The North American Waterfowler

Contact Elliott: Freelanceduckhunting@gmail.com Join Elliott on Patreon: www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting Elliott sits down with Matt Zavlonek of High Prairie Sportsman to break down the past waterfowl season from start to finish. They dive into warm winters, changing bird patterns, and what hunters are seeing across multiple states including Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and beyond. This episode c...

This episode turned into a full blown shooting breakdown with Scott Vix. If you’ve ever struggled hitting birds, especially that first shot, this one is for you. We get into the fundamentals most hunters never actually learn. Proper gun mount, where your eyes should be, how to move with the bird, and why so many guys miss even when they’re doing everything they think is right. I also walk through...

Patreon If you want more content like this and to go deeper into the hunts, join the Patreon. You’ll get: Early access to all videos Full length hunt videos with extra footage Exclusive podcasts and interviews Live streams and Q&A sessions Access to a community of serious waterfowl hunters This simulated hunt video will be available on Patreon before it goes live on YouTube. Join here:https://www....

Episode Description: In this episode, I sit down with Missouri farmer and waterfowl hunter Derrick Lindstrom to get a different perspective on some of the challenges in today’s waterfowl world. We talk through what modern farming looks like, how it impacts habitat, and how that connects to access and hunting pressure. We also get into: • Why access to private land has changed • The relationship be...

In this episode I break down a recent snow goose hunting weekend with Jake Maxwell and Aiden the Golden Boy, including a field hunt and a couple of classic snow goose stalks. We talk about the strategy behind those hunts, the dog work involved, and why these late season weekends have become one of my favorite traditions. After that, I respond to some listener comments from recent episodes featurin...

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist for Ducks Unlimited, for a deep dive into one of the most debated topics in waterfowl hunting right now. Mallard numbers are down, pond counts are below average, and hunters across the country are asking the same question. Should seasons and limits be reduced? Dr. Brasher walks us through the science behind duck populatio...

In this episode, Titus Headings from Mid Valley Mercenaries joins me to talk about where he has been and why he has been absent from YouTube and the MVM Show. We dig into his outstanding duck season, what has changed in his life over the past year, and some deeper conversations about faith and perspective. Titus is a guy I think the world of, and this was a really enjoyable conversation with a goo...

Since my recent conversation with Josh Goins, there’s been a lot of debate about duck numbers, hunting pressure, flooded corn, and the Adaptive Harvest Management system. In this episode, I step back from the noise, dig into the actual data, and explain what I’ve learned. We break down how AHM works, why seasons have remained liberal despite declining mallard numbers, and what the science says abo...

Josh Goins, founder of Flyway Federation, is one of the most controversial figures in modern waterfowl hunting. Supporters call him a truth teller fighting for everyday hunters. Critics say his claims oversimplify complex science. In this rare appearance, Josh sits down to explain his views on flooded corn, short stopping, migration changes, and the future of duck hunting across North America. Thi...

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION After Episode 250, the feedback poured in from hunters across the country. Some agree. Some strongly disagree. Many are seeing completely different realities depending on where they hunt. In this episode, Elliott reads and responds to real listener comments about duck numbers, migration patterns, hunting pressure, public vs private access, and what success actually looks lik...

Jordan Fromer of the Duck Gun Podcast joins Elliott for the first off-season recap of the year. With duck and goose seasons closed across most of the country, it’s time to look back at what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons learned from months in the field. Jordan hunted six different states this season, logging serious miles and experiencing a wide range of conditions, bird numbers, and huntin...

In this episode of The North American Waterfowler, I sit down for a civil and honest debate with a critic who took issue with a recent reel of mine about duck hunting effort, success, and responsibility. Instead of trading comments online, we chose to have the conversation face to face. We talk about flooded corn, migration changes, regional expectations, frustration in the waterfowl community, an...

In this episode, I break down my entire duck season using logged hunt data from start to finish. I split the season into early, mid, and late segments and walk through harvest totals, shooting percentages, shots per hunt, satisfaction ratings, and species breakdowns for each phase of the year. Early season covers September 1 through October 31 and was dominated by blue wing teal and gadwall with h...

In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott sits down with Michael Flaspohler, Kale Flaspohler, and Dan Crigler from the Waterfowl Management Academy to talk about one of the most overlooked drivers of duck numbers: spring habitat. The discussion breaks down moist soil versus flooded corn, why invertebrates are critical during spring migration, and how water depth, timing, a...

In this episode I wrap up the 2025–26 waterfowl season and break down my final numbers, including harvest totals, shooting percentage, and what made this my second best season ever. I recap my final hunt of the year in brutal cold, ice hole mallards, and some absolutely unreal dog work that capped the season the right way. I also answer listener questions pulled from Instagram, covering topics lik...

Support the Podcast North American Waterfowler Apphttps://www.thenorthamericanwaterfowler.com Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting Episode Description In this episode, Elliott sits down with Chris Jobman for a wide ranging late season conversation that hits everything from weather driven duck movement to why some regions see more bands than others. They talk about the hunt giveaway...

In this episode of The North American Waterfowl Podcast, Elliott sits down with Harrison Collins of Hark Outdoors to talk North American waterfowl, chasing birds across the flyways, and the idea behind pursuing all 41 species. Harrison shares his path into waterfowl hunting, from not growing up hunting at all to traveling for ducks, hunting Arkansas public land, and building a product that celebra...

In this episode, Elliott covers a wide range of topics including recent YouTube warnings related to hunting content and why more of his best videos are being moved to Patreon. He shares honest thoughts on the current state of social media, addresses claims about toxicity within the waterfowl community, and explains why he believes social media itself is the real issue. Elliott also reflects on his...

In this episode, Elliott sits down with Spencer Lewis, better known as The Wetland Gypsy, for an honest and wide ranging conversation about modern waterfowl hunting, social media, and changing priorities. Spencer shares the origin of the Wetland Gypsy name, his upbringing in Texas, and how he found hunting without growing up in a traditional hunting family. He walks through his early days duck hun...

Podcast Description This episode was recorded during an active duck hunt. Between flights and shots, I kept the mics rolling and captured the hunt as it unfolded in real time. In this episode, you will hear ducks being shot while the conversation continues. I walk through what I carry with me while hunting, go through my blind bag piece by piece, and give a real world update on the Cruchanator 200...

This episode is a mix of two things. A full recap of a killer Christmas weekend with Stormy Crook and Aiden, and then a real talk discussion on using treats in retriever training. I start with why a simple comment I left on a Facebook video turned into a bigger conversation. The video showed a young pup being sent to a place board using treats, and I explain why I personally avoid treats with aver...

In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, I’m joined by Austin Williams, a Missouri waterfowler who was randomly selected from Patreon to come on the show. These Patreon wheel episodes have become some of my favorites because they’re simple, honest conversations with everyday waterfowlers who live this life just like the rest of us. We talk about the recent Hunt Giveaway weekend,...

Episode Description In this episode, I’m joined by Capt. Casey, Ben Meyers from Flight Day Ammunition, and Brian Halblieb, host of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast. We spent the weekend together at an Airbnb for a hunt giveaway weekend after Casey was drawn as the winner. We break down both Day 1 and Day 2 of the hunt, what conditions were like, how the birds worked, and how the weekend unfolded fr...

Join Elliott Snider and returning guest Jordan Fromer for a wide open conversation covering everything from tech troubles and early-season memories to Jordan’s incredible ice hole streak in Indiana. Jordan breaks down why this cold snap has produced some of his best mallard hunts ever, how he scouts fast flowing rivers, and what’s behind the sudden push of ducks into his state. Elliott and Jordan...

In this episode I walk through the long term mallard population trends and ask a simple question. Can the average hunter actually feel the effects of this decline. Mallard numbers have dropped from more than eleven million in 2016 to around six and a half million today. I look at the historical highs and lows, compare them to my own data since 2016, and talk about whether the current dip is truly...