Ducks Unlimited Podcast

Join Matt Harrison and special guest Guy Halbert as they dive into Arkansas’ first split of duck season. From unexpected warm weather and mosquito-filled mornings to big pushes of birds as of late, Guy shares insights on hunting conditions, water levels, and the impact of acorn abundance on wildlife. Plus, hear an unforgettable story about a young hunter’s first banded mallard.

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Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.

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Creators and Guests

Host
Matt Harrison
DUPodcast Outdoor Host

What is Ducks Unlimited Podcast?

Ducks Unlimited Podcast is a constant discussion of all things waterfowl; from in-depth hunting tips and tactics, to waterfowl biology, research, science, and habitat updates. The DU Podcast is the go-to resource for waterfowl hunters and conservationists. Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands conservation.

Matt Harrison:

On today's episode of the Ducks Unlimited podcast, we have special guest Guy Halbert from the natural state of Arkansas joining the Ducks Unlimited podcast to give us an update on duck hunting conditions in Arkansas. So you don't wanna miss it. Stay tuned to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. Can we do a mic check, please? Everybody, welcome back to the Ducks on the Podcast.

VO:

I'm your host, doctor Mike Brasher. I'm your host, Katie Burke. I'm your host, doctor Jared Henson. And I'm your host, Matt Harrison.

VO:

Welcome to the Ducks Unlimited podcast, the only podcast about all things waterfowl. From hunting insights to science based discussions about ducks, geese, and issues affecting waterfowl and wetlands conservation in North America. The DU podcast, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, the official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited. Purina Pro Plan, always advancing. Also proudly sponsored by Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails.

VO:

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.

Matt Harrison:

Hey, everybody. Welcome back to the Duck Unlimited podcast. I'm your host, Matt Harrison, and we have with us today Guy Halbert from Arkansas who we just recently, not too long ago, did a land management podcast episode, and it was one that I really enjoyed. So if you hadn't listened to that one, can also go back listen to that podcast episode. But, Guy, how we doing?

Guy Halbert:

Doing good, man. How are you doing?

Matt Harrison:

I'm wonderful. I'm super excited to have you on. Last time we were on, we talked about being excited for duck season and couldn't wait. Now here we are. We're in our first split in Arkansas, and so everything been going good with you, though?

Guy Halbert:

Man, it's it's been good. You know, the the weather has really cooperated the last week or so. I mean, it's it's really been nice, to be honest with you. Yeah. I'm I'm pretty pumped for the next split.

Guy Halbert:

So I mean, the next season. So

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. No doubt. Now have you gotten to do some deer hunting? I know that we talked briefly not too long ago, me, you, Michael, and talked a little bit, and you were getting ready to go climb up in a stand and chase a deer. So have you been been after the deer hard?

Guy Halbert:

Man, real hard, but it it's been it's been kind of a you know, last last year, we we didn't have any acorns at all in my area. Like, it I mean, that was just kind of the whole story down here, but this year, we've got too many acorns. And so I I

Guy Halbert:

just don't think they gotta move far, and, you know, I, you know, I haven't seen many deer chasing at all, so I I don't know. They're kinda just sporadic with with, you know, grunting and stuff. So but it's yeah. I've been chasing them real hard.

Matt Harrison:

Now when does the rut come in for you guys typically in Arkansas?

Guy Halbert:

Man, it this year, like I said, this year's just been weird, man. It you know, down here where I'm at and and Mhmm. Specifically, you know, the first week of December is like the Midwest down here. I've seen some Yeah. You know, I've seen five or six bucks chasing a doe just like normally, it's it's really good right now, but it's been hard last week, man.

Guy Halbert:

I tell you, I I've seen deer this year chasing, you know, the first week in November down here, which is I've I've never really seen that. So I've I had a big mature deer chasing in October, which is you know, they do that sometimes on that big red moon, but so it's it's just been it's just kinda sporadic down here, really, to be honest. So you just gotta find the right dough and hope hope the big boy's behind her. So but

Matt Harrison:

Well, what's interesting that you say, though, is the acorn drop this year is is so much better from last year, and it's I've never really thought about it. We talked about on the podcast yesterday with Tim and Sydney Wells that I'm not that big of a deer hunter, but it's interesting to think about when you do have a better year for acorns that those deer don't have to go as far, you know, looking for acorns or or food or anything like that when you do have a really, really good year. That's interesting that you say that. Me not being a deer hunter, I really don't think about that very often, but it's it's neat to think about that aspect of it.

Guy Halbert:

Well, sure, mate. Yeah. I mean, you you know, like, you know, even last year with the ducks, you know, they didn't use the woods in some spots like they normally do. You know? Mhmm.

Guy Halbert:

We had I had fields with, you know, 2,500 wood ducks in it. You're shooting them like mallards. Like, know? So it's a double edged sword. No.

Guy Halbert:

It's it's it's great. You know? I'm glad we have acorns. You know, they they mass produce this year for sure. It's it's gotta be good for the ducks.

Guy Halbert:

You know? So I Like, know that. How it was last year on some of the. It was it was just different. Some they used some places they never used, and so and they you know?

Matt Harrison:

Yeah. It's some good signs, though, for whenever the water does get in the woods in some spots. So I know there's a couple spots that's gonna do really well when that when that does happen.

Guy Halbert:

Man, for sure. For sure.

Matt Harrison:

Well, let's talk a little bit about how hunting has been for you. I know that, like I said, we've talked briefly on the phone past couple days and seen where you guys have had some good hunts and stuff, but you mentioned that conditions weather wise has has been ideal so far. How has the first split for you guys first season gone for you guys? I know that, you know, first couple hunts in Arkansas, we were literally swatting mosquitoes. Like, I kid you not.

Matt Harrison:

I'm pretty sure I mistaked a couple groups of ducks for a mosquito because I was sitting there, leaned up against the tree and just see this massive pterodactyl coming in. It's this mosquito, and I'm over there swatting them. And I don't know I don't know if I've had that warm of a opening day, you know, but we still had a good hunt. But how has, you know, the weather been for you this this first season?

Guy Halbert:

Man, you know, well, you know, right before duck season, it was 80 degrees for, what, a week and a half. So that was that was odd. You know? I mean, I I've I've seen that before, you know, obviously. But I'll be honest with you, man.

Guy Halbert:

The first two days, we were we were just swatting mosquitoes. We there wasn't much killing going on. We, man, I just didn't you know, traditionally, where I'm at in my area, we we don't get our ducks till Christmas. You know? And Mhmm.

Guy Halbert:

Man, I I don't know what happened, but, like, I'd I'd scout everything. I tried to every day, you know, just to kinda see what's what we're holding where and, you know, how we can break up our hunts or whatever through the week. I only have two two weeks a year that my my boss's family group is in, so we try to really you know, we we probably push a little harder on hunting our stuff than we need to, but was That's what we do. When they're all here together, you know, that's what it's all about. So but, anyways, they For sure.

Guy Halbert:

You know, the third the third afternoon, man, I I went and checked the field that they were not in, and it was yeah. I don't think you could have put another duck in it. So and it was warm. You know? So we ended up, man.

Guy Halbert:

It they just kinda showed up out of nowhere. I you know, I don't know. You know, I've heard talked to some guys around me, and it's kind of the same situation. You know? They they killed some ducks in my area.

Guy Halbert:

So, you know, the weather was not good the first couple days, but, man, his really turned out. And it's you know, it it turned out nice, you know, really. And we we ended up having a really good first split, all things considered. So

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. That's awesome. That's awesome. And so Yeah. Just thinking, were when those birds showed up that you were kinda surprised about, was there no cold front or a cold little snap?

Matt Harrison:

And I know we hadn't really had real, real cold weather as until late. So did they just kinda show up, or was it, you know, something up north you think kinda pushed them down?

Guy Halbert:

So this this is kinda my theory on this. Man, on them big south wind days, that's when I I feel like my ducks show up, them big south wind. We don't have, like, a 30 mile an hour south wind second day. I don't know if you remember that at night. It I mean, it was real bad.

Guy Halbert:

But so, like, I killed more ducks on a south wind. I mean, I shoot them well, obviously, shoot them on a good north wind, but I think I see more traveling ducks on a good south wind. And so we got a big south wind, and, man, they were just here. You know? I don't I don't know if they come up from you know, I heard Louisiana got a a a big push, you know, of teal and stuff, so early, you know, real early.

Guy Halbert:

So there were some guys down there, you know, swatting them out, but, you know, so I don't know. Maybe Yep. You know, that's kind of my theory on it. I think they kinda showed up on that south wind, and and, man, it just kinda they're really they last couple days, honestly, you know, it's a split here in Arkansas, but they have really showed up, though, like big time. Yeah.

VO:

Stay tuned to the Ducks Unlimited podcast, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan and Bird Dog Whiskey after these messages.

Matt Harrison:

Alright. So, guy, we know that weather conditions have been pretty good, but one issue that has kind of been a hot topic in Arkansas, especially on public ground and such is, you know, the water levels aren't where we want them to be. So have you heard much talking on on how people have done on public ground in Arkansas? I know that we have a couple friends that have done pretty well actually, but, you know, all considered, we know that water isn't exactly where every duck hunter wish it was as of right now. But have you heard much talk about water levels on public ground in Arkansas?

Guy Halbert:

Well, yeah, man. Yeah. You know you know that. Yeah. They you know, the water's concentrated, obviously, but, you know, obviously, on the big rivers and stuff, you know, there's there's no just the lakes and stuff, you know, like that.

Guy Halbert:

You know, surprisingly, I've heard some guys done really well, especially in my our area. So, you know, that that is a big topic, man. And just from, you know, management standpoint and just how dry we are, It's kinda surprising how many ducks we did have, you know, in my area. And so, you know, those ducks are pretty concentrated. You know, I think they got hammered on pretty good.

Guy Halbert:

So I know I know some few groups that did really well, like, really well and shot mallard ducks. So but for sure, you know, water's you know, if you're if you if you got private, you know, and you got some water, you're probably gonna do pretty good, you know, and you got some food. So I know that most public around here is, you know, pretty pretty dry and sparse. I think it's, like, all over the state. You know, there's a few, you know, a few BMW MAs that I think can pump up and stuff like that, but I think they're starting to do some of that.

Guy Halbert:

And so that that that already helped, you know, help a lot more habitat and just more rest and stuff like that and just more water area in the in the landscape. So

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. And one good thing with that guy is we do know that the lack of water can cause some, you know, tougher conditions as a waterfowl hunter. But one good thing about it is if you are able to find some water in certain areas and it's not being too pressured, odds are you'll find ducks if you find some water. You know? So that is one good thing is with it being a little bit more concentrated, you know, water conditions on public ground.

Matt Harrison:

Once you do find some opportunity that that you can kinda get away from people, you know, If you find water, odds are I feel like you'll have a good shot at at shooting some ducks as well. So that's always a always a good thing when the water is a little bit lower. So not all of it's negative. You know?

Guy Halbert:

No. I mean, it's it's it's even when the water's high. You know? It's the same way. You know?

Guy Halbert:

It's there's always, you know, pluses and negatives to every situation, especially duck hunting. You know that. So in general, just Yep. You know, there's a double edged sword to everything.

Matt Harrison:

For sure. Well, the hunts that you've been able to go on, we know that you've had some really good ones. How how did you kinda see the birds responded, and were they were they very easy to call? We know that early, typically, it's it's a little bit easier, but it there's also can be some times that you're like, man, these these birds look like they've been hunted hard. I know for certain.

Matt Harrison:

There was one day that we hunted this year, you know, and I was just like, man, they just they weren't responding very well. They didn't wanna seem to finish. And you know? But on the same token, it was one of the kinda gloomy days, you know, missed in a little bit. So it wasn't ideal conditions, and I just feel like they weren't in the best mood to do it right.

Matt Harrison:

But how how did you kinda see the birds reacting, and how did you kinda see how it went the first split as far as, you know, response goes to to the ducks?

Guy Halbert:

You know, we had some pretty fresh food, and and they had been in there a little bit, you know, on a couple of moisture units that we hunted. And those ducks, man, they did great. You know, you man, you only have tetracalls on some of those a couple of those hunts, and you just kinda gotta set them up where you know, and put them in front of the guys. So that's kinda what we did on that. But I did have a cup two hunts that, you know, after that thunderstorm we kinda had, we kinda had a little bit of weather system come through that was kinda, you know, rough.

Guy Halbert:

But that the day after that, you know, they were pretty tough. You know, you could tell that they were kinda kinda skittish a little bit. As far as pressure, know, hunting pressure, I I didn't really you know, they didn't feel like late January ducks. You know, they they still kinda responded a little bit on my hunts at least, but I did have a I did have a day that was like, well, I better just put my call in my bag or just, you know, hit them on the corners or, you know, you feel like you couldn't do nothing right with your duck call, which we have those days all the time. You know?

Guy Halbert:

This this it's a it's a duck. You know? Pressure, you know, barometric pressure and all that was different, you know, on them low low pressure days. You know, they, you know, they they it's just like a deer hunting a deer, you know, where they move and stuff. You know?

Guy Halbert:

It's kind of the same thing with all animals, I I personally think. You know? So you're gonna have those days no And matter especially if you had the big pressure, you know, if you're hunting them you hunt your unit, you know, more than you probably should, you know, those ducks, you know, they're probably gonna get a little a little shy of you. So just kinda gotta keep you fresh.

Matt Harrison:

Well, share with us the story that you have told me previously whenever we were on the phone about a a young fellow that you took to his first duck hunt to be able to shoot a duck, and it's an awesome story. I was moved by it, and I want you to share it share it with our listeners if you can today.

Guy Halbert:

Man, that'd be awesome. Yeah. I'll I'll keep his I'll keep his name private. But, yeah, we had a guest come in that was a friend of my the guys I worked for, and it was his little boy. And he was he was nine years old.

Guy Halbert:

He's a big turkey and deer hunter. Big big time. Big goes to Kansas all the time. They they love they love chasing deer and turkeys and never been a real big duck hunter. And so they come down for the the, you know, the the first week of duck season and first weekend on the opener.

Guy Halbert:

And the first morning, you know, I told you before, and I said, we we didn't have I just didn't have anything I was real confident in duck hunting, so we went goose hunting. And if you know anything about specter belly goose hunting, man, if you're not where they wanna be, it don't matter what you do. You you can maybe shoot at a few, but if you're if you're on the x, it's normally really good and no matter what. But, you know, we just weren't on the x first morning, and I think we shot at a few, but it was pretty rough. And then the next day, we went we went we just kinda hell married one and went to a big blind and cooked breakfast and did all that stuff.

Guy Halbert:

And I think they we didn't even kill a duck that morning. It was just rough on us. But the next day, I I they finally showed up a little bit, and I told him, I said I said, buddy, you better get ready because this this might be a good one. And we we get in there, and I think the first group of birds that that did it right, he sat down, and they kinda swung over his side. And we let the boys shoot first.

Guy Halbert:

We had three three kids with us, and and they tore into him. And this one this one duck was getting out, and he held married one and just folded it up. And we were all so pumped, man. It was awesome. It was it was his first bird.

Guy Halbert:

Okay? And so we were we were real real pumped, and that and I think the next group of ducks that we started working is kind of the same same situation. They kinda they kinda sit on one of the end of the blind, and that's that's where he was. And then the boys ripped into him again, and one was getting out. Again, same situation, and he just just folded it up getting out.

Guy Halbert:

And we're like, yeah. Good job. You know, we knew who killed the duck. Anyways, we we we go on up the hunt. I think we we said that, you know, we killed a few more birds or something, and then I kinda rounded them up and sent my dog out there.

Guy Halbert:

And my dog went and got this one this one bird off off his end, the one that he shot, the one we were all pumped about. And he set it beside me, and I wasn't even paying attention. And I just kinda glanced down, and and or I had all the other birds on the stream. It was the last one out of that group that we that we shot into. I I just kinda looked down, and sure enough, that Joker was banded.

Guy Halbert:

So he killed his first duck, which was awesome. His second bird was a banded mallard. Like, it you know, he just that's that's it was so lucky, but it was so awesome, man. He was so pumped. So that was it was

Matt Harrison:

That's such an incredible story.

Guy Halbert:

That sounded awesome.

Matt Harrison:

And that is something that is something he he will never ever forget. It doesn't matter how how old he gets. That's a story that he'll get to share for the rest of his life. And, man, that just I love hearing stuff like that. You know, especially the older you get, it just seems to be a little bit sweeter and a little bit more rewarding because we all ultimately know that's what it's about is, you know, showing the next generation why we love it, why we do it, why we work to conserve habitat for waterfowl.

Matt Harrison:

I mean, that's that's a truly full circle, just incredible incredible moment and story.

Guy Halbert:

Man, that's that's what it's all about. I mean, you know, especially the older we get. You know, when we're young and just starting and kinda getting on our own, you know, especially hunting public and stuff like that, man, we just wanna kill, you know? But the older you get, the little things and just the moments, you know, just being there, and taking kids, man, that's just what it's all about. I mean, that's why we do it, you know, especially from my standpoint.

Guy Halbert:

You know, I do hunt in public, you know, with you guys and stuff a little bit, but, you know, that's where I'm at now and kinda my, I guess, state of life is just like that's that's why I do what I do now is just to just to, you know, build those memories like that and take kids and just kinda man, just just make memories. So

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. Well, you made it goin', and like I said, it's one he'll remember and tell for the rest of his life, and he'll get to share that story every time somebody sees that band on his lanyard. He'll get Oh, yeah. Share that with him and and mention you. So kudos to you, Guy, for making that a a memory he'll never forget.

Matt Harrison:

So that's for sure for sure an awesome story, and I'm glad you got to share it with our listeners today. Well well, Guy, we wanna thank you so much for taking time to to hop on the Ducks Unlimited podcast and talk a little bit about ducks and stories and and the whole nine. We just can't thank you enough.

Guy Halbert:

Thank you, man. Really appreciate it. It was a lot of fun.

Matt Harrison:

And we also wanna thank our podcast producer, mister Chris Isaac, for making this happen. I also wanna thank our Ducks Unlimited podcast listeners because without you, we don't have a podcast. So, Guy, we hope you have a great, great rest of your season. Y'all stay safe out there. Everybody take care, and God bless.

VO:

Thank you for listening to the DU podcast, sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, the official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited. Purina Pro Plan, always advancing. Also proudly sponsored by 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.

VO:

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to the show and visit ducks.org/dupodcast. Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect those of Ducks Unlimited. Until next time, stay tuned to the Ducks.