The North American Waterfowler

Episode #245 Hark Outdoors and the 41 Species of North American Waterfowl

In this episode of The North American Waterfowl Podcast, Elliott sits down with Harrison Collins of Hark Outdoors to talk North American waterfowl, chasing birds across the flyways, and the idea behind pursuing all 41 species. Harrison shares his path into waterfowl hunting, from not growing up hunting at all to traveling for ducks, hunting Arkansas public land, and building a product that celebrates the full spectrum of North American waterfowl. They dig into public land pressure, Arkansas timber hunts, migration struggles, dog work, and why the 41 species goal resonates with so many hunters. This conversation is about the culture of waterfowl hunting, the memories behind the birds, and finding meaningful ways to remember the hunts that matter. TideWe Waterproof and insulated hunting gear built for real hunters in real conditions Website https://bit.ly/4qHt5jB Discount code: NAW18 Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates Heavy duty dog crates built for safety and serious travel Website https://www.mammothpet.com Discount code GUARDIAN15 Shotty Gear Hunter owned gear built to handle the marsh, the boat, and the blind Website https://www.shottygear.com Discount code FDH10 Flight Day Ammunition Premium ammunition for waterfowl hunters Website https://www.flightdayammo.com Discount code FDH10 Weatherby Shotguns Reliable shotguns trusted by hunters across North America Website https://www.weatherby.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode #244 YouTube Warnings, Waterfowl Social Media, and What Comes Next

In this episode, Elliott covers a wide range of topics including recent YouTube warnings related to hunting content and why more of his best videos are being moved to Patreon. He shares honest thoughts on the current state of social media, addresses claims about toxicity within the waterfowl community, and explains why he believes social media itself is the real issue. Elliott also reflects on his most recent hunting decisions, the importance of small group and solo hunts, and how filming allows him to relive meaningful moments from the season. He discusses a major video project he is working on that captures his entire waterfowl season in one compilation. Additional topics include Kansas commission discussions around potential non resident hunting restrictions and Elliott’s thoughts on what changes may realistically be coming. To wrap up the episode, Elliott introduces a brand new feature on The North American Waterfowler app and website called Ask Elliott. This tool pulls from every episode of the podcast to answer waterfowl related questions based on years of recorded experience and conversations. Flight Day Ammunitionhttps://www.flightdayammo.comCode: FDH10 for 10 percent offHigh quality steel loads with excellent patterns and consistent performance. Weatherbyhttps://www.weatherby.comFrom the Element series to the 18i and Orion shotguns, Weatherby continues to deliver reliable firearms for waterfowl and beyond. Shotty Gearhttps://www.shottygear.comCode: FDH10Shell pouches, blind bags, backpacks, gun cases, and rugged gear built by hunters for hunters. TideWehttps://www.tidewe.comCode: NAW18 for 18 percent offWaders, blinds, rain gear, and waterfowl equipment that continues to improve in quality and durability. Mammoth Guardian Dog CratesSearch “Mammoth dog crate” on AmazonDurable crates designed to keep your dog safe without the high price tag of premium brands. Roll cage attachment sold separately. The North American Waterfowler App and Websitehttps://www.thenorthamericanwaterfowler.comLog hunts, track birds, connect with friends, and now use the Ask Elliott feature which pulls answers from every podcast episode. Patreon Exclusive Content and Hunt Giveawayshttps://www.patreon.com/freelanceduckhuntingAccess Patreon only hunts, full length videos, live podcast recordings, giveaways, and a strong waterfowl community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode #243 Spencer Lewis, The Wetland Gypsy, and the Dark Side of Waterfowl Social Media

In this episode, Elliott sits down with Spencer Lewis, better known as The Wetland Gypsy, for an honest and wide ranging conversation about modern waterfowl hunting, social media, and changing priorities. Spencer shares the origin of the Wetland Gypsy name, his upbringing in Texas, and how he found hunting without growing up in a traditional hunting family. He walks through his early days duck hunting out of a canoe, buying his first boat, and how traveling the Central Flyway completely reshaped his understanding of waterfowl hunting. The conversation dives into Spencer’s unexpected rise on TikTok through viral mudboat videos, how social media changed the way he hunted, and why constant pressure, competition, and ego within the waterfowl space have started to drain the joy from the sport. Elliott and Spencer talk candidly about hunting pressure, OnX, traveling hunters, public versus private land, and why it feels harder every year to simply find birds. They also discuss fatherhood, shifting priorities, and why Spencer is intentionally stepping back from being known as a waterfowl influencer. The episode closes with thoughts on respect for the resource, ethics, humility in hunting, and what really matters as seasons and stages of life change. This is a thoughtful conversation about ducks, identity, family, and what happens when passion meets burnout. Podcast Partners TideWe Durable hunting apparel built for real world conditions. From waders to outerwear, TideWe gear is designed for hunters who spend serious time in the field. Exclusive link: https://bit.ly/49ghKzG Discount code: NAW18 Flight Day Ammunition High quality waterfowl ammunition trusted by serious hunters.https://www.flightdayammo.com Discount code: FDH10 Weatherby Premium shotguns known for performance, reliability, and craftsmanship.https://www.weatherby.com Mammoth Pet Products Mammoth Guardian Dog Crates are built for hunters who demand durability and safety. The optional roll cage is sold separately and features steel bars with welded tie down points and a chrome plated heavy duty door frame.https://www.mammothpet.com Discount code: GUARDIAN15 Shotty Gear Hunter owned brand producing rugged and affordable waterfowl gear including shell pouches, blind bags, backpacks, gun cases, duck straps, apparel, and boat lighting.https://www.shottygear.com Discount code: FDH10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode #242 A Podcast Recorded During a Duck Hunt | Ducks Down

Podcast Description This episode was recorded during an active duck hunt. Between flights and shots, I kept the mics rolling and captured the hunt as it unfolded in real time. In this episode, you will hear ducks being shot while the conversation continues. I walk through what I carry with me while hunting, go through my blind bag piece by piece, and give a real world update on the Cruchanator 2000. There is no studio, no pause button, and no cleanup. Just hunting, talking, and letting the morning play out naturally. This is a raw, in the field episode recorded exactly where the hunt was happening. Partners and Links Flight Day Ammunitionhttps://www.flightdayammo.com Use code FDH10 Weatherby Shotgunshttps://www.weatherby.com TideWehttps://www.tidewe.com Use Code: FDH18 Mammoth Guardian Dog Crateshttps://www.mammothpet.com Use code GUARDIAN15 Shotty Gearhttps://www.shottygear.com Use code FDH10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode #241 Mallard Season Obsession and Treats in Dog Training

This episode is a mix of two things. A full recap of a killer Christmas weekend with Stormy Crook and Aiden, and then a real talk discussion on using treats in retriever training. I start with why a simple comment I left on a Facebook video turned into a bigger conversation. The video showed a young pup being sent to a place board using treats, and I explain why I personally avoid treats with average to high drive retrievers. I get into intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation, why I want my dog working for the relationship and teamwork, and why I believe that foundation matters later when you are asking a dog to trust you on blinds and fight factors like wind and pressure. I am also going to ask Chris Jobman about this directly on the Flatlander Kennels Podcast, and I am open to being corrected. Before we get to that, I take you through one of my favorite stretches of the year, Christmas break, Mallard season, and the obsessive nature of waterfowl hunting. Then I break down an unforgettable weekend hosting Stormy and Aiden. We hunted hard, dealt with ice, ran the boat where other guys could not, and ended up with back to back three man Mallard limits with a bunch of feet down finishes. It was one of those rare weekends where expectations were low, the hunts were incredible, and everything came together. Wives had a great weekend too, and the new muck room got put to use the way it was meant to be used. Partners Shotty Gear 🔗 https://www.shottygear.com 💸 Code: FDH10 — 10% off TideWe 🔗 https://www.tidewe.com 💸 Code: FDH18 — 18% off Flight Day Ammunition 🔗 https://www.flightdayammo.com 💸 Code: FDH10 — 10% off Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate / Mammoth Pet Products 🔗 https://www.mammothpetproducts.com 💸 Code: GUARDIAN15 — 15% off (Also available on Amazon — search Mammoth Guardian Dog Crate) Weatherby Shotguns 🔗 https://www.weatherby.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices