In this episode of Gamebird University, James sits down with Dr. Ryan Askren, Director of the Five Oaks Agricultural Research & Education Center, to refocus the lens on the wintering grounds—where habitat configuration, disturbance, and management decisions shape duck behavior long before spring.

James and Ryan dig into what modern GPS/GSM telemetry is really telling us about winter movements, night feeding, and sanctuary use—and where tag choice can bias migration inferences. They explore how wetland complexes outperform single units, why scrub-shrub/buttonbush cover may be undervalued for thermal refuge and predator avoidance, and what fecal DNA diet work reveals.

The conversation connects science to practice: post-season water on non-timber units, hunt-rest rotations, and coordinating with neighbors to create the mosaic ducks actually select. Ryan also shares insights from comparative studies of backpack vs. implant transmitters (and what that means for estimating timing and survival) and closes with how the Five Oaks certificate program turns ecology-savvy students into equipment-ready managers who can calibrate sprayers, plan drawdowns, and talk shop with farmers.

In this episode of Gamebird University, hosts James Callicutt and Mark McConnell sit down with Dr. Ben Jones, CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society, for a grounded, field-tested conversation about young-forest conservation in the South—and what it really takes to sustain ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and the people who care about them across the range.

The crew explores how disturbance and interspersion drive habitat value, why woodcock routinely show up in unexpected cover, and how modern tools—GPS tracking, remote sensing, and on-the-ground monitoring—are reshaping our understanding of migration, wintering needs, and day-to-day behavior. They dig into practical management levers (from timber harvest to patch size and structure) and the realities of working forests where wildlife, landowners, and economics intersect.

They also confront the messaging gap: how public perception can stall necessary habitat work, and why conservationists must reclaim the narrative from preservation-only mindsets with clear, science-forward communication. Along the way, they spotlight the rise of bird-dog culture, why trusting your dog is often the best lesson in ecology, and how woodcock hunting can be an inviting on-ramp for new hunters and future advocates.

Listeners will come away with a crisp picture of what “young forest” actually means on the ground, how technology is sharpening management decisions, and why collaborative, working-lands conservation remains essential for upland birds—across seasons, ownerships, and communities.