds become so much more cooperative to decoy, and just why this may be the ultimate destination for superior snow goose hunting. The gang also tries out some new snow goose motion decoy prototypes and discuss the idea with Terry Denmon, the mastermind behind the MOJO magic.Thanks for listening!If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, leave us a rate and review, share with your friends, follow us @wildfowlmagazine and visit wildfowlmag.com to learn more.

“TAKE ‘EM!” What, you didn't hear that? Skip and Big Jim tackle hearing loss with the caped crusader who is out to change the culture of waterfowling. Bill Dickinson of TETRA Hearing tells the story and the passion behind that company's superb hearing enhancement products, built by duck hunters for all outdoors folks, even those running tractors and loud machinery in the off-season to manage their lands. Together, we can fix this and HEAR THE HUNT!Thanks for listening!If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, leave us a rate and review, share with your friends, follow us @wildfowlmagazine and visit wildfowlmag.com to learn more.

Rockstar young gun photographer and duck nut Brandon Fien shot his first four WILDFOWL cover shots as a teenager, including the banded wood duck he killed in California on the 2023 Big Dog Issue now available on newsstands. Hear that story and join him and Editor Skip along with big Jim McConville to learn how Brandon started and how to improve your photos, as well as the greatest mistake upstart photographers make.   Thanks for listening!If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, leave us a rate and review, share with your friends, follow us @wildfowlmagazine and visit wildfowlmag.com to learn more.

Wildfowl's own larger-than-life Jim “Big Jim” McConville gets a turn to tell his story about the long road to waterfowling from a rich Ohio upbringing. A much-loved character in the industry, Big Jim is descended from market gunners, had to balance hunting with an elite football career, has built his own lethal giant goose decoys, and as our national sales manager, has some wild yarns about heading out over a mile on Great Lakes ice to kill ducks with his dad. He also provides some advice for beginners to follow their passion and always comes from a place of utter truths.

SHOTGUNS! It's a passionate subject for all of us! Join us as we connect with the guys at Retay to talk about one of our absolute favorite things as duck and goose hunters. Duck season is ripping along, the migration alerts are beeping, and the rest of a great season is just ahead. We'll learn why Retay is worth a look with their better-built barrels and better shooting shotguns. Our talk also turns to the Eastern Shore for hand-carved decoys, waterfowl festivals, and more!

Skip and Big Jim visit with Matt Cagle of Rig'Em Right. Matt is a surfer and hunter with a saltwater soul and one of the coolest guys we've ever met in this industry. He's a real duck man who used bread bags and other “terrible gear” as a kid to find inspiration to start his company that now builds some of the toughest gun cases, blind bags and backpacks, decoy rigging, hunting blinds, and other essential gear for the diehard hunter. Find out how Duck Commander played a role in helping him get started and see if you can catch his Spanish Rapper nickname.

In the Retriever Gear installment of our 2022 Giant Gear Issue Series, we linked up with Rehan Nana from Garmin. Rehan shares about his decision to send his dog off to an elite pro dog trainer, outlines how to pick one (both a dog and a trainer), and talks about his move from pointing dogs to Labradors. We also dive into dog training technology and catch a migration report, including Skip's special banded blue duck in Alaska!

Join us on another installment of the 2022 Giant Gear Issue series. On this episode we delve into waterfowl hunting camo and clothing trends with our friends from Browning and their pro staffer country music singer Meghan Patrick, a rising star in Nashville, who is a great ambassador for this sport we all love. We joined Meghan on a wild goose chase in North Dakota last year and it was an unforgettable outing testing new clothing and camo patterns (detailed in big story in our October issue of Wildfowl). 

Join Wildfowl Podcast hosts Skip, Ratch, and Big Jim to find out how lifelong timber hunter Jeff Jones and friends made a big splash with Chene Gear. We'll hear about Jeff's obsession for duck hunting, learn some secret timber tactics, and understand why Chene's clothing, boots, and waders might just be some of the absolute best in the business.

Skip and Big Jim visit with long time legend and one of the nicest guys in the  business, George Lynch of Legendary Gear. George tells of how he got started making duck and goose calls and addresses many of the most common mistakes made by beginners. We also share killer tactics for making decoys work and swap fun stories of chasing big Iowa whitetails.  

In this fourth installment of the gear issue podcast Skipper and Big Jim  visit with one of the original mud motor mad men, Coco Warren of Go-Devil. Coco hails from Baton Rouge, and is an American Cajun country all-original and marvelous storyteller who singlehandedly launched a niche industry almost 40 years ago. Learn about some of the tools every boat captain must always have on hand and what it's like to catch 2,400 largemouth bass! 

In this third installment of our 2022 Giant Gear Issue Series, Skip, Nate, and Jim talk waterfowl hunting shotguns with a few of our favorite people in the industry, Rafe Nielsen and Shaundi Campbell of Browning. Find out why the 16-gauge A5 is here to stay, and enjoy a lively discussion on the efficacy of the 3/5” shell and whether calling waterfowl is really a good idea.

Join Skipper and Ratch as they jump into the studio with Terry Denmon of MOJO Outdoors and Al Falkenstein  of Big Al's Decoys.  The gang talks about the surge in silhouette decoy use and the undeniable magic of motion decoys as we get ready for teal and early goose season, now only a few short weeks away. Tune in to hear what hot new products are coming from the innovation labs of MOJO and Big Al's, and don't miss the 2022 Giant Gear Issue of Wildfowl for the complete list of our favorite duck and goose decoys for the 2022-2023 waterfowl hunting season.

In this episode, Skip, Ratch, and Big Jim launch the 2022 Giant Gear Issue Series with a bang and are joined by Jason Lonsberry and Jared Lewis of Apex Ammunition to chat about chokes and loads for waterfowl hunting. Although Apex Ammunition has only been around a few years, the company has set the shotgun world on fire by changing the way we shoot and hunt. Known for producing superior, super-lethal loads of Tungsten-Super-Shot (TSS) and other deadly hunting loads, Apex continues to hit peak performance levels, blow away expectations, and unveil new realms of possibilities for hunters. 

Just as WILDFOWL'S  Big September Goose Issue hits newsstands, we kick it off with hosts Skip, Nathan, and Big Jim connecting with Rob Hansen of Leg Iron Outfitters in Arkansas to talk all things snow goose hunting, from mouth calling and banded birds to using dog whistles to call the shot. “It's a three-second high that can't be duplicated by anything you can do in your life,” Rob says of the moment the shot is called. The guys look back on last snow goose season, and changes they're seeing in bird behavior and populations. Rob talks about growing up in southern snow goose country, what it takes to kill the white birds day in and day out, what can ruin a hunt, common mistakes  , how to hunt with small spreads, when and how to use various snow goose decoys, hiding strategies, and much more.Be sure to visit www.wildfowlmag.com for ongoing news about the bird flu, transporting birds across the border, snow goose hunting gear, and everything else you need to get your white bird fix.

In this episode, Skip, Nathan, and Big Jim visit with Cody Stokes of Dive Bomb Industries to chat about the trend-setting company's origins, their current spread of waterfowl products, and where they're going in the future. From game-changing decoys to gotta-have-it gear to functional and fashionable apparel, they really do have it all for the modern-day waterfowler. Check out www.divebombindustries.com to learn more.

In this episode Skip & Big Jim sit down with Garret Walker (owner of Quack Rack) and Ted Wells (outdoor photographer and social media guru). We learn how Garret went against the grain to build and grow Quack Rack into an iconic industry brand. We'll also hear about how this dynamic duo likes to travel to 'fowl, and had a legendary run-in with Coors Light. Crack a cold one and settle in for the show!

In this episode, we chat with industry legend Alex Langbell. Alex is an experienced waterfowler and content producer. In his time, he's hunted up and down the flyways, produced television shows, and has created an innovative, problem-solving lineup of hunting dog products at his company GunDog Outdoors. 

In this show, hosts Skip and Nathan are joined by Wildfowl's Big Jim McConville to talk with elite Louisiana duck outfitter Josh Galt of Scale Damage. We talk about proposed splash limits, the state of duck hunting, Louisiana outdoors culture, hurricane impacts, duck identification and the finer ethics of waterfowl hunting.

In this episode, hosts Skip & Nathan chat it up with Ed Wall of WALL MEDIA. Ed is an extremely talented photographer, videographer, and producer, most known for his Mossy Oak series "Lost Brake" and "Crash Landing". Ed has a feature story in the Big Dog Spring 2022 Issue of Wildfowl Magazine entitled, "Fiercely Driven" chronicling his journey into the hunt test circuit with his Labrador retriever "Diche".  Don't miss this episode, as the guys talk about photography, duck hunting, and dog training.

On this episode, Skip and Nathan check in with Wildfowl contributor and professional outdoor writer, Scott Haugen, to hear about his recent hunting trips to Alaska and why his versatile pudelpointers just may be some of the most underrated duck dogs in the game.

Chad and Skip recap the previous 10 episodes of the 2021 Wildfowl Giant Gear Issue Podcast Series. We cover decoys, blinds, goose calls, duck calls, boats and motors, retriever gear, shotguns, chokes and loads, waders and clothing and waterfowl hunting accessories.

Although the gear we are about to talk about is not necessities but they certainly make waterfowl hunting more pleasurable and often more productive. We are talk about the Waterfowl Hunting Accessories section of the Wildfowl magazine Annual Giant Gear Issue. We have Josh Tichenor of Mallard View Outdoors to talk about all the fun duck hunting gear items including his Ice Eater device used to keep hunts going into the colder temperatures.

Few pieces of gear are more critical for a waterfowl hunter than waders and the warm clothes need to pull of a successful hunt. We have Drew Keith, the CEO of Honey Brake Lodge, master duck caller and someone you'd want to share the duck blind with on the podcast. We also have Josh Beckham, a Banded Prostaff member, skilled waterfowl hunter and another great person to share the duck bind with to share their thoughts on waterfowl hunting clothing, waders and the different camouflage used to conceal the hunter.

An investment in a custom choke and quality of loads can help fill your tote on a more regular basis. We have Dan Compton, Product Line Manager for Federal Premium and Rob Roberts, maker of custom chokes for waterfowl shotguns. 

All shotguns are not created equal. They are engineered for different purposes and in this podcast we discuss what goes into the making of a great waterfowl hunting shotgun. These shotguns need to withstand the harshest environments and they need to operate smooth and be accurate. Our guests include George Thompson, Director of Product Management for Benelli and Chad Mendes, owner of a Finz and Featherz Guide Service and retired MMA fighter. 

There are a lots of things that make waterfowl hunting so special, but none rank quite as high as the dogs. They deserve good gear. From crates to vests to training bumpers and you name-it, not only do quality retriever accessories help our hunts run more smoothly, they help our dogs become better hunters. We have pro duck dog trainer Pete Fischer to discuss the accessories for your hunting partner.

A solid boat fitted with a good motor instantly makes any waterfowl endeavor cooler. We have Kyle Broussard co-founder and mechanical engineer of Gator-Tail to discuss duck boats and motors.

This podcast covers Duck Calls in part of the Wildfowl Magazine Giant Gear Issue. Our special guest, Chris Cifreo of Jargon Game Calls discusses what goes into making a good duck call and some of the techniques to produce realistic duck sounds.

With his companies Zink Calls, Avian X decoys, and his hunting television show, Avian-X TV, Fred Zink has been a leader and pioneer in the waterfowl hunting industry. After Zink won the 1990 Ohio State Goose Calling Championship, Zink went on to develop a line of goose calls that performed very well. We're excited to listen to Fred talk about goose hunting and the goose call technology advancements.

Tony Vandemore is a hunter, conservationist and owner of Habitat Flats, North America's #1 Waterfowl Lodge Network. Tony has a lot of experience with setting up concealment for waterfowl hunters. Tony shares his thoughts on today's selection of hunting blinds and the role they play in a successful duck or goose hunt. 

We kick off the highly anticipated 2021 Wildfowl Gear Podcast Series on the topic of Decoys with decoy pioneer and professional hunter Terry Denmon. Terry has been involved in Outdoor Television for over 10 years having hosted or co-hosted and produced a number of shows included Hunting Across America and the various MOJO Outdoors TV Series. Terry is President & CEO of the cutting edge outdoor products company, MOJO Outdoors.

Duck and goose calling is just plain fun. Nothing is more satisfying to a duck hunter than fooling hard-hunted, wary birds with effective calling. And the tools used to lure those birds, the calls, have only gotten better and cooler over the years. Special guest Chris Cifreo duck call maker with Jargon Game Calls joins co-hosts Chad Belding and Skip Knowles to talk about all the duck and goose calls on the market.

Brad Arington with Mossy Pond Retrievers and Josh Dokken of Banded join co-hosts Chad and Skip to talk Waterfowl Dog Accessories. Taking care of a duck dog properly is a lot of work and there is a ton of canine gear available to get your dog at the top of his game.

Co-host Chad Belding and co-host Skip Knowles are joined by special guests Marty Hesch, an Arkansas duck hunter that uses his boat and motor throughout the duck hunting season. Our other guest is Kyle Broussard, owner of Gator Tail Outboard Motors, maker of one of the best surface-drive boats and motors for waterfowl hunters.

Tony Vandemore, co-owner and operator of Habitat Flats and George Thompson with Benelli join Chad and Skip to talk about Shotguns from the 2020 Wildfowl Giant Gear Issue. Tony Vandemore has spent most his life outdoors hunting waterfowl, turkey, and deer, as well as fishing. Tony has a wealth of knowledge and experience in waterfowling and he shares what he looks for in a waterfowl shotgun. George talks about the inner workings of Benelli's Super Black Eagle 3 B.E.S.T system.

Drew Keith and Jared Mophett, head guides at Honey Brake Experience out of Louisiana, join Chad and Skip to help lead us through the Hunting Accessories section of the 2020 Wildfowl Giant Gear Issue.

Laden is a young careerman of the outdoor industry, now working as the publisher of North American Whitetail, Gun Dog, and Wildfowl Magazine, as well as the Producer/Co-host of North American Whitetail TV. Raised on his family farm in northern Missouri, he cut his teeth on hunting white-tailed deer, eastern turkeys, waterfowl, and quail. Laden is an avid outdoorsman that thrives on pursuing game with a bow and sharing his passion with his three sons.

Fred Zink returns with Chad and Skip to talk about concealment and the use of different blinds in waterfowl hunting like field blinds, dog blinds, layout blinds, pit blinds and A-Frame. Today's migratory fowl are more wary than ever, and a good hide is as important as a reliable shotgun. 

Special guests Dan Compton, with Federal Premium and Rob with Rob Roberts Custom Gun Works join Chad and Skip to discuss the technology advancements in ammunition and chokes. Cut and polished steel, bismuth, tungsten, and special alloys are faster and more lethal than anything available before. High-tech ammunition and specialty chokes can help anyone a better hunter.

Fred Zink joins Chad and Skip to discuss duck and goose decoys and which ones work best for pulling a visual ruse on sharp-eyed fowl.

This episode is all about top-notch clothing, waders, and camouflage meant to work in your chosen hunting environments. Special guests include Josh Dokken, Director of Marketing at Banded and Kelley Powers of Final Flight.

As the preeminent brand for avid 'water-fowlers,' Wildfowl provides best-practice hunting advice, habitat reports, flyway forecasts, conservation programs and updates on issues affecting waterfowl populations nationwide. We're excited to bring you the best of Wildfowl, now available in audio format, anytime and anywhere you choose.In this episode, we link up with Jim "Big Jim" McConville of the Outdoor Sportsman Group and Matt Ekren of Dirty Bird Outfitters. We relive a few fond memories and comedic moments from our recent Arkansas Snow-Gooseapalooza trip and discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the waterfowl industry—for worse and for better.Head over to www.wildfowlmag.com to watch and read about our pilgrimage to the snow goose hunting mecca that is Arkansas!

Wildfowl and The Fowl Life team up for an exciting podcast celebration and exploration of Wildfowl's 2020 Giant Gear Issue. Topics include: calls, ammo & chokes, decoys, apparel, boats and motors, retriever accessories, hunting accessories, blinds, and shotguns. Co-host Chad Belding of The Fowl Life is joined by co-host Skip Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of Wildfowl. Plus, Laden Force publisher of Wildfowl, GunDog, and North American Whitetail joins the conversation to discuss all the topics important to all waterfowl hunters.

As the preeminent brand for avid 'water-fowlers,' Wildfowl provides best-practice hunting advice, habitat reports, flyway forecasts, conservation programs and updates on issues affecting waterfowl populations nationwide. We're excited to bring you the best of Wildfowl, now available in audio format, anytime and anywhere you choose.In this episode, we talk with Foster and Matt Bartholow, brothers and rising legends in the shooting sports. We discuss their entrance into hunting and shooting and reflect on our recent Arkansas snow goose safari with Dirty Bird Outfitters to test the new Browning Maxus II shotgun. As expert clay shooters, the Bartholow brothers drop some insight on how breaking clays in the off-season can translate to improving your shooting mechanics and lead to a more enjoyable and successful hunting experience. We also share some laughs and some of our favorite hunting stories. Don't forget to check out our feature of the new Browning Maxus II on WildfowlMag.com

As the preeminent brand for avid 'water-fowlers,' Wildfowl provides best-practice hunting advice, habitat reports, flyway forecasts, conservation programs and updates on issues affecting waterfowl populations nationwide. We're excited to bring you the best of Wildfowl, now available in audio format, anytime and anywhere you choose.In this first introductory episode, we introduce who we are, address our ambitions with our newly upgraded digital delivery, discuss where the brand is headed, and outline what you can expect from the Wildfowl Podcast.Tune in and come along on the journey.