Episode Details

Merry Christmas! This episode drops right before the holiday—here’s to safe hunts, full straps, and time with your crew and family.

Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard dig into listener questions—from “what time do you pack it in?” to the weather that really moves birds, why consistency (choke + ammo) beats tinkering, and how to tweak spreads when wind, fog, or pressure make ducks stubborn. They also hit species quirks (why wood ducks and late-season mallards can be maddening, and why specks act different in Suisun), plus the do’s/don’ts of hiding in tules vs. under trees. Want your question on the show? Drop it via the form at calwaterfowl.org → Save It for the Blind.

Episode highlights

• When to call it — why most hunts wrap by about 10:30 and how to read a dead morning versus a late bite
• Best weather — clear, cold, and a 5–12 mph breeze is better than big gale days; avoid full-moon lulls
• Calling smarter — practice outside (15 min/day), read wing tips and butts, and remember that whistle work wins in California
• Chokes & shells — pick one choke and one velocity… and stop switching mid-season
• Hide choices — tules give 360-degree cover; trees can block shots and make ducks wary
• Spreads that finish birds — go lighter with more motion as pressure builds; pull spinners in fog or overcast if birds hang at 40
• Refuge tactics — scout the pond line, move early if birds are setting elsewhere, keep the sun at your back, and leave a landing hole

🦆 Merry Christmas and thank you for riding with us this season. If this helped your game, hit Follow, drop a quick review, and share it with your blind crew—your support keeps these conversations rolling and the flyway thriving.