Ducks Unlimited Podcast

The ducks are on the move, and Wisconsin hunters need to be ready. Hosts Matt Harrison and Dr. Jerad Henson break down the latest migration alert, including where birds are showing up, how low water is changing access, and what gear and tactics might give you the edge this season. Whether you're hunting puddle ducks or divers, this episode will help you prepare for success.

READ HERE: Migration Alert: Changing Conditions Bodes Well for Wisconsin Waterfowlers

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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
Jerad Henson
DUPodcast Conservation Host
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.

VO:

Can we do a mic check, please? Everybody, welcome back

VO:

to the Ducks Unlimited podcast. I'm your host, doctor Mike Brazier. I'm your host, Katie Burke. I'm your host, doctor Jared Hemphith. 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 Ducks Unlimited podcast. I'm your host, Matt Harrison. Also, joining me today is doctor Jared Henson, also host of the Ducks Unlimited podcast. Doctor Jared, how are doing?

Jerad Henson:

I'm doing good today, Matt. Happy to be here. Had some cooler weather this weekend, so kind of kind of excited about what's going on.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. No doubt. We're gonna be bringing y'all a migration alert update here in just a few minutes. It'll be centered around the Mississippi Flyway, but specifically the Wisconsin area. But before we dive into that, doctor Jared, you had a phenomenal weekend this past weekend.

Matt Harrison:

Correct?

Jerad Henson:

I did have a good weekend. I mean, we had Halloween and and great time with the kids, and then I was able to get up in a tree this weekend after that and arrow a a pretty good buck on public land.

Matt Harrison:

Beautiful buck.

Jerad Henson:

Really, really happy about that. Now I got a lot of work processing a deer, but

Matt Harrison:

But what a way to kick off your hunting season. I know. I mean, you're about to be able to chase some ducks, and you just harvested a beautiful whitetail on some public ground, and I mean, just what a start.

Jerad Henson:

I'm I'm pumped about it, man. I yeah. It's been a while since I've been able to to put the time in to take a deer, so with with young kids, and so I was really happy to get that opportunity, and and it all come together.

Matt Harrison:

That's awesome. When I saw the picture, I was like, let's go. It fired me up a little bit.

Jerad Henson:

I was shaking like a leaf after it. I was like, I was all amped up. I had to climb down out of the tree. I was shaking so much. So

Matt Harrison:

Oh, that this time we're around, it I just gotta hear the full story.

Jerad Henson:

I will. Yeah. It's a good story.

Matt Harrison:

That's awesome. That's awesome. Well, like I said, we're gonna be diving in to a migration alert for the state of Wisconsin, the Mississippi Flyway. And I was reading this, and it's getting me a little fired up because I know where I'm stationed at here in Mississippi, we've got a good cold front that's moved in, some crisp weather this morning. It was around 38, 40 degrees, and it has me thinking about ducks.

Matt Harrison:

And that's what they kinda talk about here in this alert, saying that they got a good cold front and some ducks started to push on through. So Doctor. Jared, it's it's that time. I mean, it is it is here. I know that we've talked about it being close to time, but I feel like a lot of these these states are really starting to see a push of birds.

Jerad Henson:

That's it. That's it. And if you look at that report and jump in, one of the first things they say is, you know, the ducks seem to be on track. Divers are showing up. Yep.

Jerad Henson:

You know, they're generally there a little early. They're they're waiting in some areas of of Wisconsin to pick up, you know, their big ducks and puddle ducks, but they're seeing ducks, and they're showing up. So the big, I think the big thing there that the, they were talking about on the report was, you know, low water levels, at least on the Mississippi side of Wisconsin. That's no surprise. I mean, you know, I'm in Memphis, and I look at Mississippi, drive across it every day, it's real low, real, real low, and been at pretty much record lows for the past three, four weeks.

Jerad Henson:

So so we need some water on landscape to change that, really. But it's it's concentrating ducks, and and they go on to say if you really wanna get out there after them, you may have to get a little more creative about how you access some of your favorite hunting spots.

Matt Harrison:

Yep. That's what Brenda Kelly with the WDNR says word for word. She says water levels are lower than what hunters may be used to from the past several years. This may make some locations more difficult to access based on what type of equipment they are using. So exactly what you just said, you may have to get a little creative of how you plan on getting to your spots, because with that water level node, we all know as waterfowl hunters, that creates its own challenges itself.

Jerad Henson:

Oh, yeah, yeah. No one likes to be stuck in the mud. Nobody. But that sets you up for it right there.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt.

Jerad Henson:

But there are ducks to be had if you can get out there after them.

Matt Harrison:

For sure, and for sure. And it also goes to say this, you know, with these challenges, those that put in that work and find those creative ways and can get some extra time on their hands to go scout and get to those places that a lot of people can't, you can probably be a lot more successful than in times past where everybody can access any part of the river or any location that you're trying to get to.

Jerad Henson:

Right. Yep. That's it. And kind of on the other side of the state, when I talked with Dave Heath of Heath Outdoors, that was kind of giving us an input on that east half of the state. I thought that was exciting to see long tailed ducks showing up on the

Matt Harrison:

I know.

Jerad Henson:

On the bay, and, you know, that's it's a cool place. I've had some friends go up there and do do some layout boat hunts and that, and so they're seeing that, and then seeing a few other big ducks show starting to show up. So it's happening.

Matt Harrison:

It is. It's truly that time of year, like I said. Like, we've been talking about it, how we're close to it, we're close to that time of year. But like I said, with this good cold front that we've really had pushed through, I truly feel like even us, you know, down here in the Southern part of The United States, we're really gonna start seeing here soon some new birds show up. And even John Klima reports, and he's in the Southeast part of the state.

Matt Harrison:

He said that they had, you know, a little cold front come through this past week, and they had some new birds show up. But he said, really hoping for some more north winds and cheerleader chillier temp temperatures that we have, you know, potentially coming up here soon because we still haven't, you know, just had that long spell of cold weather. Of course, we're still just really early here, just November, very beginning days of November. So hopefully here, you know, within the next couple weeks, especially some of the northern parts of The United States, we'll really, really start to see some really big pushes.

Jerad Henson:

Yeah. Yeah. Well, and that's we did on on Facebook, we went live and did some some weather live episode, Waterfront Weather Live. One of the things we talked about is it's gonna be probably pretty dry still for the next couple weeks, but after that, we're setting up for hopefully a little cooler, winter, at least for the the northern half of the the country. And so hopefully that'll push the birds down.

Jerad Henson:

You know? We should get should get a good push. We just gotta wait for that weather to get here.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. And that's this this article kinda wraps up with that as saying, you know, the best stretch of the season will soon arrive for Wisconsin waterfowl hunters. So they're, you know, they're getting to a point where here soon it should be really, really good, good hunting weather. But hopefully hopefully, we all start to see some good pushes here soon. I know I'm fired up to to get out there and get after them.

Matt Harrison:

But one thing I do wanna talk about now that we've kinda walked through this this report here, now kinda going back to, you know, like we talked about, just putting in that time. That's really gonna be what separates, I feel like, a lot of waterfowl hunters this year from being successful to not successful is, are you willing to put in that time? Because with the water level in certain areas being low, it's gonna be tough. You know, it's gonna be hard. You're gonna have to find those those ways that can just separate you.

Matt Harrison:

Yes, it may be tough. Yes, you may have to do some walking. Yes, you may have to go borrow a a certain type of boat or motor to get to these certain spots. But if you're willing to put in that time, those areas, I feel like, are really gonna have some birds.

Jerad Henson:

They will, they will. Those birds, remember too that we didn't have super production this year, so you're gonna have smart birds.

Matt Harrison:

Smart.

Jerad Henson:

You're gonna have a few, you know, you're gonna have some you're gonna have some young. You know, they had some reproduction, but it wasn't a booming year by any means. So a lot of the ducks you're gonna see, especially big ducks, they've seen that dog and pony show before, right? So they're gonna be smarter, so you gotta adapt to that, be better with your concealment, your decoys, all of that, and hope the weather's on your side, and you can line up for probably some really good hunts if you can get it all to come together.

Matt Harrison:

No doubt. No doubt. And that's a very good point with what you said is it may be a little bit tougher, you know, with these birds, a lot of these birds being a little bit more educated, you know, a year older. And like you said, some things that may help you is the concealment, the the tips and tricks that are just gonna set you apart that some of your experienced waterfowl hunters know, you know, to kinda give you that edge. I feel like it's gonna be one of those years that your your people that, like I said, put in the extra time, you know, they do the little things right.

Matt Harrison:

It's really gonna help them be successful this upcoming waterfowl season. That's it. Yep. No doubt.

Jerad Henson:

100%.

Matt Harrison:

Well, we also wanna thank Jay Anglin for being the the freelance contributor here that wrote this report. It's a great report. You can go to ducks.org, search migration alert to keep up. You can also subscribe to the email, and it's a great way to stay informed. It's an awesome, awesome way to just know what's going on around.

Matt Harrison:

It may not be, you know, the alert may not be specific to your area or your location, but it's a great, great way to just be informed about what people seeing, what people are hearing, and it's for all flyaways. So it's a great great tool and asset if you're a waterfowl hunter that takes it serious or just likes to know what's going on. So if you haven't, be sure to go to ducks.org, subscribe to the migration alert. I love getting updates. I love getting to see them, getting to read them.

Matt Harrison:

I know that a lot of you as well that are listening probably already have subscribed, but if you haven't, make sure you go and subscribe. Like I said, it's a great way to stay informed. Chris, thank you so much, our podcast producer, for for allowing us to hop on the podcast. Doctor Jared, thank you so much for carving some time out of your day to hop on and give us a migration alert, and thank you so much to all of our listeners. Y'all stay tuned.

Matt Harrison:

We will continue to give you migration alerts here for the upcoming waterfowl season. We're super excited. We hope that all y'all have a wonderful wonderful waterfowl season. 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.