Ducks Unlimited Podcast

Learn how state-level decisions directly impact your seasons, access, opportunity, and conservation funding.
Host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with Kayleigh 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.

Hear how a carver–painter duo learned the craft together, built a collection, and now run one of Illinois’ longest‑running decoy shows.

Host Katie Burke talks with John and Amy Sarver—carvers, collectors, and organizers of the Henry Decoy Show—about their path into waterfowl art, carving as a team, and growing a younger decoy community.

John grew up on the Illinois River surrounded by hunters and collectors, while Amy came from an artistic family with early exposure to Mississippi River decoys. They share how Pat Gregory pushed them into carving, how painting and sculpting became a shared language, and why they’re committed to keeping regional traditions alive. The pair also reflect on shows, mentors, travel hunts, and how inspiration from wild birds translates into their work.
Takeaways:
How childhood exposure to Illinois and Mississippi River traditions shaped their collecting
Why Pat Gregory’s push got the whole family carving—and why their first decoys “weren’t round”
How Amy’s art background fuels both painting and wildlife study
The history, growth, and youth engagement of the 58‑year‑old Henry Decoy Show
Hunting trips—from Alaska to California—that influence their carving and painting
What it’s like being featured carvers as a young team in the craft

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 pro waterfowl photographer Phil Kahnke scouts, sets up, and times the moment for jaw‑dropping duck images—and how it improves your hunting.

Host Matt Harrison interviews photographer and lifelong hunter Phil Kahnke, known for striking waterfowl images and a methodical, hunt-first approach behind the lens.

Kahnke traces his path from a hand‑me‑down film camera to modern digital work, explaining why his scouting mirrors a duck hunt and why perfect light, wind, and hide are non‑negotiable. He shares close calls on the ice, gear he won’t work without, and why hiding is the single most underrated factor for success—whether you carry a gun or a camera.
Takeaways:
The one moment that proved he could make magazine‑quality images
Why success is “10x harder than a duck hunt” and how he prepares
Hiding as the critical skill: getting birds below the horizon
Light, wind, access, and backgrounds—how he chooses a spot
Pintails as the wariest, redheads as camera‑friendly, and why cans thrill him
Ethics in wildlife photography: wild birds, wild places, honest portrayal

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.