The North American Waterfowler

Join Elliott as he recounts his Thanksgiving week filled with waterfowl hunting adventures. From unpredictable weather challenges to the camaraderie with fellow hunters, Elliott shares insights on bird movements, gear choices, and memorable hunts, including a top five hunt of his life. Tune in for a deep dive into the art of waterfowl hunting and the strategies that make it successful. Flight Day...

In this episode of The North American Waterfowler, Elliott goes full rant mode. From holiday nostalgia to Chiefs stress to duck hunting “experts” who speak in absolutes, this one covers it all. Elliott breaks down why claims about mallards, cold fronts, ice, and snow often get tossed around like scientific fact when most of it is nothing more than opinion dressed up as truth. He also dives into we...

Ben Meyers from Flight Day Ammunition is back and we tell the full story behind recent comments about Flight Day on the Boss Shot Shells fan page. We walk through the pattern comparison that started it, how Flight Day steel edged out Boss Steel Reserve on the board, and why Ben thinks muzzle velocity myths just will not die. Ben breaks down copper shot versus premium slow steel, real gel test resu...

In this episode Elliott checks in from the heart of mid season in the Central Flyway with a full weather and migration update from Kansas. Warm temperatures and a late push of birds have made this stretch tricky, so he walks through the ten day forecast, talks about why he actually took a rare weekend off from hunting, and explains what he looks for when deciding whether to rest or grind. You will...

Episode description Elliott sits down with Wisconsin waterfowler and patron guest Jake Brokish. They compare notes on a fresh cold front push, the shift from blue-wing teal and wood ducks to mallards, and why the best flights often arrive overnight. Jake walks through his small-boat backwater approach on the Mississippi, hiding off the boat when possible, and what geese do over water when spinners...

Mike Marino of Marino Decoys joins Elliott to share how a kids pastor fell in love with carving and turned high density cork and tupelo heads into functional art that hunts. Mike walks through his full process from pattern and bandsaw to glass eyes and paint, why cork still floats after a stray pellet, and how he creates working urn decoys that hold a dog’s ashes and even shells. He talks species...

On this November 3 episode I break down the big duck opener from a solo kayak hide that turned into a pintail show. First frost mornings, a steady northwest wind, and plenty of birds made for a memorable hunt with Georgie working hard. I share how the sun angle and a spinner affected finishing birds, why I shifted setups mid hunt, and a quick story about an eight point buck slipping along the will...

In this listener-driven Q&A episode, Elliott dives into some of the most debated topics in waterfowling today. He talks about why blue-wing teal are still hanging around Kansas later than normal, whether spinners should stay in the spread through November, how to fairly handle “who shot what” in group hunts, and if leaving headlamps in a hole to hold your spot crosses the line. Packed with practic...

Join us deep in the Sandhills of Nebraska for one of the most remote hunts we’ve ever done. We set up a hot tent miles from anywhere and lived completely off the grid. In this episode, we share stories from camp, the challenges of life in the middle of nowhere, and the excitement of a successful Day 1 duck hunt in the Sandhills. Flight Day Ammunition – https://www.flightdayammo.com – Code FDH10Wea...

Join us for an exciting episode of the North American Waterfowler Podcast as Elliott Snider sits down with Walter Jones, also known as Captain Casey. Discover the thrilling story behind Walter's big win in the hunt giveaway and delve into his fascinating life as a boat captain and avid hunter. From fishing tournaments to duck hunting adventures, Walter shares his unique experiences and insights. D...

Join Elliott and Jordan Fromer as they talk through early-season hunting, fog-filled mornings, and the ethics of sharing public spots. They dive into how they handle field conflicts, spinner use on geese, and what it’s like building and camping out of a truck bed rig. Elliott also recaps his Youth and Veteran opener filled with teal, pintail, and wigeon, plus updates on new filters inside The Nort...

Partners & Discount Codes 🎯 Flight Day Ammunition – https://www.flightdayammo.com Use code FDH10 for 10% off bismuth loads built for serious waterfowlers. 🎯 Shotty Gear – https://www.shottygear.com Use code FDH10 for 10% off rugged shell pouches, blind bags, and gun cases made by real duck hunters. 🎯 TideWe Outdoors – https://www.tidewe.com Use code FDH18 for 18% off waders, heated gear, and hu...

In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott shares a solo layout boat hunt recap, reflecting on pintails, teal, and what it takes to stay effective in the field. He also opens up about faith, addressing the tough questions many hunters and listeners have raised about trials, free will, and God’s plan in hard times—encouraging us to see challenges as opportunities for spiritu...

Episode Description: On my way to the 2025 big duck opener, I’m layout boat hunting solo. In this episode, I dive into my personal history with layout boat hunting, why it’s one of my favorite styles of hunting, and share practical tips for anyone wanting to give it a try. Flight Day Ammunition – Premium bismuth loads for waterfowlers.flightdayammo.comCode: FDH10 for 10% off Weatherby Shotguns – L...

Join me as I sit down with Thomas Hoke from Hoke Outdoors to dig into his recent Canada trip, scouting process, and some of the best hunts of his season so far. We talk about what it takes to freelance successfully in Canada, the challenges of keeping a young retriever steady in the field, and how early season hunts in Minnesota have shaped up. From knocking on doors to managing high-volume mallar...

Description In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott takes on your listener Q&A with a mix of hot topics and personal stories. From the latest pintail limit debate to detailed marsh scouting lessons and a look ahead at some big upcoming trips, Elliott shares insights and experiences that connect directly to waterfowlers everywhere. Along the way, he dives into gear, dogs,...

Episode Description In this episode, Elliott sits down with Blake Horton, co-host of the brand-new Winging It Waterfowl Podcast and a full-time firefighter. Blake shares his story growing up in Wheeler, Texas, where he started out hunting quail and pheasants with a German wirehair pointer, before moving into the world of waterfowl after joining the fire service in Southeast Texas. He talks about b...

In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott goes live with Patreon supporters for a special community recording. He talks through the latest hunt giveaway details, spins the Wheel of Names to pick the next guest, and shares updates on sponsors and gear. Elliott also recaps his recent trip to Las Vegas, reflects on the culture there, and then breaks down his Sunday teal hunt...

Description Waterfowl season is finally here! On the drive home, I’m taking some time to reflect on the past two teal weekends — the highs, the struggles, and what it feels like to kick off another season. These early hunts set the tone for everything that’s to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Thanks for being part of the Freelance Duck Hunting community and following along as Season 1...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting Partners & Discounts Flight Day Ammunition → flightdayammo.com — Code FDH10 Weatherby Shotguns → weatherby.com Purina Dog Food → purina.com Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates → mammothpetproducts.com — Code GUARDIAN15 Shotty Gear → shottygear.com — Code FDH10 TideWe Outdoors → tidewe.com — Code FDH18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

Description In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott is joined once again by waterfowl biologist Grant Rhodes. Grant shares updates on his PhD research, including the move from LSU to UC Davis, the switch from Saskatchewan to Manitoba, and what his third field season revealed about blue-winged teal duckling survival. We dive into how drones are changing brood surveys, the...

Episode Description In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott sits down with professional trainer Eric Teson for a powerful conversation. Eric shares his remarkable journey from surviving multiple heart attacks while working ice storms, to pursuing his passion for training retrievers. We trace his story through Flatlander Kennels, Show Me Retrievers, and his current role a...

This episode is something special. Recorded on location at a campsite the night before a scout, I sit down with my dad, Carl (also known as “Phumblemitts”), for a fireside conversation. We talk about some of our best memories from years in the marsh together, his journey with Parkinson’s, and what it’s like to step away from duck hunting after a lifetime of passion. It’s a heartfelt father–son ref...

Partner / Sponsor Info TideWe We’re proud to partner with TideWe, makers of high-performance hunting gear built to keep you dry, warm, and comfortable in the toughest conditions. From waders and boots to blinds and heated apparel, TideWe delivers reliable gear for serious outdoorsmen and women. Gear up for your next hunt at TideWe.com and save 18% on your order with code FDH18. Flight Day Ammuniti...

Episode Description Blue wing teal season is almost here, and in this episode I’m diving into teal habitat, busting some of the biggest teal hunting myths, sharing my own teal numbers from the North American Waterfowler app, and looking back on a few hunts I’ll never forget. Plus — the massive Patreon giveaway is just around the corner! I’m giving away a 2-day hunt with Ben Meyers of Flight Day Am...