Final Approach Podcast

Oregon, USA – This episode of the FA Podcast we are joined by Titus Headings who is the face of the YouTube Channel, Mid Valley Mercenaries. He also has a podcast called the MVM show. Based out of California, Titus and his crew chase birds and are as addicted as we are about decoying birds in the hole. We talk about his past and how he got started on YouTube and their affiliation with FA. He is se...

Oregon, USA – On this episode of the Final Approach Podcast we are joined by JJ Reich Senior Media Relations Manager at Federal  Ammunition. We discuss the 100th anniversary of Federal Ammunition and all the accomplishments and innovations that have come from this incredible company .  We start at the first shotshells made in Anoka MN in 1922 and how some of...

Oregon, USA – This episode of the FA Podcast Mario is joined by one of our long-time friends of the FA family. Brad Fenson is a freelance outdoor writer who has chased every critter on this planet. He loves waterfowl hunting and is very knowledgeable especially with Snow geese. He is a master at talking about and setting decoy spreads for the white devils and is a master chef at cooking them once...

Oregon, USA – We talk to John Vaca who worked closely with Jeff Foiles and the Bushnell team to grow the FA Brand and keep it a relevant waterfowl brand through the good and bad. John saw this iconic brand get picked apart and come to a slow death in the grips of the corporate world. This was a major step in the final chapter of the old FA Brand as we know it. Follow...

Oregon, USA – In an attempt to appeal to all waterfowlers FA makes a move to put Flyway icons in the spotlight. Bill Saunders of Bill Saunders calls and Big Guns Waterfowl is our guest as we talk the early years of FA as Bill was there through the thick and thin of fit. He saw the sale of the company 4 times and saw the ups and downs of the brand and stuck with i...

Oregon, USA – In this episode we talk about Jeff’s first split with FA, his very brief stint at Avery and why he came back to Final Approach. We dive into the retail war that was going on at this time between waterfowl companies, call makers, big names and more. This is one podcast not to miss. Follow FA on Instagram and Facebook Visit the FA websi...

Oregon, USA – We talk to Jeff Foiles who’s rise in the waterfowl world was a grind and turned into Rock Stardom once he hit. He was the face of the brand for years and had his own signature series blinds and gear. He was an integral part of the evolution of FA. We talk about his early years working as an iron worker and doing waterfowl on the side and how getting...

Oregon, USA – We talk to Lee Kjos, one of the hunting industry’s master photographers. Lee is a marketing genius and was instrumental in the next step of the Final Approach branding with logos, videos, print advertisements and more. This is also the time that Kolpin and Final Approach are sold to Bushnell outdoors and it begins a new era for FA as they get into t...

Oregon, USA – In this episode we talk to Duke Levan who helped Ron with the original frame design and he built the first Eliminator frames for Ron on the samples and the first run of production blinds. Duke was a very close friend of Tim Grounds and they hunted and filmed with each other for years and created a special bond. You will hear some great stories about...

Oregon, USA – We talk to Dave about the timing of Final Approach’s launch and how that helped push Dave and the DSD decoy line into a national brand. This all happens at a time when innovation in the waterfowl category is at an all-time high and other brands emerge and that makes the waterfowl category’s growth tremendous. We talk about our original FA Eliminator blin...

Oregon, USA – We talk to Fred Zink of Zink Calls and Avian-X on the early years with Ron Latschaw and Final Approach, and when he left FA to go to a new company called Avery Outdoors. They would end up being FA’s main competitor and this would turn into a retail war. This was the start of the boom of the waterfowl industry with all the icons and big names in the...

Oregon, USA – We talk to Darren Lundy who is one of Ron’s closest friends as we look back at the start of the company. They traveled together and hunted together so get an inside look at the start of the company that really was created out of one hunters idea to hide better and be more effective at hunting waterfowl. We will talk about the next evolution with Kol...

Oregon, USA – We talk about the progression of the FA brand and how things changed after Ron sold the company to Kolpin Outdoors. He was designing more products and had help from a bigger company with marketing, research and all the assets of a big company. There were some tough times as well dealing with corporate America but those were all challenges Ron fought...

Oregon, USA – We talk to Ron Latschaw the Father of the FIRST Layout Blind. He first created the Slider Blind that turned into the mass produced Eliminator Layout blind and this changed waterfowl hunting for years to come. We will talk about the original slider blind and why he created it and what he was thinking when he did. We also talk about all the other companies that...

Oregon, USA – This week’s FA Podcast join Mario as he talks to Rob Reynolds from Ranchland Outfitters in Alberta Canada about crossing the border this year with Covid and all the protocols. It is not as hard as folks think so we run through all the things you need to know and what you need to prepare for before heading across the border and also returning to the U.S. Follow FA on Instagram&nb...

Oregon, USA – This episode of the FA Podcast is all about getting better with your camera in the field. We are joined by Lefty Ray Chapa, who is an award winning freelance outdoor photographer/writer from San Antonio, TX. His focus is very narrow as he only covers anything to do with a shotgun or a fly rod. Currently he pens the “Lefty’s Blind Bag” column for the American Waterfowler magazine and...

Oregon, USA – Join us as we talk to the “CROWMAN” and the Kraw Militia as we talk tips, tactics and smacking crows. Todd Gifford is an avian pest control specialist from everything from pigeons to crows. Todd walks the fine line of hunting and extermination and uses every angle and trick in the book to get the leg up on these birds. Scouting, concealment, calling and even the time of day you are g...

Oregon, USA – If you are not familiar with crow hunting or the name Bob Aronson I can tell you they go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. Bob has seen, chased and killed more crows than most men alive. He has wrote books, done videos, chat pages, forums and more to help educate hunters on chasing these intelligent birds. Bob has chased crows for over 40 seasons and has surpassed 150,000 crow k...

Oregon, USA - We will be joined by two of the best snow goose hunters I know in the field. Brad Fenson, freelance outdoor writer and one of the best wild game chefs on our continent from Ardrossan Alberta Canada and Steven Hawkinson from the Sacramento Valley and owner of Kupt Up Custom Duck Straps. We will talk decoy spreads, calling, concealment and more. Scouting is also a key in different part...

Oregon, USA – We will be joined by some of the FA influencers around the country to talk late dark goose tactics. If you still have some time to chase some dark geese with a late season, join us as we go over some strategies that might help you put a few more Canada geese in the bag. We will take calls, tips and input from anyone around the globe that has a late dark season to see what they are do...

Oregon, USA – This episode we talk about the struggle of waterfowl season and the ups and downs. Joining us is Josh Peck from Outdoor Limits. Josh is a up and coming young gun with a big Youtube following for his waterfowl videos. Follow FA on Instagram and Facebook Visit the FA website Checkout the FA YouTube channel

Oregon, USA – This episode deals with wing shooting and maximizing your firearm for your days in the field. There is one product that I cannot leave the house with and that is my Benelli SBE III with my Patternmaster Decoy Tube in it. There is no substitute for the technology in this product and how it performs. This is a very technical product and if you do not shoot one sit in and list...

Oregon, USA – Join us as we visit with Josh Miller, owner of Riverstone Kennels in Wisconsin and a Field Specialist for SportDOG. We talk about gun dogs both young and old and getting yours ready for the season and how to keep him going during  the season. Lots of tips, tricks and help you with your dog. This is very close to us as we have Jett our 7 month old Black Lab who is going...

Oregon, USA - We talk to Josh Miller of Riverstone Kennels in WI. He also works for SportDOG and has a love of retrievers like we do as waterfowlers. We talk about getting a new pup started and on his way and some common mistakes. This is selfish for me as I get 4 month old Jett up to speed and make sure I am doing all I can as the trainer to make sure we both are learning the right way to do thin...

Oregon, USA –  Michigan DNR biologist Joe Robison is a long time friend and waterfowler with some great insights into waterfowl biology, habitat and behavior. We talk about the duck migration and how it has changed and the factors that go into that change. We talk different food sources and what the birds look for at different times in the season. We also just talk the love and tradition of w...