Save it for the Blind Podcast

Jeff and Carson sit down with Terry Denmon , CEO of MOJO Outdoors , for a nuts-and-bolts look at modern motion decoys—why the Big Blade matters, how to run spinning wings around pressured ducks, and where water-motion tech is headed. Terry also walks through MOJO’s newest gear—the reengineered Mallard Machine , the diving Dabbler decoy, and the 25th-anniversary Silver Mallard —plus the season outl...

Southern California Duck Country: History, Habitat, Tradition Waterfowl historian Yancey Forest-Knowles joins Jeff and Carson to map the rise and fall of Southern California’s coastal duck country—from the artesian-fed ciénegas of the Los Angeles plain to the estuaries of Ballona, Bolsa Chica, and Newport , and on to the Salton Sea and the San Diego reservoirs. It’s a guided tour through clubs tha...

Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) Melanie Weaver joins Jeff and Carson to explain how California’s Breeding Population (BPOP) survey is flown, what this year’s numbers say, and how those data drive next year’s hunting frameworks. Weaver details the fixed-wing transect method, why multi-year wet cycles matter, and why harvest regulations follow a structured, flyway-wide model rather than...

Regional Biologist Greg Heydeman (California Waterfowl Association) joins Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard for a deep look at habitat work and hunting realities in the high desert of Modoc, Klamath and Shasta Valley. In this conversation you’ll learn: Why the 2025-26 season starts with optimism —heavy snowpack and strong water deliveries are putting more acres back under flood across the Northeast Zo...

A deep-dive with Chadd Santerre (Director of Wetland Programs & NAWCA Coordinator) and field-rep Chad Thomas Carson Odegard sits down with Chadd Santerre for a data-driven look at the engineering, funding, and on-the-ground work now reshaping waterfowl habitat from San Jacinto to the Colorado River. In the back half, Chad Thomas details the banquets, workdays, and youth hunts that let Southern...

Jeff’s off chasing summer vacation, so Carson Odegard grabs a mic with CWA egg-salvage guru Jason Coslovich - Egg Salvage Program Coordinator, Waterfowl Biologist and Robert “Rob” Jones—the volunteer dynamo keeping the North Delta Duck Hatchery clucking along since the early 2000s. Pull a chair up to the brooder and hear how a ramshackle 1996 shed on Tyler Island now kicks out 500 wild mallards a...

In this new episode—part three of our California history series—Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard close out the Klamath Basin saga and head south to the 240,000-acre Grasslands, where water rights, teal limits, and hard-fought tradition still rule the marsh. Topics include: Klamath’s boom-to-bust timeline—from 100,000-duck openers in ’52 to today’s drought-strangled refuge drama Miller & Lux’s can...

In this new episode and part two of this series, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard dive deeper with Yancey Forest‑Knowles to unpack decades of waterfowling history and hard‑won conservation lessons from California’s most fought‑over wetlands. Topics include: The rise of the Butte Sink and why rice water still floods those blinds each opener Inside stories from private clubs: habitat tricks that keep m...

This week, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with California outdoors legend Yancey Forest‑Knowles —a waterfowling and conservation icon with over 70 years in the field. Dubbed the “embodiment of the authentic outdoorsman,” Yancey’s journey began duck hunting at age 10 in the Bay near Palo Alto and evolved into a life filled with adventure, leadership, and preservation ( cohof.org ). A former...

In this episode of Save it for the Blind , Jeff and Carson sit down with Jim Burcio and Rob Capriola—two pillars of the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association—to talk decoys, tradition, and the upcoming 53rd Annual Wildfowl Festival in Sacramento, California. Jim Burcio, PFDA’s Vice President of Membership, walks us through the history and heart of the festival, happening July 12–13, 2025. From carving...

In Part 2 of our Save it for the Blind: New Zealand series, co-host Jeff Smith is back from the bush and sits down with his brother Colby Smith—his travel partner and fellow hunter—to debrief their epic trip to New Zealand. The brothers recount their hunts across breathtaking terrain, swap stories from the field, and reflect on what sets New Zealand’s hunting culture apart. From gear highs and low...

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Dr. Kevin Ringelman—Associate Professor of Waterfowl Ecology and Management at LSU, and the successor to Dr. John Eadie’s longtime position at UC Davis. From drone-powered brood surveys to mentoring the next generation of wildlife professionals, Dr. Ringelman offers a grounded and insightful look at the evo...

In this unique episode of Save it for the Blind, co-host Jeff Smith checks in live from the hills of New Zealand as he takes us through the first week of his adventure abroad. From breathtaking landscapes to unexpected wildlife encounters, Jeff shares what it’s like hunting, exploring, and soaking up the local scene halfway around the world. Carson Odegard holds down the fort stateside as the two...

In this episode of Save it for the Blind , hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Joshua Vickers, Shotshell Product Line Manager at Federal Ammunition, to dig into the latest innovations in waterfowl ammo—starting with the highly anticipated ULTRASTEEL . Joshua breaks down what makes ULTRASTEEL unique, from its design process and field performance to how it stacks up against Federal’s o...

In Part 2 of this special two-part series on Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard continue their conversation with UC Davis professor and waterfowl biologist Dr. John Eadie. This time, they dive deeper into his most memorable fieldwork stories, the conservation challenges that keep him up at night, and what the future holds for wetlands, waterfowl, and the students he’s helpe...

In Part 1 of this special two-part episode of Save it for the Blind , hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Dr. John Eadie, UC Davis professor and leading authority in waterfowl and wetland ecology. With a career that’s impacted thousands of students and shaped critical conservation programs, Dr. Eadie opens up about the mentors who influenced him, the evolution of wildlife education,...

On this episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with two of California Waterfowl’s leading waterfowl biologists—Brian Huber, Wood Duck Program Coordinator, and Jason Coslovich, Egg Salvage Program Coordinator—for an in-depth look at the science, stories, and successes behind CWA’s critical conservation work. They cover the results of this year’s pintail bandi...

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, host Jeff Smith dives deep into the latest developments in conservation policy. Joined by co-host Carson Odegard, they sit down with Mark Hennelly VP of Advocacy for California Waterfowl. They unpack the recent Fish and Game Commission's approval of the 2025-26 regulations and explore what hunters can expect in the upcoming season. Tune in for an insightfu...

In this episode of Save It for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Austin Booth, the newly-appointed CEO of Banded Holdings, Inc. Known for his remarkable leadership across law, finance, and outdoor stewardship, Booth shares his journey from serving as a Marine Corps Judge Advocate to spearheading conservation efforts as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Game and Fish...

In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Mark Hennelly, VP of Advocacy for CWA, to dive into the critical issues shaping the future of hunting rights. They unpack upcoming legislation that could impact hunters nationwide and explore practical ways to make a difference. Whether you’re a passionate advocate or just starting to navigate the world of civic e...

In this insightful episode of Save It for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with an all-star lineup of Chene Gear legends—Field Norris, Jeff Farmer, and John Strange. These trailblazers dive into the story behind Chene's meteoric rise in the hunting industry, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, lessons learned, and the vision that shaped the brand. From innovation and craftsma...

In this episode of Save It For the Blind , hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Corey Foskett, the President of Tanglefree Waterfowl. From the company’s humble beginnings to its evolution into a leading name in waterfowl gear, Corey shares the story behind Tanglefree’s deep California roots and how the Golden State has shaped its brand and products. The conversation dives into the big...

In this special two-part episode of the Save It for the Blind Podcast, Jeff and Carson sit down with Paul Bonderson, Jr., the esteemed chairman and past president of Ducks Unlimited. A guardian of wetlands, waterfowl, and California’s hunting and conservation heritage, Paul Bonderson, Jr. shares his incredible journey through the professional world and his passionate involvement in the hunting com...

In this special two-part episode of the Save It for the Blind Podcast, Jeff and Carson sit down with Paul Bonderson, Jr., the esteemed chairman and past president of Ducks Unlimited. A guardian of wetlands, waterfowl, and California’s hunting and conservation heritage, Paul Bonderson, Jr. shares his incredible journey through the professional world and his passionate involvement in the hunting com...

Join hosts Kevin Vella and Carson Odegard in this feather-ruffling episode of the Save It For The Blind Podcast as they sit down with the legendary Joe Slaton to talk all things turkey! Whether you're a seasoned hunter or a novice looking to learn the ropes, this episode is packed with expert tips, thrilling hunting stories, and the ins and outs of perfecting your turkey calls. Tune in for an enli...