Save it for the Blind Podcast

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, our hosts, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard, tackle some fun random questions pulled from a hat! Sharing their unfiltered thoughts and fun banter. From the peculiar to the profound, no topic is off-limits as they dive into each question with a unique mix of humor and insight. Plus, they do a recap on the Late goose, reminiscing about past hunts and sharing th...

Join hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard in this riveting episode of the Save It for the Blind podcast as they sit down with the multi-talented Brandon Fien, an outdoor filmmaker, photographer, and editor. Brandon takes us on a journey through his incredible history and experiences in the world of outdoor media. From capturing breathtaking landscapes to crafting compelling hunting stories, Brandon...

Join hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard on this insightful episode of Save it for the Blind as they sit down with Jerred Dixon, Director at Conservation Farms & Ranches. In this engaging conversation, they delve into the significant contributions of The Nature Conservancy and the California Conservation Farms and Ranches to conservation efforts. Discover the importance of Staten Island as a c...

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard are joined by duck hunting guides RJ Waldron, Casey Stafford, and Jason Adversalo, along with Wildlife Area Managers Orlando Rocha and Garrett Spaan. With the 2025 duck hunting season nearing its close, our guests share their experiences and perspectives on what the year has looked like so far. From the field to the mana...

Join hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard on this exciting episode of Save it for the Blind as they sit down with MLB pitcher and passionate outdoorsman Hunter Strickland. Dive into a lively discussion covering Hunter's journey from a small-town boy to a professional baseball player and his adventures co-founding AVES. Discover the unique connection between baseball players and duck hunting, and he...

In this special episode, join hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard at the Golden Beaver Distillery in Chico, California, our hosts welcome back legendary guests Kris Koenig of Golden Beaver Distillery and Mike Peeters from the California Waterfowl Association's Veteran Hunt Program. They dive deep into the unique partnership between Golden Beaver and CWA- Veteran Hunt Program, exploring what inspir...

Join hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard as they sit down with Matthew Cagle, the founder of Rig Em Right, in this insightful episode. They delve into the fascinating story of how Matthew turned his passion for Waterfowling in North Carolina into a thriving business. Our hosts probe Matthew with intriguing questions: How did your passion for waterfowl come about? How do you stay ahead of the curve...

In this flavorful episode of Save it for the Blind, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard welcome Scott Leysath, also known as The Sporting Chef, to share his culinary journey through the world of wild game cooking. From his earliest inspirations to becoming a household name on networks like HGTV and the Outdoor Channel, Scott dives into the experiences and mentors that shaped his career. The conversation...

In this exciting episode of Save it for the Blind , hosts Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard dive into the heart of the waterfowl season with a mid-season recap that's sure to resonate with hunters and enthusiasts alike. They are joined by two legendary guides, Casey Stafford of CICC Outdoor Adventures and Jason Adversalo of Fowl Pursuer Outdoor Adventures, to unpack the season's highs, lows, and every...

In this captivating episode of Save it for the Blind , Jeff, Carson, and Brian Huber welcome Dr. Philip Lavretsky, a wildlife geneticist and seasoned duck hunter from the University of Texas at El Paso. Together, they dive deep into the fascinating world of duck genetics, exploring topics like the DNA of game-farm mallards, the potential risks of gene crossing, and the groundbreaking importance of...

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, Jeff and Carson are joined by three exceptional wildlife area managers from California: Scott Sewell of San Jacinto, Garrett Spaan of Yolo Bypass, and Sean Brophy of the San Luis Complex. Together, they dive into the pressing questions and insights every hunter and outdoor enthusiast needs to hear: What can hunters expect in terms of wildlife and hunting o...

In this special episode of Save it for the Blind, Jeff and Carson welcome duck hunting legend Chad Belding to the blind. Known for The Fowl Life Podcast, Banded gear, and his numerous contributions to the waterfowl community, Chad shares how his passion for duck hunting first took flight and the journey that led to creating a powerhouse of brands that hunters know and love. Dive into the behind-th...

In this special episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff and Carson sit down with Mike Kellogg, the California Waterfowl Veteran Hunt Coordinator, for a live Q&A session that dives deep into the world of veteran hunts and what to expect this upcoming duck season. Mike shares his unique insights into the California Waterfowl's Veteran Hunt Program, revealing how the program provides unforge...

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff and Carson sit down with the knowledgeable and passionate Holly Heyser—writer, hunter, and mentor—to dive into some thought-provoking topics. Holly shares her take on the latest 2023-2024 Hunter and Harvest Statistics, exploring what may have led to a noticeable drop in harvest numbers. Together, they theorize on potential causes, from environme...

On today’s episode of Save it for the Blind , Jeff and Carson sit down with master taxidermist Gary McDaniel, the proud founder of McDaniel & Son's Wildlife Artistry. With a lifetime of experience and a deep passion for preserving wildlife, Gary shares his insights into the world of taxidermy, discussing everything from the detailed techniques needed to mount wild game to the art and science b...

In this exciting episode, Jeff and Carson sit down once again with the one and only Colton McKivitz, right tackle for the San Francisco 49ers. Catching up after their last conversation, Colton shares how he's been and gives us an inside scoop on the 2024 football season. Together, they dive into the highs, lows, and surprises of the NFL, as well as the camaraderie and challenges he's faced on the...

In this exciting episode of the Save It For The Blind podcast, hosts Jeff and Carson welcome duck hunting legends Roc Merlo and Ryley Haugh from Merlo Waterfowl Co Guiding. Join them as they dive deep into the art of waterfowl guiding, exploring the skills, strategies, and stories that come from years of experience in the field. Roc and Ryley share their insights on the current state of waterfowl...

On this episode of Save it for the Blind, our hosts Jeff and Carson sit down with Luke Matthews, Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program Coordinator for CDFW, and Jason Coslovich, a biologist with CWA. They delve into the crucial program Luke oversees, while also exploring the fascinating world of waterfowl biology and the trends these experts have observed. Tune in for an episode rich with insight...

In this insightful episode of Save it for the Blind, hosts Jeff and Carson welcome Federal Premium's Brian Kelvington and Adam Moser. Tune in as they reveal exciting developments from Federal, and dive into the critical role that conservation groups like California Waterfowl play in preserving our natural heritage. Don't miss out on this engaging and informative conversation!

In this episode of Save it for the Blind, we sit down with Benelli influencer and shotgun specialist Seth Dortch to dive deep into this year’s shotgun innovations and explore what makes Benelli shotguns stand out in the field. Seth takes us through the newest additions to the Benelli lineup and reveals the key features that elevate these models beyond their predecessors. We discuss the Super Black...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro and life member of CWA, as she shares her remarkable journey in the world of hunting and conservation. From her roots in processing her father's game harvests to becoming a passionate waterfowl hunter, Rue discusses how family hunting and fishing trips shaped her love for the outdoors. We’ll explore the mission of Outdoor...

Get ready for the 2024-2025 duck season as we break down everything you need to know! We’ll cover the latest hunting regulations, what to expect on CWA properties, and exciting new opportunities—plus updates on wetland improvements designed to enhance your experience in the field. This episode also marks the launch of our brand-new podcast, which will air exclusively during duck season, bringing y...

In this episode you will hear all about Jeff & Carson's thoughts on many brand new hunting gear available for the 2024 season. We also are giving away nearly all items reviewed, watch the full episode to find out how. Join us on this special episode of "Save it for the Blind" as our hosts Jeff and Carson dive into the 2024 Gear Guide, giving you the inside scoop on the latest and greatest prod...

In this episode of "Save it for the Blind" by California Waterfowl, we sit down with professional dog trainer Brendan Hinkle from B & B Dog Training, a seasoned expert in training hunting dogs and guiding them from the basics to real-world hunting scenarios. Whether you're starting with a new puppy or refining the skills of a seasoned hunting companion, Brendan shares his insights on the first...

In this episode, which is a special on location edition, we sit down with a father and son attending their first outdoor camp and a dedicated Hunter Education instructor. The father and son discuss their journey into hunting, the importance of introducing the next generation to the outdoor world, and their favorite moments from camp. They'll share their expectations versus the reality of hunting i...