The Standard Sportsman
Lifelong Arkansas waterfowlers Brent Birch and Cason Short discuss duck hunting's past, present, and future with various thought-provoking leaders in the duck-hunting community. The guys will discuss days afield, waterfowl conservation, and stewardship with the goal of leaving the sport of duck and goose hunting better than they found it. Presented by Yeti, Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Sitka Gear, Purina Pro Plan, and Ducks Unlimited.
Hunter Johnson
Habitat manager Hunter Johnson returns to share his spring plans for three very different properties under his care. From dealing with flooding to battling drought conditions, Johnson relies on a deep toolkit of strategies to create ideal habitat for ducks, deer, and turkeys. He’s also been a leader in implementing prescribed fire in Arkansas, using it to control unwanted vegetation and rejuvenate areas that need a reset. In this episode, Johnson breaks down his approach to using fire, discusses effective moist-soil management techniques, and explains why he favors natural food sources over planted crops.
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Five Stages of the Hunter-Easter Replay Edition
Originally aired in October of 2024, the hosts break down the classic, research-backed framework known as the “Five Stages of the Hunter”, a model that explains how a hunter’s motivations and mindset evolve over time. Originally developed by behavioral scientists in the 1970s, the concept is still widely taught in hunter education today.
Drawing from personal experience, the hosts walk through each stage and reflect on how their own hunting careers have progressed, sharing stories that highlight the changing definition of success in the field.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate...
Grant Sinclair & Lee Kjos on the New Regs in Saskatchewan
Grant Sinclair and Lee Kjos are two well-known voices in the waterfowling world, bound by decades of freelance duck hunting in Saskatchewan. Kjos’s connection to the prairie goes back more than 50 years, hunting alongside his father, while Sinclair has spent the last 15+ years following that same tradition.
In this episode, they reflect on the freedom and tradition of DIY duck hunting across Saskatchewan’s grain fields and how new regulations limiting non-resident hunters to two five-day licenses may change that experience. Intended to curb illegal outfitting, the policy could have major impacts on independent hunters.
Gr...
Positivity & Projects
Duck hunters often spend more time arguing with each other than focusing on the things that could actually improve the future of duck seasons. In this episode, the guys discuss what the waterfowl community could accomplish if more hunters rallied around meaningful issues. The time to turn the page on the current dynamic is now. They also cover a few practical spring habitat projects listeners can tackle now and share a fishing mishap story or two along the way.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka...
What's Stirring This Spring
Duck season may be in the rearview and the clocks may have sprung forward, but the forces shaping future seasons are anything but quiet. From a struggling farm economy and tensions abroad to legislation on Capitol Hill and some thorny cultural conversations closer to home, there’s plenty happening that could ripple through the waterfowl world. The guys unpack it all, and with the recent passing of Cason’s father-in-law, he reflects on the deeper connections duck hunting can forge between generations, family, and the memories that last long after the season ends.
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Thanks to our...
Justin Reif, Fallout Farms/Create the X
Justin Reif is a self-taught habitat manager who, through years of trial and error, has learned how to consistently attract ducks to his family farm just west of Lake Erie in Ohio. Adapting to shifting migration patterns, changing landscapes, and the realities of modern waterfowl management, Reif has refined his approach while navigating challenges ranging from unpredictable weather to competition from neighboring “corn club” operations. His pursuit of maximizing duck energy days on the farm ultimately led him to develop Create the X, a mobile app designed to help landowners and managers track the many details involved in m...
AGFC Commissioner Philip Tappan
Philip Tappan has spent the past four and a half years serving on the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and now chairs the Rules & Regulations Committee at the AGFC. With the Commission’s proposed changes for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 seasons now on the table, from expanded non-motorized walk-in areas on WMAs to another proposed 60-day, six-duck framework, the conversation around the future of Arkansas duck hunting is still buzzing despite the season ending.
In this episode, the guys take a measured look at what’s being proposed, unpack the philosophy behind the decisions and wrestle with a familiar topic of balan...
John Adams, Natural Gear
Arkansas duck hunter John Adams, Head of Sales & Development at Natural Gear, joins the show with the kind of perspective that only comes from decades spent on public ground. From the “glory days” of Arkansas timber to the realities of today’s crowded boat ramps and ever-changing culture, John doesn’t hold back.
He walks us through the early roots of Natural Gear, the evolution of the camouflage and apparel industry, and how competition, both in business and on public land, has reshaped the duck-hunting experience across the state. More than anything, it’s a conversation about what’s cha...
Duck Hunters are Discontent...But Why?
Duck hunters have always been prone to grumbling, but lately the frustration feels different...deeper, more widespread, and harder to shake. Across flyways and duck camps, many waterfowlers share the same sentiment: they don’t feel heard. In this episode of The Standard Sportsman Podcast, Cason Short and Brent Birch dig into where communication is breaking down and why expectations may be part of the problem. It’s an honest look at modern duck seasons and how a reset in perspective might help hunters find satisfaction again.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Esta...
The Season That Was - Recapping Duck Season
The 2025–2026 duck season proved one thing: success depended on where you stood and when you showed up. With mallard numbers down and dry conditions gripping much of the Mississippi Flyway and Central Flyway, many hunters faced a hurdle right out of the gate. Then, just as the season wound down, a blast of snow, sleet, and ice slammed the Deep South, locking up habitat and reshuffling birds overnight. For some, it was a last-minute gift that sent the season out on a high note. For others, it marked an early curtain call.
On this episode, Cason and Br...
Lee Kjos-What Really Matters
Iconic North American waterfowler and legendary outdoor photographer Lee Kjos joins the show, carrying with him a lifetime of sunrises, wingbeats, and miles traveled beneath open skies. From the disappearing prairie potholes of Saskatchewan to the river bottoms of Missouri, Kjos shares what he’s seen this past season and the realities of duck hunting's struggles.
His reflections are honest and, at times, sobering, but they are also rooted in a deep love for wild places and the birds that bind us together across flyways and seasons. From Minnesota’s northern marshes to Louisiana’s coastal plains, and ev...
Perry Partain and Ideas for the Arkansas Public Timber
Perry Partain was raised in the L’Anguille River bottoms of East Arkansas, tagging along with his Depression-era grandfather on squirrel hunts and growing up in a time when ducks were abundant, unpressured, and limits could be taken without a duck call or a single decoy.
Fast forward 40 years, and the world he knew has changed almost beyond recognition. In this episode, Partain offers a steady, clear-eyed look at what’s happening in Arkansas’s public flooded timber, what’s driving the decline, what’s being misunderstood, and what practical steps could help turn things around.
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<...Brad Cohen & Doug Osborne-The Bonafide Truth of Duck Hunting's Downturn
Two of the sharpest minds in waterfowl science are back and they aren’t here to sugarcoat what's going on with the sport. Brad Cohen (Cohen Wildlife Lab) and Doug Osborne (Snowden Center for Waterfowl Excellence) dig into the hard truth behind duck hunting’s recent decline, what’s actually driving it, and more importantly, what we can do about it.
They cut through the noise, separate fact from folklore, and lay out what truly matters versus what should fall further down the priority list. It’s a balanced, no-nonsense conversation that looks at every issue from both sid...
Midseason Roundup
After a much-needed reset filled with friends, family, and chasing greenheads, Cason and Brent are back behind the mic just in time for the stretch run of duck season. In this episode, the guys kick around a handful of timely topics, from a measured take on the Woodruff County baiting bust to boots-on-the-ground observations of how the season has unfolded so far. They also dive into the challenges of unseasonably warm weather, the full-moon blues, and why even a little rain could change things for the short term.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile...
Holiday Replay, Take Two
We hope everyone is experiencing a wonderful holiday season and the ducks are finding your decoys. With all that is going on this time of year, The Standard Sportsman is re-airing shows from this past summer that we believe are worth another listen. New episodes will return January 8, 2026, as duck season gets on the downhill slide.
The New Year's edition replays an interview with Saskatchewan farmer and conservationist Lorne Scott...wise words from a tenured Canadian farmer who truly cares about wild things in wild places.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile R...
Holiday Replay, Take One
With the holidays upon us and schedules packed, we’re taking a moment to revisit two favorite segments from this past summer. We start with Jason Smith, a southeast Arkansas rice farmer and duck hunter, followed by Scott Perry, founder of McAlister and Mountain Khakis and a traditional waterfowler in every sense of the word. Happy holidays, and thank you for being part of The Standard Sportsman.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Noah Perry/Raymond James and Du...
A Duck Hunter's Dilema
Duck hunters' wish and want lists are a mile long. More water, less water, colder temps, warmer weather; everyone wants something different to tip the odds in their favor. But those wants often ignore the cause-and-effect shaping the hunt. Cason and Brent play devil’s advocate, unpacking the most common refrains heard in the blind and challenging whether they actually help ducks or hunters. The guys also share what they’re hearing after the recent cold snap, including updated duck numbers, the avian flu outbreak on snow geese and more sick specklebellies than in years past.
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Jordan Case
What do Arkansas’s world-class trout streams have to do with duck hunting?
A lot more than most people realize.
Fly fishing guide and avid duck hunter Jordan Case joins the show to reveal the unexpected ways these two passions intersect—and why Arkansas is facing a pivotal moment in protecting the habitat and culture that sustain both. Jordan also looks back on his early days in the duck woods, his journey as a competitive junior caller, and the invaluable lessons he learned under the mentorship of Hall of Famer Bu...
Flyway Report and the Upcoming Reg Cycle
Duck season is officially underway across the Mississippi and Central Flyways, and the guys break down what they’re seeing both locally and across the region. They share early-season observations, discuss emerging patterns, and offer insight into how conditions are shaping hunters’ experiences so far.
The conversation also turns to rules and regulations, including a preliminary proposal from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Arkansas’s upcoming two-year regulation cycle. Expect thoughtful discussion around non-resident participation, pressure management, season frameworks, and the ongoing effort to balance opportunity with a high-quality hunting experience.
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Thanks...
Christian Frierson, Perfect Limit Outdoors
Christian Frierson’s duck hunting journey started with 8-hour weekend hauls from northwest Louisiana to the legendary Dave Donaldson Black River WMA in northeast Arkansas. Those road-warrior trips forged an obsession that eventually carried him into the Red River bottoms of southwest Arkansas, where his family acquired a piece of ground with raw potential. What followed was a decade-long evolution from wide-eyed public-land hunter to a meticulous habitat manager and committed steward of the resource.
That same drive pushed Frierson to build the Designated Puller, an automatic jerk-rig system born from long days in the timber and a...
Ich Stewart-The Public Timber Project
What does picking up trash at a public boat ramp have to do with reshaping the future of duck hunting? Arkansas hunter Ich Stewart joins the show to break down the rise of The Public Timber Project and how a simple cleanup effort became a movement, where it’s headed next, and a few big announcements that go far beyond trash bags and parking lots.
The guys also dive into a candid conversation about public-land hunting culture, the “us-versus-everybody” mindset, and what it will take to build a healthier, more united community in the woods and on...
The Push and Pull of Early Habitat Plus DU's Into the Vault Auction
Duck hunters love to debate season dates and often, those opinions line up perfectly with their own decoy spread. But for those who manage habitat, timing isn’t just about convenience; it’s about biology, migration timing, and season-long sustainability for private and public land duck hunters. Aligning habitat strategies with season frameworks requires balance, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of what ducks need—and don't—before, during, and after the season.
Plus, David Schuessler, Ducks Unlimited’s National Director of Event Fundraising, joins us to talk about DU’s Into the Vault Auction — where hunters and co...
Laying the Groundwork for the 2025-26 Duck Season
After a lengthy off-season, duck season is cracking open up north and knocking on the door down south. Reports out of Canada and the Dakotas are all over the map—mallards are spotty up there, but a few are finally filtering into Arkansas and beyond. Brent and Cason dive into what’s shaping the season ahead: mounting pressure on ducks that goes deeper than the gun, the idea of smaller limits for better hunts, and the “midpoint theory” that just happens to line up with this week. They wrap it all up the only way they know how—talking ducks, dir...
Ducks Over Drama: Picking the Right Fight
In an era when unity could be our greatest asset, duck hunters seem increasingly divided not just over tactics but also over identity, ethics, and access. In this thought-provoking episode, Brent and Cason unpack the growing tensions within the waterfowling community and where that energy could be better spent.
Some of these debates carry weight, while others are rooted more in opinion than impact. From public vs. private land access to gear choices and regional rivalries, the hosts explore the key issues fueling division and, more importantly, challenge listeners to consider the bigger picture.
This...
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of CWD Research
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has become one of the most talked-about wildlife issues in recent years—raising concern, questions, and plenty of debate. Arkansas and its neighboring states are racing to understand and control its spread after a surge in cases. In this episode, the guys trade duck blinds for deer woods, sitting down with Cory Gray and Ralph Meeker from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and Dr. Marcelo Jorge from the University of Georgia to unpack what the latest research tells us—and what it means for hunters and conservation across the region.
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Thanks to o...
Doug Osborne-The Next Evolution of the Osborne Lab
A new chapter in Arkansas’s waterfowl story is being written. Through the generosity of David Snowden Jr., Merritt Dyke, and a few passionate supporters, a bold vision for the future of ducks and wetlands is coming to life. At the University of Arkansas–Monticello, Dr. Doug Osborne and his team are leading the charge with the creation of the Snowden Waterfowl Center of Excellence and the Dyke–Snowden Endowed Chair—a first-of-its-kind commitment to research that ties science to the soul of duck country.
Dr. Osborne joins the show to share how this effort took shape, the peop...
Austin Foster, Rocky Ridge Ammo Co.
Back in 2017, Arkansas native Austin Foster started experimenting in his shop with one goal — to build the ultimate turkey load. What began as tinkering turned into obsession: countless tests, tweaks, and trial runs until he landed on a shotshell that blew his hunting buddies away. Word spread fast, and before long Rocky Ridge Ammo Co. was born.
Today, the brand is redefining performance with premium, handcrafted TSS and stacked steel loads that waterfowlers swear by. In this episode, Foster shares how a backyard experiment became a booming business, breaks down the sc...
Col. Shawn Daniel (Ret.), Darby Warrior Support
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Shawn Daniel grew up chasing mallards in the Arkansas timber, and after eight combat deployments with the Rangers and a stop in the corporate world, he’s come full circle. Today, Daniel leads Darby’s Warrior Support, a nonprofit dedicated to introducing military special operators to the traditions and healing power of duck hunting.
In this powerful episode, Shawn shares how the camaraderie of the duck blind offers space for combat veterans to open up about their stories and struggles—before, during, and after those unforgettable Arkansas sunrises. It’s an emotional reminder...
Imprinting Ducks: Early or Late?
Theories abound as to how one attracts and holds ducks on a property. Imprinting is often associated with dumping corn after the season but is it all that effective? Cason and Brent sift through the impact of quality habitat before, during and after the season and its effects on public and private land hunting. There might be a little SEC football chatter as well.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Ducks Unlimited, Sitka Gear, Diamond M Land Development, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan and Lile Real Estate.
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Kyle Broussard & Bubba Watkins, Gator Tail
Gator Tail Outboards has become a household name in the waterfowl world, but it all started with a college side project. Founder Kyle Broussard began tinkering with shallow-water motors and turned that curiosity into an iconic brand. Alongside Bubba Watkins, who now leads sales, the two share the story of how Gator Tail grew from a single motor into a complete line of boats.
But this episode isn’t just about duck boats. Broussard and Watkins open up about the troubling decline of Louisiana’s waterfowl hunting and what’s driving it. From fading...
Mike & Kale Flaspohler, Waterfowl Management Academy
Duck season is right around the corner, and if you’ve got any influence over your hunting ground, this episode is packed with strategies to help you hold more birds. We sit down with Mike Flaspohler, a retired wildlife biologist from the Missouri Department of Conservation, where he oversaw premier waterfowl habitat at Grand Pass, Four Rivers, and Ted Shanks Conservation Areas.
Joining the conversation is his son, Kale, the brains behind the Waterfowl Management Academy platform.
The Flaspohlers break down practical, science-driven wetland management tactics for this fall and explain how their platform delivers kn...
BPOP, May Ponds and Harvest Breakdown for the Duck Hunter
The USFWS has released its 2025 Waterfowl Population Status Report alongside the Migratory Bird Hunting Activity and Harvest Report, and the guys are breaking it all down. From breeding populations and May pond counts to hunter numbers and harvest data, this episode dives deep into the science behind the numbers. Tune in for a unique, duck hunter–level conversation that puts the trends in perspective and sheds light on how they may shape future seasons across the Mississippi and Central flyways.
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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Pl...
Ronnie Ritter, Hunters Feed the Hungry
Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Famer Ronnie Ritter joins the show to share the powerful story behind Hunters Feeding the Hungry. What started as a venison-driven effort has grown into a lifeline for thousands of Arkansans, especially in a state ranked #1 for food insecurity. Ritter walks us through the program’s history, its incredible impact, and why every pound of donated protein matters. For waterfowlers looking for a meaningful way to give back, this conversation will spark inspiration and maybe even your next step toward helping families in need through the harvest.
Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Li...
The Ultimate Pre-Duck Season To Do List
Cooler weather is finally rolling into the South, and you know what that means...duck season is right around the corner. The guys break down a must-do preseason checklist so you’re ready to be successful when the first flights arrive.
Plus, fresh updates on solar and wind projects headed for the Arkansas Grand Prairie, and Dr. Doug Osborne helps clarify banding data as it relates to harvest from last month’s episode
Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Maga...
Late Summer's Stuff You Need to Know Before Duck Season
As summer fades and the first whispers of the fall flight stir in the north, the waterfowling world is already buzzing.
Before the season kicks off, Cason and Brent tackle some of the most pressing and fascinating topics shaping the months ahead. They dive into pre-BPOP and May Pond Count insights, unpack how perfectly timed weather can make or break a season, and examine the dramatic plunge in snow goose numbers. They don’t shy away from challenging the “harvest doesn’t matter” mantra and even break exclusive news on a major renewable energy project headed fo...
Live from DUX 2025 with Special Guests
This past weekend at the wildly successful and well-attended Ducks Unlimited Expo (DUX) held in Memphis, The Standard Sportsman hosted a live podcast in the DU Duck Den booth. Joining us on the show were Kyle Broussard of GatorTail, Dr. Jared Henson with DU, John Stephens of RNT Calls, Justin Martin with Duck Commander, Radcliff Menge of Tom Beckbe, and Karl Gunzer and Ray Voigt of Purina Pro Plan/Sporting Dogs. The guys dive into new products from the respective companies and share a little insight on what to expect this season.
Thanks to our sponsors: Tom B...
Jimbo Robinson Previews DU Expo 2025
On this episode, we’re joined by Jimbo Robinson, Ducks Unlimited’s Director of Event Marketing & Field Support, for an inside look at the 2025 Ducks Unlimited Expo. Happening August 1–3 at the Renasant Convention Center in Downtown Memphis, this year’s event is shaping up to be one you won’t want to miss. Highlights include the World Cutdown Calling Championship, hands-on dog training workshops, in-depth waterfowl science sessions, and the latest gear from your favorite brands in the waterfowling world.
We’ll also be recording a special live episode from the DU Duck Den booth at 3PM on Saturd...
Suppressed Shotguns for Duck Hunting
The technology regarding suppressed shotguns is advancing, but how long will it take to become useful afield? Host Cason Short knows a ton about the subject from a layperson's standpoint and shares where the industry is headed. The passage of the Big Beautiful Bill and its $0 tax stamp on suppressors has generated considerable buzz. The guys also get into pressure and the role that shotgun blasts play. From subgauges to the potential future viability of suppressors to lessen the disturbance of ducks.
Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan...
Duck Band Discourse
Waterfowl bands are the most coveted trophies in waterfowling, while providing essential data to Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM). With the recent news of proposed budget cuts that could impact bird banding, the guys sift through some of the history of banding, discuss how banding has tapered since the 1980s and 1990s and just where Arkansas ducks come from per banding encounters. They also share a handful of entertaining stories on banded ducks and geese from over the years.
Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The...
Jason Smith, Arkansas Rice Farmer/Waterfowler
Southeast Arkansas farmer and passionate waterfowler Jason Smith joins the show to sift through the hurdles farmers are facing in the current economy and how that impacts the ducks. He also shared intimate knowledge of Cutoff Creek Wildlife Management Area and expounds on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s plan to implement more walk-in-only areas in other WMAs. The guys also delve into the impacts on farmers and subsequently ducks with the passage of Big Beautiful Bill, the effects of a wet spring and early summer in Arkansas, the ethics and consequences of leaving unharvested crops for ducks, an...
