Episode Details

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Joey is running the show without Cal and diving into the newly released waterfowl population numbers and he has a lot of questions.

Mallards are reportedly down, several other puddle duck species dropped, and the overall numbers aren't exactly what Joey expected after seeing what looks like an incredible hatch around Minnesota this summer. He and Carter talk through how the surveys are conducted, whether changing water conditions could be pushing ducks outside traditional survey areas, and why the numbers don't always seem to line up with what hunters are seeing on the ground.

The conversation also gets into some of the criticism Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been getting online. Joey pushes back on blaming conservation organizations for the survey numbers and talks about why he'd like to see more research and additional survey areas before everyone starts jumping to conclusions.

Before all of that, Joey recaps Wisconsin goose opener and taking his two-and-a-half-year-old son into the blind. No geese for Joey, but plenty of frogs, snakes, donuts, and a pretty memorable first hunting experience. The guys also talk Minnesota opener, scouting resident geese, teal, dry conditions, wood ducks, and why this year's duck season could still be a very interesting one.

Topics Covered:
•Taking a two-year-old goose hunting
•Wisconsin goose opener
•Getting kids into hunting
•Minnesota early goose season
•The latest waterfowl population numbers
•Reported declines in mallards
•Getting ready for duck season

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