Ducks Unlimited Podcast

One of the most important events in the history of decoy collecting is about to unfold.
Host Katie Burke sits down with Jon Deeter of Guyette & Deeter Auction Company to discuss the Jim & Diane Cook Collection — a 400‑piece assemblage widely regarded as the most valuable and significant decoy collection ever assembled. The collection will be offered at auction beginning this April during the North American Decoy Collectors Association (NADCA) show.
In this episode, Jon shares the story behind Jim Cook — a visionary entrepreneur, avid waterfowler, and early conservationist — and how his passion, resources, and eye for quality shaped a once‑in‑a‑generation collection that spans nearly every major carving region in North America.
In this episode:
Who Jim Cook was and how the collection came together
Why this is one of the most important decoy events ever
How Guyette & Deeter vetted nearly 400 top‑tier decoys
The role of private collectors in preserving decoy history
Jim Cook’s early prairie pothole conservation efforts
Why now is a historic moment for new collectors
The importance of collection provenance and maker stamps
Why collections break up — and why it matters for the hobby
How collectors, museums, and historians benefit from this sale
The conversation then dives deep into highlights from the collection, including works by Joe Lincoln, Elmer Crowell, the Ward Brothers, Robert Elliston, Charlie & Edna Perdue, and Enoch Rindahl — explaining why these pieces matter and what sets them apart.
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.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, historian, or simply fascinated by waterfowling heritage, this episode offers rare insight into an extraordinary chapter of American folk art.

Discover how modern women are reclaiming ancestral skills—from raising and processing their own meat to handling unexpected encounters with Florida gators.
Host Bethany Beathard sits down with Tiffany Sanders, homesteader, hunter, nurse, and nuisance‑gator responder, to explore what self‑sufficiency really looks like in today’s world. Tiffiny shares firsthand stories from the field, including the wildest gator call she and her husband ever responded to, how her children got involved, and what it’s like navigating communities that protect nuisance wildlife.
The conversation shifts into the heart of Tiffiny’s work: empowering women to take ownership of their food sources. From home butchering and dispatching animals humanely to growing nutrient‑dense produce, she teaches women that you don’t have to be “born” into homesteading to thrive in it. Her background as a nurse opened her eyes to the connection between diet and health—and sparked her drive to grow and raise food intentionally.
Together, Bethany and Tiffany dig into the historical roots of women feeding their families, the rise in self‑sufficiency post‑COVID, and why today’s homesteaders are simply rediscovering what women have always done.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
The wild reality of nuisance‑gator calls—and how Tiffiny ended up in the middle of one neighborhood’s “gator protection squad”
Why nursing school led Tiffiny to grow, raise, and process her own food
How women historically provided for their families through gardening, preserving, and animal harvesting
Why more women are learning dispatching and butchering skills today
The importance of humane, low‑stress animal processing on small homesteads
How COVID reshaped food security and sparked a self‑sufficiency movement
Garden staples Tiffiny never goes without—especially her obsession with red potatoes
Why perfection isn’t the goal—intentionality is
Follow along with Bethany for more homesteading conversations, practical skills, and stories from women who live close to their roots.
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.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, historian, or simply fascinated by waterfowling heritage, this episode offers rare insight into an extraordinary chapter of American folk art.

With growing band recoveries and a newly implemented Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, waterfowl managers in the 1950s sought a more science-based understanding of population dynamics and harvest regulations. The 1960s brought plummeting waterfowl populations, reductions in harvest limits, declining hunter numbers, and shifts in waterfowl distribution. On this episode, Dr. Mike Brasher discusses these important changes and concerning times with Dale Humburg and Ken Babcock. 

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.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector, historian, or simply fascinated by waterfowling heritage, this episode offers rare insight into an extraordinary chapter of American folk art.

Spring is one of the most critical — and overlooked — periods for creating great duck hunting in the fall. In this episode, host Matt Harrison is joined by experienced land manager Guy Halbert to break down what spring land management really looks like and why the work done now sets the table for the entire waterfowl season.
From one of the driest springs in recent memory to drawing down moist‑soil units, improving timber stands, controlling invasive vegetation, and planning for planting season, Guy shares real‑world experience, practical advice, and hard‑earned lessons from managing duck habitat year‑round.
In this episode:
Why spring is the foundation of successful duck season
Managing through an unusually dry spring
Timber stand improvement: thinning, girdling & releasing oaks
Why sunlight and diversity matter in duck woods
How to read vegetation & decide when to plant vs. let it grow naturally
The value of keeping management notes & logs year‑to‑year
Crop rotation concepts for duck food
Moist‑soil management vs. planted crops like corn & millet
Water control: the single most important management factor
Advice for first‑time landowners and new duck managers
Common mistakes & why slowing down saves money and habitat
If you’ve ever said “duck season will take care of itself,” this episode explains why spring is when the real work — and success — begins.

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 women are taking safety, confidence, and responsibility into their own hands—both in the field and everyday life.

Professional shotgun shooter and DU Ascend host Julia Stallings sits down with Audrey Wikan, Drake Waterfowl spokeswoman and former gun‑industry marketer, to discuss what women need to know about concealed carry, field carry, legal realities, holsters, draw practice, and staying equipped on hunts.
Audrey shares her early experiences working behind a gun‑store counter at age 19, why women beelined to her with questions, what she carries now, and how she mentors new shooters. Together, they unpack the realities of traveling with firearms, carrying while hunting or fishing, choosing the right gun, staying legal across state lines, and building confidence through training and mentorship.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why more women are choosing to carry in the outdoors
Training, mentorship, and how to find the right firearm
Holsters, appendix vs. backpack carry, and drawing safely
What to know about carrying while hunting, fishing, or hiking
Traveling with firearms: TSA tips, ammo rules, and packing hacks
Understanding caliber choices, recoil, and comfort for smaller hands
Why confidence and comfort determine whether you’ll actually carry

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.