Ducks Unlimited Podcast

Take a deeper dive into how state policy drives habitat conservation, promotes access, and protects our hunting and outdoor traditions.
Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with South Carolina State Senator Chip Campsen, DU’s Southern Region Director of Public Policy Ed Penny, and Wildlife Mississippi Executive Director James Cummins. They unpack proven tools like the South Carolina Conservation Bank, dedicated state funding models, and why respectful behavior and smart policy both matter for the future of hunting and fishing.

From perpetual conservation easements to college‑town river hunts and the role of Boone & Crockett, this episode shows how statehouses—and the people who vote them in—influence opportunities for every hunter and angler. 

Takeaways:
How the South Carolina Conservation Bank leverages competitive grants and easements to protect ~500,000 acres—and why seed funding stretches dollars farther 
Voluntary, perpetual easements: property‑rights friendly, customizable, and often paired with public access incentives 
Why clustered easements (ACE Basin, Santee Delta) create ecosystem‑scale wins for waterfowl and wildlife 
Dedicated state funding models (e.g., Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund) unlock big federal matches and local projects 
Social license to hunt and fish: how hunter behavior, messaging, and policy safeguard opportunity beyond a constitutional “right” 
CSF/NASC: bipartisan networks where state legislators swap playbooks that protect hunting, angling, and access 
 
Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
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.
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.

2009 World Duck Calling Champion Mike Anderson joins the DU Podcast to talk calls, calling and his favorite pastime, chasing river ducks.  Anderson takes us on his journey from childhood to putting in the time and road miles that lead to becoming World Champion. We also discuss his favorite competition and hunting style calls and how Rich-N-Tone founder Butch Richenback mentored him all the way to the top of the contest calling mountain.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
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.
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.

Learn how state-level decisions directly impact your seasons, access, opportunity, and conservation funding.
Host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with Kaleigh Leager of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and Swanny Evans of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever—two policy professionals working daily inside state capitols to protect hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting traditions.

Most hunters understand federal policy like the Duck Stamp or the Farm Bill. But far more decisions—from Sunday hunting to conservation funding and public‑land access—are made in state legislatures. This episode explains how the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses works, why states are “laboratories of democracy,” and how small bills can create big downstream impacts on opportunity.

In this episode:
What the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and NASC network do
How state bills—good and bad—spread across the country
Why Sunday hunting reforms matter for access and R3
Conservation funding: how license structures and federal match dollars really work
Why discounted or free licenses can unintentionally hurt state wildlife agencies
The case for resident‑rate licenses for nonresident college students
How DU, PF/QF, and partners collaborate to stop harmful bills and advance positive ones

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
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.
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.

Stop second-guessing yourself outdoors: learn what’s actually “icky,” what’s just noise, and how to build confidence fast.
 
Julia Stallings is joined by DU Ascend host Erin Crider and Maggie Williams (duck hunter and women-in-the-outdoors advocate) to talk real etiquette, safety, and community.

This episode gets honest (and funny) about the “icks” women run into in hunting and fishing culture—everything from performative photos to gear judgement. Erin and Maggie share practical ways to keep the outdoors welcoming: lead by example, teach without shaming, and prioritize safety when you’re alone on public land. You’ll also hear real talk on makeup, social media pressure, and how women are “redesigning what conservation looks like” through community and positivity.
Why “duck in your mouth” photos turn people off—and what to do instead
Makeup in the blind: do it or don’t, but don’t let it define you
The fish photo ick: wide-angle, long-arming, and posing vs documenting the journey
Safety on public land: why some women avoid pink and try not to “look like a girl” alone
Gear talk that matters: fit challenges, cost, and what keeps new hunters coming back
How to correct a newcomer without tearing them down (DMs, tone, and leading by example)
Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world.
Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
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.
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.

Hosts Dr. Mike Brasher and Chris Jennings have a quick discussion on the basics of what separates these waterfowl types. Brasher explains anatomy, feeding types, and other differences between these ducks, while Jennings brings a handful of fun facts to the show. 
Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: [email protected]
SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
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.
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.