ASCEND by Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Wilderness
  • Updated Biweekly

Ascend is a multimedia platform that spotlights the millions of outdoorswomen across our country who go hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, biking, running, and perform important conservation work every day. Our web series and podcast feature guests who share their experiences with a focus on entertainment, education, and authenticity. Our viewers and listeners will get to know them and learn all about their passion for the outdoors. Whether you've been in outdoor communities all your life or are just getting started, Ascend is the place for you to follow your story! Brought to you by Ducks Unlimited.

  1. The Turkey Hunting Lessons We Learned... the Hard Way

    2h ago

    The Turkey Hunting Lessons We Learned... the Hard Way

    Every turkey hunter has a story they’ll never forget—and usually a lesson that came with it. In this special Ascend roundtable episode, Adrian, Julia, Bethany, and Erin swap some of their most memorable turkey hunting experiences, from birds that mysteriously came back to life after the shot to all-day crawls across open country and mountain hunts for Merriam’s turkeys. Along the way, they discuss what keeps them coming back to turkey hunting season after season, the calls they trust, the gear they won’t leave home without, and the little tricks that make long mornings in the woods more enjoyable. Whether you're a seasoned turkey hunter or preparing for your first season, this conversation is packed with relatable stories, practical advice, and plenty of laughs. Topics covered: • Memorable turkey hunts and the lessons they taught • Why turkey hunting becomes addictive • Hunting Easterns, Rios, Merriam’s, and Osceolas • Mouth calls vs. slate calls vs. diaphragm calls • How movement ruins more setups than bad calling • Favorite turkey guns, gauges, and loads • Essential gear every turkey hunter carries • Tick prevention and staying comfortable in the field • Hunting snacks, coffee, Pop-Tarts, jerky, and other camp essentials • Why every experienced turkey hunter has at least one story that still hurts to tell Follow along with the Ascend community at @duascend or visit ducks.org/ascend. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    24 min
  2. How to Get More Turkeys: Habitat Management That Actually Works

    May 31

    How to Get More Turkeys: Habitat Management That Actually Works

    Want more turkeys on your property? It starts with how you manage your land. Ascend host Adrian Jessen sits down with Courtney Conring, wildlife biologist and Assistant Chief of Research for Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, to break down what really drives turkey populations—and what landowners can do to improve them. From food sources and cover to prescribed fire and predator pressure, Courtney explains how habitat—not hunting—is the biggest factor affecting turkey numbers. Whether you own 20 acres or manage large tracts of land, this episode gives you practical steps to create better turkey habitat and stronger wildlife populations. In this episode, you’ll learn: The fundamentals of habitat management (food, water, cover)What turkeys eat—and how to provide it year‑roundWhy insects and early successional plants are critical for poultsHow to create openings and improve land for turkey useWhen and why prescribed fire makes a differenceHow cover protects hens and nests from predatorsThe truth about predator management vs. habitat qualityWhy private landowners play a critical role in turkey conservationFollow along for more real conversations, outdoor stories, and insights from women shaping the future of hunting and conservation.Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    59 min
  3. Women Hunting Elk: First Archery Harvest and Hard Lessons

    May 17

    Women Hunting Elk: First Archery Harvest and Hard Lessons

    Learn what it really takes to harvest an elk on public land—from scouting to pack‑out—and how women are redefining success in hunting. Host Erin Crider sits down with archery guide and instructor Anna Sabotka to break down her first public‑land archery elk harvest in Colorado—and everything that came with it. From scouting and studying elk behavior to calling strategies, shot execution, and a brutal multi‑mile pack‑out, Anna shares the real highs and challenges behind the moment. The conversation also explores elk camp experiences, mentoring new hunters, and why defining your own version of success matters more than the outcome. In this episode, you’ll learn: How scouting leads to successful elk huntsRealistic expectations for public land elk hunting success ratesCalling strategies, wind awareness, and shot decision‑makingWhat a full elk pack‑out actually looks likeHow to process meat in the backcountry using the gutless methodWhy mentorship and training camps help new hunters succeedHow to define success beyond just harvesting an animal The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    32 min
  4. How Farming and Soil Health Shape Wildlife, Water, and the Outdoors

    May 3

    How Farming and Soil Health Shape Wildlife, Water, and the Outdoors

    Learn how farming and conservation practices directly shape wildlife habitat, water quality, and the future of the outdoors. Ascend host Adrian Jessen sits down with Joy Van Wyngarden—an Iowa farm‑raised conservation specialist and former watershed coordinator—to unpack how planting, soil management, and land stewardship influence everything from deer and ducks to clean water and food systems. Joy brings a rare blend of real‑world farming experience, conservation science, and hunting perspective. Together, they explain cover crops, wetlands, edge‑of‑field practices, soil health, and how small changes on private land can create massive downstream benefits for wildlife and people alike. In this episode, you’ll learn: How conventional farming practices impact wildlife habitatWhat cover crops are and why they matterHow soil health affects water, food, and animal populationsWhy wetlands are critical for ducks, deer, and water qualitySimple ways landowners can assess and improve their propertyThe connection between agriculture, conservation, and hunting successWhy soil loss threatens the future of food and wildlifeFollow @duascend or visit ducks.org/ascend Presented by Ducks Unlimited. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    1h 7m
  5. The Truth About Hunting : Host Round Table, Real Stories & Lessons

    Apr 19

    The Truth About Hunting : Host Round Table, Real Stories & Lessons

    What really happens behind the highlight reels of hunting and outdoor life? In this candid roundtable episode, Bethany, Adrienne, Erin, and Julia sit down to reflect on a full season of conversations, hunts, and hard-earned lessons. Instead of a single guest, this episode brings together the voices behind the podcast to unpack what stood out most from unforgettable guests and powerful community moments to the realities that don’t always make it onto social media. The group shares personal hunting stories, including first harvests, missed shots, and the emotional highs and lows that come with time in the field. From elk hunts in the mountains to first-time duck hunters finding their confidence, this episode highlights how growth often comes through failure, persistence, and shared experiences. They also dive into deeper themes: the rise of women in hunting, the importance of mentorship and communication, and how intentional time outdoors can restore balance in an otherwise fast-paced life. Whether it’s teaching beginners, navigating fear around firearms, or simply making time to get outside, the conversation emphasizes progress over perfection. Above all, this episode is a reminder that no one starts as an expert—and that the most meaningful moments often come from the messy, imperfect, real parts of the journey. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why storytelling and community have been the most impactful part of this season How women are building confidence and connection through hunting and outdoor skills The importance of communication when mentoring new hunters Real hunting experiences from missed shots to first harvests How social media can create unrealistic expectations (and why showing failure matters) Why beginners often struggle with fear, perfectionism, and information overload How small wins in the outdoors can be just as meaningful as a harvest The role of conservation and why new hunters (especially women) are essential to its future Practical tips for introducing someone new to hunting or shooting Why intentional time outdoors can improve mental clarity and overall well-beingFollow along for more real conversations, outdoor stories, and insights from women shaping the future of hunting and conservation.Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    1 hr
  6. Women, Wilderness, and the Will to Provide: Homesteading & Gator Wrangling

    Apr 5

    Women, Wilderness, and the Will to Provide: Homesteading & Gator Wrangling

    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 foodHow women historically provided for their families through gardening, preserving, and animal harvestingWhy more women are learning dispatching and butchering skills todayThe importance of humane, low‑stress animal processing on small homesteadsHow COVID reshaped food security and sparked a self‑sufficiency movementGarden staples Tiffiny never goes without—especially her obsession with red potatoesWhy perfection isn’t the goal—intentionality isFollow along with Bethany for more homesteading conversations, practical skills, and stories from women who live close to their roots. 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. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    45 min
  7. Carrying in the Field: How Women Stay Safe, Confident, and Prepared Outdoors

    Mar 22

    Carrying in the Field: How Women Stay Safe, Confident, and Prepared Outdoors

    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 outdoorsTraining, mentorship, and how to find the right firearmHolsters, appendix vs. backpack carry, and drawing safelyWhat to know about carrying while hunting, fishing, or hikingTraveling with firearms: TSA tips, ammo rules, and packing hacksUnderstanding caliber choices, recoil, and comfort for smaller handsWhy confidence and comfort determine whether you’ll actually carrySubscribe 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. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    1h 7m
  8. Backcountry Safety for Hunters: What Every Woman Needs to Carry and Know

    Mar 8

    Backcountry Safety for Hunters: What Every Woman Needs to Carry and Know

    Learn how to stay safe, prepared, and confident in the backcountry—no matter the terrain or weather.Olympian, biathlete, firearms instructor, and trick shooter Lanny Barnes joins host Adrian to share real‑world safety insights from decades of high‑stress shooting, extreme cold exposure, and deep‑country hunting. Lanny breaks down what actually causes most backcountry emergencies, what to pack, how to prevent hypothermia and dehydration, and the mindset that saves lives when things go wrong. Her cautionary stories—from stabbing her thigh while quartering an elk to bonking at 12,000 feet—offer practical lessons for hunters and hikers of all levels. In this episode, you’ll learn: The most common dangers in backcountry huntsHow to prepare for rapid weather changes, terrain hazards, and cold exposureWhat should be in every day‑pack, including med gear and survival itemsHow to prevent (and recognize) dehydration, bonking, and hypothermiaWhy pack checks, mapping tools, and backup plans save livesThe training approach Lanny recommends for high‑altitude huntsSubscribe 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. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey.Visit birddogwhiskey.com. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms.Visit taurusUSA.com Oklahoma Joes.Visit oklahomajoes.com and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory.Visit springfield-armory.com

    1h 1m
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Ascend is a multimedia platform that spotlights the millions of outdoorswomen across our country who go hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, biking, running, and perform important conservation work every day. Our web series and podcast feature guests who share their experiences with a focus on entertainment, education, and authenticity. Our viewers and listeners will get to know them and learn all about their passion for the outdoors. Whether you've been in outdoor communities all your life or are just getting started, Ascend is the place for you to follow your story! Brought to you by Ducks Unlimited.

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