Duck Season Somewhere

Things get serious as Dr. Richard Kaminski and Ramsey, his former student, address the question, "What happened to US duck hunting during the past 25 years?" First discussing recent research pertaining to winter duck abundance and temperature trends in the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways, they move on to waterfowl habitat quality and quantity, preserving remaining wetlands, hunting pressure and g...

Traditional black bear hunting ceased when Mississippi Delta's ancient hardwood forests were cleared long ago, but while the bears are no longer hunted, the sport itself continues. Within the region's seething, dark thickets are thick packs of black, tusk-gnashing wild hogs which are now hunted similarly. Legendary Mississippi storyteller Hank Burdine tells Ramsey about the pigs, people, dogs--and...

A self-started Wisconsin duck hunter, Dr. Richard Kaminski left dental school to "study ducks." And study ducks he did--for about a half-century. Beginning with graduate research studies at Delta Marsh, ending recently as Director of James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center, leaving in his wake numerous waterfowl biologists among state, federal and non-governmental organizations...

Going into Father's Day weekend, Ramsey is joined by father-daughter hunting buddies Chris and Grace Nicolai for a truly memorable conversation about spending quality t-I-m-e with your mini-me's. How old was Grace when did Chris start taking his daughters afield? How many goose species has Grace killed with a 410-shotgun? How many states has she hunted, how many species has she bagged--and what's...

Originating in enslaved people's meager personal belongings when brought to South Carolina's remote coastal plains during the 1600s, the long grains eventually became "Carolina Gold," spawning an affluent rice producing culture that provided most of the world supply for over 2 centuries. It ended soon after the Civil War. But as author Virginia Christian Beach and Ramsey Russell discuss, the real...

Ramsey and Kevin Nelms conclude this year's 4-part duck habitat series discussing cypress brakes and bad habitat management ideas they've seen along Hell Road that's usually paved with otherwise good intentions.  As USDA NRCS Wildlife Biologist in the Mississippi Delta, Nelms has spent decades designing and developing numerous private-lands waterfowl impoundments. He's worked extensively with priv...

Meaningful waterfowl conservation comes in many forms. A life-long Louisiana duck hunter, Paul Dickson's backyard waterfowl aviary seems like a naturally compatible hobby, but eventually evolved into something more. Much, much more. Pinola Conservancy is the largest waterfowl aviary in the United States. Privately owned and closed to the public, this aviary is home to hundreds of bird species from...

I mean seriously, what little boy hasn't dreamed of owning a real cannon?!  Originally from Wisconsin, Duffy Neubauer took it absolutely next level. His Starkville (Mississippi) Civil War Arsenal is a private collection of various artillery, rolling stock and carriages comprising an artillery battery; the only of its kind in the US. After bantering about nuanced differences among the terms Yankee,...

It's been a long while since Ramsey and today's guest, Brian Davis, attended Mississippi State University together. Davis earned master's and PhD degrees studying breeding and brood rearing wood ducks and other aspects of wood duck ecology.  Now an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology at MSU, Davis describes his duck hunting origins before pitching into wood duck predation (you ain't going to b...

Somewhere along the way the question arises - have you ever seen someone get snake bitten in the scrotum?! Can't make this stuff up, folks! Like other places in the Deep South, Mr. No-Shoulders is just a part of everyday life in Mississippi. Where many folks have a wholesome fear of them, some do not. There's even a snake hand-grabbing, catch-and-release rodeo in the Great State of Mississippi! Ra...

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Shane Olson graduated with a degree in wildlife, soon becoming caretaker for Big Lake Duck Club just outside Tulsa. Located among one of the largest waterbodies in Oklahoma, Big Lake Duck Club was established in 1916. After sharing some of it's amazing history, Olson goes into full-blown Duck Farmer mode, plowing deeply into learned habitat practices implemented to ens...

Ed Penny spent years mucking through wetlands as a field biologist, plying his learned know-how to improve waterfowl habitat from Mississippi to California. Nowadays his work attire is oftentimes suit and tie, but for damned good reasons. As southern regional Director of Public Policy for Ducks Unlimited, Penny spends many long days across the table from legislators, championing the preservation o...

A sub-gauge revolution is sweeping across the country as more waterfowl hunters are reinventing their game, swinging 20- and 28-gauge shotguns instead of their trusty ol' 12. George Thompson, Director of Product Management for Benelli, tells Ramsey about adding 28-gauge to the successful Super Black Eagle platform, covering a range of other Benelli-related innovations. Where'd the philosophy "carr...

Lured to Ramsey's Mississippi hunting camp by the prospect of cooking black bear venison for her first time--and it was absolutely amazing--The Gatherin' Girl, Chef Tori Loomis, takes a break from the kitchen to visit. After describing the several ways she's preparing venison heart, tenderloins, backstrap and shank, Loomis tells Ramsey about recent life happenings stretching from Florida to Utah a...

There's a time and place everything. Kevin Nelms and Ramsey discuss planting agricultural hot crops such as corn, rice, and various millets to provide high-energy food sources for wintering waterfowl, complimenting natural moist-soil habitat to form a waterfowl complex.  What are the pros and cons? How do site limitations affect crop selection, what excellent online resources are available to land...

The times they are a-changin'. Hook-and-bullet waterfowl managers are becoming replaced by a new generation inspired into wildlife management more by watching nature channels than by formative hunting experiences. But isn't it kind of important that they recognize hunting's importance--the real dollars-and-cents support that we duck hunters bring to agency budgets? Joel Brice and Cyrus Baird expla...

In last week's episode we learned that Mexico is vital to many of our favorite North American duck species. Managing waterfowl that spans North America's entirety requires collective efforts, continental scale. After all, a chain's only as strong as its weakest link.  What are habitat conditions like in Mexico, how productive are they, how much do they have? What are some of the greatest habitat t...

It's the classical story of art imitating life, of creative works being inspired by actual events. See, Tom Becke isn't a person; it's the original namesake of a very specific place on a map. And it was near there, as Radcliffe Menge describes in great detail, that ancestors ignited in him a passion for hunting. Importantly, the old school values they instilled are evident throughout his company's...

Many iconic North American duck species--some of our most favorite-- overwinter South-of-the-Border in Mexico sunshine and wetlands, but what awaits them down there? Is unregulated hunting why we're shooting so few pintails in the Lower 48?! Eduardo Carrera is a professional biologist and CEO of Ducks Unlimited Mexico (DUMAC). He and Ramsey have a fascinating, in-depth conversation that you defini...

Internet news agencies are adding avian influenza headlines daily, and as waterfowl migrate northwards our social media feeds are streaming with ducks and geese succumbed to bird flu. Should we be worried? What's bird flu, how long's it existed, how does it spread, what are its different forms? Why are waterfowl important vectors? Will it be deleterious to waterfowl populations? Dr. Rebecca Poulso...

First recorded in 1929, did you know that the acclaimed Led Zepplin song "When the Levee Breaks" was about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927? On April 21, 1927, following months of unprecedented rainfall throughout a watershed covering much of the United States, the mainline Mississippi River levee crevassed north of Greenville, Mississippi, creating the worse US national disaster until Hurrican...

Just a few minutes from home, Ramsey catches up with long-time friend Johnny McKinion on the antler-strewn front porch of Camp King Chekka Bobo. They cover a lot of interesting ground, about nothing mostly, to include in no particular order deer, ducks, turkeys, Rankin County, Old Charter bourbon, hunting camp rules and traditions, food, family. And after 20-plus years of friendship, Ramsey finall...

Managing waterfowl habitat to produce desirable, duck-beneficial moist-soil vegetation combines art, science and sometimes just plain luck because Mother Nature loves throwing curve balls. Kevin Nelms and Ramsey discuss problematic plant species and remedies. As USDA NRCS Wildlife Biologist in the Mississippi Delta, Nelms has spent decades designing and developing numerous private-lands waterfowl...

Food is one of the truest measures of local culture worldwide, maybe even more so among duck hunters. While exploring duck hunting in Guatemala, Ramsey's hosts made sure he experienced everything the small Central American country had to offer. None more so than today's guest, Alvaro Aguilar, who has a US background in culinary arts and is the official camp cook. He and Ramsey discuss time spent i...

Spring is in the air, meaning that for many private landowner's next year's duck season begins right now--it's time to start implementing waterfowl habitat plans, whipping those duck holes into shape. But how to begin? Building on previous discussions, Ramsey meets with wildlife biologist Kevin Nelms to discuss moist-soil vegetation management specifics, covering habitat types, natural most-soil v...