The North American Waterfowler

Elliott Snider

The North American Waterfowler Podcast was established on January 1, 2023. Hosted by Elliott Snider, creator of the Freelance Duck Hunting YouTube channel and former co-host of The Duck Gun Podcast. This podcast will bring you content on every aspect of Waterfowl Hunting.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Episode #252 Listener Pushback on Ducks and Migration

    📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION After Episode 250, the feedback poured in from hunters across the country. Some agree. Some strongly disagree. Many are seeing completely different realities depending on where they hunt. In this episode, Elliott reads and responds to real listener comments about duck numbers, migration patterns, hunting pressure, public vs private access, and what success actually looks like across different regions. From concerns about declining mallards to debates over effort, habitat, and expectations, this episode captures a wide cross section of opinions from the waterfowl community. No experts. No scripts. Just honest reactions to what hunters are experiencing on the ground right now. Shotty GearWaterproof, durable gear built by hunters for hunters. From shell pouches to gun cases, this is rugged equipment made to survive real conditions.🔗 https://www.shottygear.comCode: FDH10 TideWeAffordable, reliable hunting gear for every season, including waders, apparel, optics, and more.🔗 https://www.tidewe.comCode: NAW18 Weatherby ShotgunsDependable performance and fit right out of the box, trusted by hunters for generations.🔗 https://www.weatherby.com Mammoth Guardian Dog CratesSafe, rugged transport for your hunting partner, whether in the cab or the truck bed.🔗 https://www.mammothpet.comCode: GUARDIAN15 Flight Day AmmunitionMaximum payload steel loads designed for dense patterns and reliable performance in the field.🔗 https://www.flightdayammo.comCode: NAW10 Support the show and connect with Elliott’s core community of serious waterfowl hunters. Patreon members get bonus content, hunt giveaways, live events, and more. 👉 https://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting 🤝 PARTNERS🔒 JOIN THE INNER CIRCLE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr
  2. 9 FEB

    Episode #249 Off-Season Wants, Gear Upgrades, and What’s Next

    In this episode, I break down my entire duck season using logged hunt data from start to finish. I split the season into early, mid, and late segments and walk through harvest totals, shooting percentages, shots per hunt, satisfaction ratings, and species breakdowns for each phase of the year. Early season covers September 1 through October 31 and was dominated by blue wing teal and gadwall with high efficiency and solid satisfaction. Mid season runs November 1 through December 15 and shifted heavily into mallards, with more pressure, lower shooting percentages, and reduced satisfaction. Late season spans December 16 through close and became a mallard focused grind with more shots per hunt, higher difficulty, but improved satisfaction when things came together. I then zoom out to the full season totals, including 37 hunts, 129 ducks harvested, 239 shots fired, a 57.322 percent shooting percentage, and an average hunt satisfaction of 6.51. I also break down species totals across the entire season. Using those stats, I outline five offseason wants for 2026. These include TideWe heated gloves, the Lucky Twin Pack 2.0 mallard spinning wing decoys, the Higdon Pulsator PRO drake and hen combo, shotgun and ammo changes including 18i 5s, Muller choke considerations, and a possible move to a 20 gauge Weatherby Sorix. The final offseason want is a bigger motor, upgrading from a 35 horsepower surface drive with a goal of reaching upper teens speed when fully loaded. This episode is a full season review driven by real data and a clear look at what I am changing heading into next year. Partners Flight Day Ammunitionhttps://www.flightdayammo.com Discount Code: NAW10 Weatherbyhttps://www.weatherby.com Mammoth Guardian Dog Crateshttps://www.mammothpet.com Discount Code: GUARDIAN15 TideWehttps://www.tidewe.com Discount Code: NAW18 Shotty Gearhttps://www.shottygear.com Discount Code: FDH10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    46 min
  3. 5 FEB

    Episode #248 Moist Soil or Corn: Waterfowl Management Academy on What Ducks Need

    In this episode of The North American Waterfowler Podcast, Elliott sits down with Michael Flaspohler, Kale Flaspohler, and Dan Crigler from the Waterfowl Management Academy to talk about one of the most overlooked drivers of duck numbers: spring habitat. The discussion breaks down moist soil versus flooded corn, why invertebrates are critical during spring migration, and how water depth, timing, and habitat diversity directly impact duck production. With decades of experience managing public and private wetlands across Missouri and the Mississippi Flyway, the Waterfowl Management Academy team explains how spring habitat determines how many ducks make it back to the breeding grounds in good condition. They also introduce the Spring Habitat Campaign and explain how private landowners, hunters, and supporters can play a role in improving habitat during the most important season of the year. Learn more about the Waterfowl Management Academy and their spring habitat resources athttps://www.waterfowlmanagement.com Spring Habitat Campaign shirts support Ducks Unlimited, with proceeds helping fund habitat work on the breeding grounds. Support the podcast and get access to exclusive content, livestreams, and giveaways by joining Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting Podcast Partners TideWehttps://www.tidewe.com NAW18 for 18% off Flight Day Ammunitionhttps://www.flightdayammo.com Use code NAW10 Weatherby Shotgunshttps://www.weatherby.com Mammoth Guardian Dog Crateshttps://www.mammothpet.com Use code GUARDIAN15 Shotty Gearhttps://www.shottygear.com Use code FDH10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 24m
  4. 2 FEB

    Episode #247 Episode 247 Season Wrap Up, Stats, Is Duck Hunting Being Ruined?

    In this episode I wrap up the 2025–26 waterfowl season and break down my final numbers, including harvest totals, shooting percentage, and what made this my second best season ever. I recap my final hunt of the year in brutal cold, ice hole mallards, and some absolutely unreal dog work that capped the season the right way. I also answer listener questions pulled from Instagram, covering topics like finding open water during deep freezes, boat choices for marshes and reservoirs, teal decoy setups, off season plans, and whether marshes or reservoirs are more enjoyable to hunt. Finally, I dig into a topic I keep hearing over and over. Is duck hunting really being “ruined”? By social media, guides, influencers, or pressure. I give my honest take based on decades in the field and why effort still matters more than anything else. If you’re wondering what to do now that the season is over, how to stay sharp in the off season, or you just enjoy honest waterfowl talk, this one’s for you. As always, thanks for listening and supporting the North American Waterfowler podcast. Partners: Shotty Gear Waterproof, rugged hunting gear built by hunters for hunters. Shell pouches, blind bags, backpacks, gun cases, and more.https://www.shottygear.com Code FDH10 for 10% off Flight Day Ammunition Quality steel waterfowl loads at a great price. I ran Flight Day all season.https://www.flightdayammo.com Code FDH10 for 10% off TideWe Waders, heated gear, jackets, gloves, and ground blinds. I use their heated vest and outerwear all season long.https://www.tidewe.com Podcast code NAW18 for 18% off Weatherby Shotguns From the Element and Orion to the 18i and beyond, Weatherby makes dependable shotguns for the field.https://www.weatherby.com Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates Safe, durable dog crates with an optional roll cage system for travel. Search Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate on Amazon or visithttps://www.mammothpet.com Code GUARDIAN15 for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 5m
  5. 22 JAN

    Episode #246 Bands Hybrids and What Really Moves Mallards w/ Chris Jobman

    Support the Podcast North American Waterfowler Apphttps://www.thenorthamericanwaterfowler.com Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhunting Episode Description In this episode, Elliott sits down with Chris Jobman for a wide ranging late season conversation that hits everything from weather driven duck movement to why some regions see more bands than others. They talk about the hunt giveaway crew, band stories, and the wild odds of killing two mallard pintail hybrids in the same spot just days apart. They also dig into habitat and food. Millet versus corn. Imprinting birds on a new marsh. Why ducks shortstop when conditions stay warm. Then they tackle the flooded corn debate head on, including the claim that it stops migration and the argument that it is baiting. Chris gives his take and Elliott adds perspective from Kansas and the Central Flyway. To wrap it up, Chris answers a listener question about force fetching a soft dog and why training the owner is often harder than training the dog. If you want to watch these recordings live and be part of the chat, join the Patreon community. Podcast Partners and Links Flight Day Ammunitionhttps://www.flightdayammo.com Discount Code FDH10 Weatherby Shotgunshttps://www.weatherby.com Mammoth Guardian Dog Crateshttps://www.mammothpet.com Discount Code GUARDIAN15 Shotty Gearhttps://www.shottygear.comDiscount Code FDH10 TideWehttps://www.tidewe.com Discount Code NAW18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 15m
  6. 15 JAN

    Episode #245 Hark Outdoors and the 41 Species of North American Waterfowl

    In this episode of The North American Waterfowl Podcast, Elliott sits down with Harrison Collins of Hark Outdoors to talk North American waterfowl, chasing birds across the flyways, and the idea behind pursuing all 41 species. Harrison shares his path into waterfowl hunting, from not growing up hunting at all to traveling for ducks, hunting Arkansas public land, and building a product that celebrates the full spectrum of North American waterfowl. They dig into public land pressure, Arkansas timber hunts, migration struggles, dog work, and why the 41 species goal resonates with so many hunters. This conversation is about the culture of waterfowl hunting, the memories behind the birds, and finding meaningful ways to remember the hunts that matter. TideWe Waterproof and insulated hunting gear built for real hunters in real conditions Website https://bit.ly/4qHt5jB Discount code: NAW18 Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates Heavy duty dog crates built for safety and serious travel Website https://www.mammothpet.com Discount code GUARDIAN15 Shotty Gear Hunter owned gear built to handle the marsh, the boat, and the blind Website https://www.shottygear.com Discount code FDH10 Flight Day Ammunition Premium ammunition for waterfowl hunters Website https://www.flightdayammo.com Discount code FDH10 Weatherby Shotguns Reliable shotguns trusted by hunters across North America Website https://www.weatherby.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 3m

About

The North American Waterfowler Podcast was established on January 1, 2023. Hosted by Elliott Snider, creator of the Freelance Duck Hunting YouTube channel and former co-host of The Duck Gun Podcast. This podcast will bring you content on every aspect of Waterfowl Hunting.

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