Ducks Unlimited Podcast

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

Learn why Ducks Unlimited is mobilizing hunters across North America and what’s at stake for the future of duck habitat and conservation.
In this special DUX 2026 crossover episode, Jeff Stanfield and Andy Shaver of the Big Honker Podcast sit down with Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam to discuss record attendance at DUX, the growing influence of Ducks Unlimited, and the urgent conservation issues facing waterfowl hunters today.
The conversation focuses heavily on the ongoing effort to protect Prairie Pothole Region wetlands, often referred to as the "Duck Factory," and why DU is asking hunters to speak up regarding proposed changes affecting wetland easements funded by generations of Duck Stamp buyers. Adam also shares his vision for Ducks Unlimited’s future, the role of volunteers in the organization's success, the growth of collegiate conservation programs, and what lies ahead as DU approaches its 90th anniversary.
Topics Covered
Record-setting attendance and growth at DUX 2026
Why the Prairie Pothole Region is known as the Duck Factory
The importance of Duck Stamp-funded conservation easements
Proposed federal changes affecting wetland protections
How agriculture and waterfowl conservation can coexist
The future of Ducks Unlimited and volunteer leadership
Recruiting the next generation of hunters and conservationists
DU’s upcoming 90th anniversary celebration

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org
SPONSORS:
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

Willie Robertson stopped by the Ducks Unlimited Expo in Memphis to reflect on his family’s journey from selling duck calls to building Duck Commander and becoming household names through Duck Dynasty. In this conversation, Willie shares stories about his father Phil, the values of faith and family that shaped their legacy, and the importance of passing down traditions in the outdoors to future generations.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org
SPONSORS:
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

Duck season is getting closer, and waterfowl hunters are facing a few big changes—especially when it comes to ammunition.
In this final episode of the DUX Series, host Jimbo Robinson and co-host David Schuessler sit down with Nathan Robinson of Winchester Ammunition to discuss the current state of waterfowl loads, rising tungsten prices, new product innovations, and what hunters can expect heading into the upcoming season.
The conversation explores everything from the growing popularity of sub-gauge shotguns to the realities of ammunition manufacturing and supply. Nathan explains how changing material costs are impacting the industry, why steel remains the backbone of waterfowl hunting, and what makes Winchester’s newer products like Final Pass unique. Along the way, the group also talks shooting sports, shotgun patterning, legendary Winchester history, and the excitement surrounding the upcoming DUX Waterfowl Show.
Topics Covered
Why tungsten prices have increased dramatically
Winchester's Final Pass blended waterfowl load
The future of sub-gauge waterfowl hunting
Why shotgun patterning matters more than most hunters realize
Winchester's legacy and role in conservation
Shooting sports and youth participation
What visitors can expect at the Winchester booth during DUX
Upcoming DU 90th Anniversary collaborations

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org
SPONSORS:
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

Follow these links!
Direct link to petition:  https://ducks.quorum.us/campaign/duckfactory/
Link to DU page and federal register link:   https://www.ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory

Learn why Ducks Unlimited is asking waterfowl hunters to take action on one of the most important conservation issues affecting duck production in North America. 

Host Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Dr. Scott Stephens for an update on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ongoing review of regulations related to drain tile setbacks around permanently protected wetland easements in the Prairie Pothole Region. 
Building on an earlier emergency update, Mike and Scott explain new information regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services's Request for Information on determining drain tile setbacks for landowners on property where the Service  owns wetland easements. They discuss a newly found document that states the Service's proposal to repeal the 2024 rule. They remind us why these easements matter, how Duck Stamp dollars have helped protect millions of acres of critical waterfowl habitat, and why DU believes maintaining these protections is essential for the future of duck production and wetland conservation. 
Topics Covered
New developments regarding the 2024 drain tile setback rule
How wetland conservation easements work
The role of Duck Stamp dollars in protecting prairie habitat
Why prairie wetlands are known as the Duck Factory
How drain tile can affect wetlands and duck production
What Ducks Unlimited is asking hunters to do
The importance of participating in the federal comment process
Why this issue is considered a top conservation priority

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org
SPONSORS:
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY

Learn what’s driving a new botulism outbreak in the Klamath Basin and what conservation partners are doing to help protect thousands of waterfowl. 

Host Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Jeff McCreary, Ducks Unlimited’s Director of Operations for the Western Region, and Dr. Dan Smith, DU waterfowl scientist, to discuss deteriorating habitat conditions in one of North America’s most important waterfowl landscapes.
After a winter of record-low snowpack and a spring that produced exceptional numbers of ducklings, water levels in the Klamath Basin are rapidly declining.  Those conditions have created an elevated risk of avian botulism, threatening young ducks and molting birds concentrated on the region’s wetlands. Jeff and Dan explain how the outbreak developed, why the Klamath Basin remains critical to the Pacific Flyway, and how Ducks Unlimited and partners are working to bring additional water into the refuge system before conditions worsen. 
Topics Covered
Why botulism outbreaks occur during drought conditions
The connection between snowpack, water availability, and wetland health
How more than 100,000 ducklings were produced despite current challenges
What “flow-through” water management could mean for the Klamath Basin
The importance of Lower Klamath and Tule Lake refuges
Why collaboration is essential to solving long-term water issues
How DU and partners are responding to current conditions
The future of waterfowl habitat in the Pacific Flyway

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org
SPONSORS:
Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT THE DUCK FACTORY