The Standard Sportsman

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&a...

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 theor...

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 acces...

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 fro...

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-ki...

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 ste...

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...

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 G...

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 an...

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, th...

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...

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 t...

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 spo...

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 aw...

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 ...

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 sessi...

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 po...

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 ...

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 ...