The Migration Waterfowl Podcast

Brian Halbleib
  • 4.8 (38)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Weekly

The Migration Waterfowl Podcast is for serious duck and goose hunters who want more than just another hunting story. Hosted by Brian Halbleib, the show brings together experienced hunters, industry leaders, conservationists, guides, and outdoor innovators for honest conversations about every aspect of waterfowl hunting. From hunting tactics and gear to conservation, travel destinations, and the issues shaping our future, every episode is designed to make you a better-informed hunter. Based in western Pennsylvania—where the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways overlap—Brian also travels throughout North America in pursuit of new waterfowl experiences, bringing listeners along through conversations with some of the most respected voices in the sport. Whether you're chasing early-season teal, late-season mallards, Canada geese, or planning your next bucket-list hunt, you'll find authentic discussions, practical knowledge, and a genuine passion for waterfowl hunting every week. No gimmicks. No gatekeeping. Just real conversations for people who live for the migration.

  1. 6d ago

    EP. 126: Why Are Atlantic Flyway Mallards Declining? The Eastern Mallard Project with Cassidy Waldrep

    What if you could follow a mallard throughout its entire year and see exactly where it goes, when it moves, how long it stays—and what finally triggers it to migrate? On this episode of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib is joined by Cassidy Waldrep of the Eastern Mallard Project to explore what researchers are learning by GPS-tracking hen mallards across eastern North America. Cassidy breaks down how the GPS and accelerometer technology works and what the movements of individual ducks are revealing about migration timing, weather, habitat use, stopover areas, wintering behavior and hunting pressure. We also dig into some of the movements researchers have documented through Pennsylvania and the Atlantic Flyway, including where these birds are coming from and where they go next. The conversation also tackles the bigger question behind the research: Why have eastern mallard numbers declined? Cassidy explains the differences researchers are seeing between mallards breeding in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, what scientists are investigating as possible causes, and how this massive tracking project could ultimately influence habitat conservation and waterfowl management. For duck hunters who have ever wondered what happens to the birds between the days we see them in the marsh, this episode offers a fascinating look at migration from the duck's perspective. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Ammo https://www.flightdayammo.com Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    EP. 126: Why Are Atlantic Flyway Mallards Declining? The Eastern Mallard Project with Cassidy Waldrep

  2. Sep 17

    EP. 125: From Southern Swamps To Hunting The World with Robby Nelson

    Robby Nelson didn’t grow up in a hunting family, but more than 20 years later, waterfowl hunting has taken him across all four flyways, from Alaska to Mexico and beyond. On this episode of the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, Robby joins your host Brian Halbleib to talk about teaching himself to hunt alongside friends in Georgia, the people who helped shape him as a waterfowler, and how a passion for chasing ducks and geese eventually turned into a lifetime of traveling and hunting new places and species. They get into Robby’s pursuit of the North American 41, some of his most memorable destination hunts, and why the friendships and experiences have become just as important as the birds themselves. Robby also shares the story behind launching the Southern Flight Podcast, what pushed him to finally get behind a microphone, and what he hopes to build with the show. From Southern swamps to hunts around the world, it’s a conversation about waterfowl, travel, friendship, podcasting, and passing the hunting tradition on to the next generation. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Ammo https://www.flightdayammo.com Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    EP. 125: From Southern Swamps To Hunting The World with Robby Nelson

  3. Sep 10

    EP. 124: Three Days. Three Teal Hunts. Three Limits. Trip Recap with Brian Halbleib

    Three days. Three teal hunts. Three limits. In this solo episode, your host Brian Halbleib breaks down an unforgettable early teal trip to the Central Flyway. Hunt one brought together Elliott Snider, Aden Shorney and Jeremy Ragsdale. Hunt two was Brian and Elliott, and the final morning became a solo hunt. Despite a different group and setup each day, every hunt ended the same way—with a limit of teal in less than an hour. The biggest challenge wasn’t finding birds—it was beating the oppressive heat. Temperatures reached 100 degrees during Friday’s full day of scouting and remained brutal throughout most of the trip. Instead of joining the crowds at marshes holding the most teal, the crew deliberately chose a spot with fewer ducks and less hunting pressure, betting that having room to work would outweigh chasing the biggest concentration of birds. Brian also shares the camping side of the trip, including hauling along a generator and window air conditioner to turn a nylon tent into a surprisingly comfortable escape from the heat. From scouting strategy and hunting pressure to fast limits and air-conditioned “roughing it,” this episode delivers the complete story of three successful days chasing early-season teal in the Central Flyway. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Am-mo https://www.flightdayammo.com Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    EP. 124: Three Days. Three Teal Hunts. Three Limits. Trip Recap with Brian Halbleib

  4. Sep 3

    Ep. 123: Early Goose Season: Scouting, Setups & September Canadas with Greg Tait

    Early goose season is here, and we’re kicking things off with Wisconsin waterfowler Greg Tait. Greg joins your host Brian Halbleib to talk about how he got his start in waterfowl hunting and what early goose season looks like in Wisconsin. We dive into scouting September Canadas, hunting fields versus water, decoy spreads, calling, concealment and the little adjustments that can turn a slow morning into a successful hunt. We also get into some of Greg’s favorite hunts and memorable moments from the field, what he has planned for the 2026 waterfowl season, and his role with Shotty Gear. Greg spends a good part of the offseason traveling the country with our friend Chase McCollough, working waterfowl and hunting expos, so we talk about the miles, long days and behind-the-scenes grind of the show circuit. The wait is over. Waterfowl season is underway, and we’re talking Early Goose Season Masterclass with Greg Tait on this episode of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Am-mo https://www.flightdayammo.com Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Ep. 123: Early Goose Season: Scouting, Setups & September Canadas with Greg Tait

  5. Aug 27

    EP. 122: Is Your Waterfowl Gear Ready for Opening Day? With Jaydon Arnold

    Waterfowl seasons are opening across the country, but is your gear actually ready for opening day? On this episode of the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib is joined once again by Jaydon Arnold from Cut ’Em Down Waterfowl to talk about getting your equipment ready for another season. They discuss how to take inventory of the gear you already own, what should be inspected before opening day, proper maintenance, and how to decide when it’s time to repair, replace or upgrade your equipment. They also break down the essential gear a new waterfowl hunter actually needs, where it makes sense to spend your money, the differences between gearing up for ducks and geese, and when new technology provides a real advantage versus simply adding more stuff to the pile. Finally, Jaydon shares what’s new in waterfowl gear for the 2026–27 season and the products and innovations he’s most excited about this year. Whether you’re pulling your gear out for the first time since last season or looking to make a few upgrades before opening day, this episode will help make sure you’re ready when the birds start moving south. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Am-mo https://www.flightdayammo.com Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    EP. 122: Is Your Waterfowl Gear Ready for Opening Day? With Jaydon Arnold

  6. Aug 20

    EP. 121: Early Teal Season, Road Trips & A Waterfowler's Retirement Plan with Elliott Snider

    Elliott Snider from the Freelance Duck Hunting YouTube channel and host of the North American Waterfowler Podcast is back on the show for another conversation about duck hunting, road trips and what the future might look like for a couple of lifelong waterfowlers. Elliott and I recap our recent time together at the Ducks Unlimited Expo in Memphis and look ahead to our third annual early teal hunting trip together in the central flyway. We talk about conditions heading into teal season, expectations for the hunting and Elliott’s plans for the rest of his 2026 waterfowl season. We also look a little further down the road and talk about something that’s been on my mind lately: retirement. When you finally have the time to hunt wherever you want, whenever you want, is the dream to own a duck camp and establish a home base—or skip the property, maintenance and expense and spend that money traveling to hunt different parts of the country? We wrap things up with Elliott’s plans for Freelance Duck Hunting, the North American Waterfowler Podcast and the North American Waterfowler App, including what he’s learned from tracking years of hunting data and where he hopes to take his waterfowl brands in the future. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Ammo https://www.flightdayammo.com Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    EP. 121: Early Teal Season, Road Trips & A Waterfowler's Retirement Plan with Elliott Snider

  7. Aug 13

    EP. 120: Duck Hunting Is Changing - Are You Paying Attention? with Matt Zvolanek

    Waterfowl hunting is changing, and hunters need to be paying attention. Matt Zvolanek, host of the High Prairie Sportsmen YouTube channel, returns to the Migration Waterfowl Podcast and joins your host Brian Halbleib for a wide-ranging conversation about some of the biggest issues facing waterfowl hunters today. We dive into the ongoing fight over public lands and hunting access, threats to wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, the controversy surrounding drain tile and conservation easements, and the growing number of states and provinces placing tighter restrictions on nonresident waterfowl hunters. We also tackle hunting pressure, the increasing commercialization of access, and an uncomfortable question for those of us who create hunting content: has social media contributed to some of the problems we're now facing? Matt also shares what he's seeing after another two seasons in the field, how waterfowl migration and hunting have changed over the years, and what decades of experience have taught him about continuing to learn and adapt as a hunter. Most importantly, we look ahead. Are we doing enough to protect the habitat, public access and hunting opportunities that previous generations handed down to us—and what will waterfowl hunting look like for the next generation if we don't? This is about more than killing ducks. It's about protecting the future of waterfowl hunting. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Ammo https://www.flightdayammo.com 10% off with code MW10 Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    EP. 120: Duck Hunting Is Changing - Are You Paying Attention? with Matt Zvolanek

  8. Aug 6

    EP. 119: Don't Drain The Duck Factory with Dr. Mike Brasher & Dr. Scott Stephens

    For generations, duck hunters have invested in the future of waterfowl through Duck Stamps, hunting licenses, excise taxes, and conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited. But what happens when wetlands hunters have already paid to protect could still be at risk? On this episode of the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib is joined by Dr. Mike Brasher, Senior Waterfowl Scientist, and Dr. Scott Stephens, Senior Director of Conservation Strategy at Ducks Unlimited, to discuss the "Don't Drain the Duck Factory" campaign and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rule currently under review. Together, they break down what the Prairie Pothole Region—known as North America's "Duck Factory"—means to the future of waterfowl, how voluntary wetland easements work, what tile drainage is, and why Ducks Unlimited believes maintaining the current rule is critical to protecting habitat that supports millions of ducks each year. Whether you're a lifelong duck hunter or simply care about the future of wetlands and waterfowl conservation, this episode will help you better understand the science, the policy, and what's at stake for our hunting heritage. Topics discussed include: Why the Prairie Pothole Region is called the "Duck Factory" How federal wetland easements protect critical habitat What tile drainage is and how it affects wetlands The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2024 rule and why it's under review What repealing the rule could mean for waterfowl and duck hunters How hunters can make their voices heard Learn more about the Don't Drain the Duck Factory campaign and how to participate in the public comment process at ducks.org/save-the-duck-factory. If you enjoy the Migration Waterfowl Podcast, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another duck hunter. Protecting the future of waterfowl starts with informed hunters. Feel free to reach out to us: migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Am-mo https://www.flightdayammo.com 10% off with code MW10 Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    EP. 119: Don't Drain The Duck Factory with Dr. Mike Brasher & Dr. Scott Stephens
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4.8
out of 5
38 Ratings

About

The Migration Waterfowl Podcast is for serious duck and goose hunters who want more than just another hunting story. Hosted by Brian Halbleib, the show brings together experienced hunters, industry leaders, conservationists, guides, and outdoor innovators for honest conversations about every aspect of waterfowl hunting. From hunting tactics and gear to conservation, travel destinations, and the issues shaping our future, every episode is designed to make you a better-informed hunter. Based in western Pennsylvania—where the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways overlap—Brian also travels throughout North America in pursuit of new waterfowl experiences, bringing listeners along through conversations with some of the most respected voices in the sport. Whether you're chasing early-season teal, late-season mallards, Canada geese, or planning your next bucket-list hunt, you'll find authentic discussions, practical knowledge, and a genuine passion for waterfowl hunting every week. No gimmicks. No gatekeeping. Just real conversations for people who live for the migration.

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Halbleib
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    126
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024-26 The Migration Waterfowl Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Migration Waterfowl Podcast

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