Midwest Flyways Podcast

Midwest Flyways
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Duck Hunting and Goose Hunting is in our blood and we live it everyday! The Midwest Flyways Podcast is an authentic take on waterfowl hunting from Midwest Flyways. Duck and goose hunting has continued to evolve throughout the years and we aim to connect duck hunting traditions with the future of waterfowling. If you‘re passionate about ducks and geese then come hang with Joey Vassallo and Cal Ness as they talk duck hunting, goose hunting and everything else in between.

  1. 1d ago

    History Lesson: The Armistice Day Blizzard

    In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, the guys dive into one of the most tragic and legendary stories in Midwest waterfowl hunting history: the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940. November 11 started unusually warm across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Upper Mississippi River, but it also brought something duck hunters had been waiting all fall to see, the northern migration. As enormous flights of mallards, canvasbacks, redheads, and other waterfowl poured south, conditions began changing faster than anyone expected. The episode follows firsthand accounts from hunters caught in the storm as temperatures plummeted, winds reached extreme speeds, and rain transformed into driving sleet and snow. Hunters became stranded on islands and in river bottoms, boats swamped, visibility disappeared, and some burned handmade wooden decoys just to stay alive. Others attempted desperate swims through freezing water or survived the night huddled around fires. Tragically, not everyone made it home. The guys also explore the staggering scale of the storm across the Midwest and how the disaster ultimately exposed weaknesses in America's weather forecasting system. For waterfowl hunters, the Armistice Day Blizzard remains both an incredible piece of duck hunting history and a sobering reminder of how quickly the perfect migration day can become something completely different. Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week. Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    History Lesson: The Armistice Day Blizzard

  2. 1d ago

    Shawn Stahl; Ducks Have Figured Us Out

    This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Joey and Cal sit down with Shawn Stahl at Game Fair for a wide-ranging conversation about how waterfowl hunting has changed, what makes a great hunter, and why some of the best days in the field have nothing to do with shooting a limit. Shawn shares his thoughts on the changing landscape of freelance hunting in Canada, including outfitter competition, field access, and why the Canadian prairies may be one of the last places where duck hunters can still scout, knock on doors, and hunt the old-fashioned way. The guys also dive into how geese adapt to hunting pressure, why less calling can sometimes be more effective, and how tactics continue to cycle as birds become conditioned. The conversation shifts into waterfowl conservation, declining duck production, habitat loss, predation, domestic mallards, and what hunters can actually do to help put more ducks on the landscape. Shawn also reflects on how his own approach to hunting has evolved—from chasing limits and big groups to appreciating smaller hunts, good friends, new places, and simply being outdoors. To wrap things up, Shawn offers a simple piece of advice for improving the waterfowl community: just be nice. Whether it's another hunter at the boat ramp, someone on public land, or a newcomer asking for advice, there's a lot more to gain by helping each other than fighting over birds and hunting spots. Topics Covered: •Freelance waterfowl hunting in Canada •Outfitters and access to hunting fields •Hunting pressure and changing goose behavior •Shawn's waterfowl hunting bucket list
 Sea duck and layout boat hunting •Habitat, predation, and waterfowl conservation •How priorities change as hunters get older •Shawn's advice for new and experienced duck hunters Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    Shawn Stahl; Ducks Have Figured Us Out

  3. 5d ago

    Sports Guyz Only; Better Than Brady?

    This week on Sports Guyz Only... The boys are back from Game Fair, Nathaniel is out for the week, and it doesn't take long for things to get contentious. After wondering why any college athlete making millions in NIL money would ever want to leave campus, the guys dive into the completely normal world of college quarterbacks making more money than most professional athletes—and whether college football has basically become pro football with classes on the side. Then comes the argument that nearly breaks the podcast: Josh Allen vs. Tom Brady. When Gavin makes the case that Josh Allen could be the best quarterback of the last 20 years based on pure talent, everyone immediately pushes back. Is Allen actually a more talented quarterback than Brady? How much should mobility, arm strength, accuracy, durability, football IQ, coaching, and supporting cast factor into the conversation? And at some point, don't Brady's seven Super Bowls have to matter? What starts as a quarterback ranking turns into a full-blown debate over how we judge greatness in sports. The guys compare Brady's ability to win in impossible situations with Allen's physical gifts, argue over fourth-quarter comebacks, drag Matthew Stafford into the discussion, and inevitably end up at Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James. By the end, the horse isn't just dead—it's been beaten into the ground. Elsewhere, the crew debates the best defensive linemen of the last 20 years, including J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett, Julius Peppers, and Jared Allen, before diving deeper into the increasingly ridiculous money surrounding college sports. With massive NIL valuations, constant transfers, enormous coaching salaries, and rosters costing tens of millions of dollars, the guys debate whether college football finally needs its own version of a salary cap. Plus: •Why college stars would ever leave for the NFL •Fixing the transfer portal •The value of NFL preseason •Myles Garrett vs. the greatest pass rushers of the last 20 years •The Vikings' greatest defensive linemen •MLB salary cap talk and the Dodgers' spending •The Twins somehow still drawing fans •The absurd money in college coaching It's GOAT debates, questionable statistics, college football money getting completely out of control, and one Josh Allen take that turns a friendly quarterback discussion into an all-out war. Thanks so much for listening to Sports Guyz Only and be sure to subscribe and review!    Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    Sports Guyz Only; Better Than Brady?

  4. 6d ago

    Scott Anderson; What Your DU Dollars Do

    https://www.ducks.org/events/du-national-trip-auction This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Joey and Cal sit down with Scott Anderson of Ducks Unlimited at Game Fair to talk about what DU actually does for ducks, where conservation dollars go, and why habitat remains the biggest piece of the puzzle when it comes to producing more waterfowl. Scott breaks down why the Prairie Pothole Region remains such a major focus for Ducks Unlimited, how wetlands are restored, and why hunters may not always see the work happening behind the scenes. The guys also discuss a common misconception surrounding DU: its mission is to create and conserve waterfowl habitat—not necessarily to create better hunting spots. The conversation gets into the natural wet and dry cycles of the prairies, how drought can actually help rejuvenate wetlands, and the surprising ability of wild rice and other vegetation to return when the right conditions come back. They also discuss the cost of producing ducks, the challenge of funding conservation, and why getting more hunters and volunteers involved matters for the future Later, the guys dive into Scott's own style of duck hunting, wild rice marshes, divers, goldeneyes, changing migration patterns, and the ongoing research into domestic mallards and duck DNA. Scott also shares the story behind DU's National Trip Auction and some of the hunting, fishing, and outdoor trips available around the country and beyond. Topics Covered: •What Ducks Unlimited actually does •Where DU conservation dollars go •Prairie Pothole Region habitat •Restoring wetlands and producing more ducks •The cost of waterfowl conservation •Domestic mallards and duck DNA •Ducks Unlimited's National Trip Auction Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.
   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    Scott Anderson; What Your DU Dollars Do

  5. Aug 18

    History Lesson: America's First Waterfowl Refuge

    In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, Cal dives into the history of Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge—the nation's first refuge created specifically for waterfowl. In the early 1900s, the Klamath Basin held nearly 88,000 acres of lake and wetlands, attracting enormous numbers of ducks, geese, and other birds. But market hunting and the lucrative feather trade were putting incredible pressure on the resource, setting the stage for one of America's earliest major waterfowl conservation battles.
 The story follows conservationist and photographer William Finley, whose images helped convince Theodore Roosevelt to protect Lower Klamath in 1908. But creating the refuge was only the beginning. At the same time one part of the federal government was protecting the marsh, another was working to drain it for agriculture. Within years, the massive wetland had nearly disappeared, leading to dust, peat fires, disappearing bird colonies, and a decades-long fight over whether water should ever return. Eventually, restoration efforts brought portions of the marsh back and with that came incredible concentrations of migrating waterfowl. For anyone interested in duck hunting history, waterfowl conservation, refuges, or the ongoing battle over wetlands and water, Lower Klamath is an incredible example of how complicated protecting a resource can become and why those decisions still matter today. Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    History Lesson: America's First Waterfowl Refuge

  6. Aug 14

    Sports Guyz Only; Kyler Time

    This week on Sports Guyz Only it's a two-man show as Cal and Nathaniel hold down the fort while Carter celebrates his birthday, Gavin is out, and Nathaniel gets ready for another soccer season with expectations already set at a completely reasonable state championship.   From there, it's all about the Vikings and what the move to Kyler Murray means for J.J. McCarthy. With Kyler taking over as the starter and reports suggesting McCarthy's days in Minnesota could be numbered, the guys debate how the Vikings got here after spending a top-10 pick on J.J. Is Minnesota giving up too quickly, could another NFL team take a chance on him, and what does the situation say about Kevin O'Connell's reputation for getting the most out of quarterbacks? They also pump the brakes on the Kyler hype, looking at Minnesota's offensive line, his training camp performance, and why this could have all the ingredients of a classic 10-7 Vikings season.   The quarterback talk continues around the NFL with Cleveland's situation involving Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson. The guys make the case for giving Shedeur his opportunity, revisit his bizarre fall to the fifth round, and question how Cleveland ended up with one of the most intriguing young quarterbacks in the draft sitting behind Watson. Then it's over to Atlanta, where Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. give the Falcons a quarterback room with plenty of talent—and even more injury concerns.   The conversation turns into a bigger debate about what actually separates the NFL's best quarterbacks. From Caleb Williams creating something out of broken plays to Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen seemingly never being out of a game, the guys discuss why improvisation has become such an important part of playing quarterback in today's NFL.   Finally, how much of Baltimore's playoff frustration actually belongs to Lamar Jackson? The guys debate Lamar's postseason reputation, the Ravens' failure to surround him with an elite receiving corps, and whether Baltimore has spent years asking one of the league's most talented quarterbacks to do too much on his own.   Plus: •Reliving the Vikings' chaotic 13-4 season •Eric Bieniemy's coaching career •Why Brian Flores remains in Minnesota •The Vikings' turnover problems •Kyler Murray behind Minnesota's offensive line •An NFC North race that feels completely up for grabs •Michael Penix Jr.'s injury history •Zay Flowers and Baltimore's lack of receiving weapons   It's Vikings uncertainty, quarterback arguments, training camp reactions, and plenty of NFL hypotheticals as the season gets closer. Thanks so much for listening to Sports Guyz Only and be sure to subscribe and review!   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    Sports Guyz Only; Kyler Time

  7. Aug 13

    A Waterfowl Roundtable: Bringing Hunters Together

    This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Joey joins some of the biggest voices in waterfowl for a special roundtable recorded at the Delta Waterfowl Expo. Ramsey Russell, Jeff Stanfield, Jon Sandvik, Billy Campbell, and Joel Brice sit down alongside Joey to talk about something that affects every duck hunter—the need for a stronger, more unified waterfowl community.   From public land competition and social media negativity to declining habitat and hunter recruitment, the group digs into why duck hunters can be so hard on each other and what needs to change. They discuss the unwritten rules of public land hunting, respecting other hunters, helping newcomers instead of running them off, and why the way we represent waterfowl hunting matters for its future.   The conversation also explores how duck hunting has changed over the decades. Better gear, shrinking habitat, increased pressure, fewer secret spots, and easier access to information have changed the experience—but the guys agree that treating each other better can go a long way. Joey also shares why introducing new hunters and getting kids into the field has always been such an important part of Midwest Flyways.   At the end of the day, everyone at the table shares the same goal: more ducks, more hunters, and a waterfowl community that's worth passing on to the next generation.   Topics Covered: •Unifying the waterfowl hunting community •Public land hunting etiquette •Social media's impact on duck hunting •Hunter competition and pressure •Declining waterfowl habitat •Introducing new hunters to duck hunting •Getting kids into the outdoors •Respecting other hunters and the resource •Passing hunting traditions to the next generation   Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    A Waterfowl Roundtable: Bringing Hunters Together

  8. Aug 11

    History Lesson: Who Owns the Ducks?

    In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, we dive into the surprising legal battle that helped shape modern waterfowl hunting in America. The story begins in 1914 with an Arkansas hunter, a few coots, and a federal government attempting something brand new: regulating migratory birds across state lines. What started as a relatively small hunting violation quickly turned into a much bigger constitutional question—who actually has the authority to protect a duck that refuses to stay in one state? The episode follows the early Weeks-McLean Act, the court cases that challenged federal waterfowl regulations, and the confusion hunters faced when state and federal seasons didn't agree. After federal judges ruled the original approach unconstitutional, the government changed strategies entirely. That eventually led to an international migratory bird treaty, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, and the Supreme Court's landmark Missouri v. Holland decision. It's a fascinating look at how duck hunting regulations, states' rights, conservation, and even international diplomacy became connected through the birds traveling America's flyways. If you've ever sat in a duck blind and wondered why migratory bird regulations are federal in the first place, this history lesson explains how we got here—and how a handful of hunters and court cases helped build the waterfowl conservation system we still hunt under today. Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.   Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

    History Lesson: Who Owns the Ducks?
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About

Duck Hunting and Goose Hunting is in our blood and we live it everyday! The Midwest Flyways Podcast is an authentic take on waterfowl hunting from Midwest Flyways. Duck and goose hunting has continued to evolve throughout the years and we aim to connect duck hunting traditions with the future of waterfowling. If you‘re passionate about ducks and geese then come hang with Joey Vassallo and Cal Ness as they talk duck hunting, goose hunting and everything else in between.

Information

  • Creator
    Midwest Flyways
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    542
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Midwest Flyways Podcast

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