Duck hunters have always been prone to grumbling, but lately the frustration feels different...deeper, more widespread, and harder to shake. Across flyways and duck camps, many waterfowlers share the same sentiment: they don’t feel heard. In this episode of The Standard Sportsman Podcast, Cason Short and Brent Birch dig into where communication is breaking down and why expectations may be part of the problem. It’s an honest look at modern duck seasons and how a reset in perspective might help hunters find satisfaction again.

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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Noah Perry-Raymond James, and Ducks Unlimited.

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The 2025–2026 duck season proved one thing: success depended on where you stood and when you showed up. With mallard numbers down and dry conditions gripping much of the Mississippi Flyway and Central Flyway, many hunters faced a hurdle right out of the gate. Then, just as the season wound down, a blast of snow, sleet, and ice slammed the Deep South, locking up habitat and reshuffling birds overnight. For some, it was a last-minute gift that sent the season out on a high note. For others, it marked an early curtain call.

On this episode, Cason and Brent break down how the season unfolded, compare it to years past, and talk candidly about what these shifting conditions mean for the future of waterfowling. They also dig into how hunters can work together through conservation, habitat, and advocacy, to make sure we’re all pulling on the same end of the rope when the next season rolls around.

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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Noah Perry-Raymond James, and Ducks Unlimited.

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Iconic North American waterfowler and legendary outdoor photographer Lee Kjos joins the show, carrying with him a lifetime of sunrises, wingbeats, and miles traveled beneath open skies. From the disappearing prairie potholes of Saskatchewan to the river bottoms of Missouri, Kjos shares what he’s seen this past season and the realities of duck hunting's struggles.

His reflections are honest and, at times, sobering, but they are also rooted in a deep love for wild places and the birds that bind us together across flyways and seasons. From Minnesota’s northern marshes to Louisiana’s coastal plains, and everywhere in between, Kjos speaks to what truly matters if we hope to keep the heartbeat of duck hunting alive.

With the quiet wisdom of someone who has watched both abundance and decline, he offers heartfelt guidance, especially for the next generation, a reminder that the future of our traditions depends on how fiercely we choose to love, protect, and prioritize habitat and ducks today.

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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Noah Perry-Raymond James, and Ducks Unlimited.

Send us a text

All Rights Reserved. Please subscribe, rate and share The Standard Sportsman podcast.