n this episode of the UpDuck Podcast, we sit down with Mike Hagerty, better known online as Outdoors_Dad_Life, for an honest and deeply relatable conversation about raising kids in the outdoors — and what it really means to hunt with family. Mike shares his journey from growing up deer hunting in North Carolina, to serving 29 years in the U.S. Army, to now raising seven kids who hunt, fish, and live life outside. We dive into the realities of duck hunting with kids in the blind, introducing children to harvesting animals with respect, managing safety and maturity, and redefining success beyond limits and straps. This episode covers: Duck hunting with kids and first hunts Teaching respect for wildlife and ethical harvesting Balancing sports, school, and hunting seasons Girls in the outdoors and breaking stereotypes Why comfort isn’t the goal — memories are How to make tough hunts meaningful for young hunters From forgotten shotguns and wet waders to diner breakfasts and lifelong lessons, this conversation is packed with real stories, humor, and perspective every hunting parent can relate to. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special short-form episode of the UpDuck Podcast, Tyler sits down with two guests for a raw, timely conversation about Wisconsin pheasant hunting, public land pressure, and the reality of DNR stocking. After heading out for a mid-week hunt, guest John Anderson witnesses something many hunters have only heard rumors about: vehicles actively following a DNR pheasant stocking truck and hunters shooting birds almost as soon as they hit the ground. Joined by Dave Nelson, the group breaks down what they saw, why it happens, and how it impacts fair-chase ethics, opportunity, and the overall hunting experience. This episode isn’t about pointing fingers — it’s about raising awareness, sharing firsthand experiences, and asking the hard questions about access, opportunity, and responsibility on public land. If you’ve ever hunted stocked pheasants — or have strong opinions about “truck chasers” — this one will hit close to home. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duck season is officially in the rearview mirror, and the boys sit down for an honest, no-guest season recap. From a frustrating early teal season and stagnant weather to late-season lockups, frozen fingers, and a few bright-spot hunts worth remembering, this episode covers it all. Jeff, Matt, and Tyler break down what they learned, what they’d do differently next year, biggest regrets, gear wins (and failures), and how late-season hunting opened some eyes. The conversation drifts—as it always does—into dogs, waders, future trips, and looking ahead to Oklahoma and beyond. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The final Migration Report of 2025 is here. With most of Wisconsin frozen out, access was everything. Tyler breaks down end-of-season bird movement in the Southeast and Southwest regions, recaps the North Zone closure, and highlights where hunters still found success on ducks and geese despite brutal conditions. We also cover the upcoming late Canada goose hunt in the Southern and Mississippi River Zones. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Tyler hold down the fort while Matt’s on the road, and this week they sit down with Phillip Jones of GAIM Virtual Shooting, the VR-powered shooting simulator that’s reshaping how hunters train, practice, and prepare for the field. Phillip walks through his wild journey—from growing up in the UK on traditional driven pheasant hunts, to serving in the British military, to moving to the U.S. and helping build one of the most realistic shooting simulators on the market. The guys dig into: How GAIM uses the Meta Quest headset to create ultra-realistic waterfowl, upland, and big-game scenarios Why the new waterfowl VR hunt is shockingly lifelike The massive value VR brings to new hunters, kids, and youth shooting programs Using GAIM for off-season training, building muscle memory, and fixing bad shooting habits Ballistics accuracy, patterning visuals, safe-shot warnings, target ID, and other tech baked into the platform Upcoming features, multiplayer leagues, new scenarios, and the future of VR in the hunting world Phillip also shares some phenomenal stories about driven hunts, dog work, and the surprising way VR bridges the gap between today’s tech-savvy kids and real-world hunting. Click here to learn more about GAIM. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Migration Report, Tyler breaks down fresh updates from across Wisconsin as cold temps, snow, and rapid freeze-up reshape the waterfowl landscape. We cover real-time reports from the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast regions — including diver activity on Green Bay, the end of the North Zone duck season, late-season honker patterns, and how fast-changing ice conditions are impacting access. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh reports are in from all four regions of Wisconsin as the waterfowl season winds down. Tyler breaks down diver numbers on Green Bay, stale mallards in the Northwest, urban-locked birds in the Southeast, and a surprise diver push on the river in the Southwest. Ice, low water, weather swings, and minimal hunting pressure all shaped this week’s migration activity. Tune in for the latest Wisconsin duck migration update and what hunters can expect heading into the final stretch of the season. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Matt are running the show while Tyler is home fighting the family stomach bug, and they’re fresh off their second annual central Iowa pheasant hunting road trip. In this episode of the Upduck Podcast, the guys break down two full days of chasing wild roosters on a mix of private and public ground along Highway 20—hot 70-degree November temps, tough scenting conditions, soaked boots, a surprise loose farm pig in the CRP, and plenty of laughs along the way. They talk through how the dogs, Josie (pointer) and Maggie (retriever), adjusted from a rough Day 1 to lights-out dog work on Day 2, finishing with a pile of Iowa pheasants and a couple bonus ditch-jump ducks. From there, the conversation shifts to a real-time Wisconsin duck hunting and migration report: stale mallards, birds that won’t finish over decoys, crowded weekday marshes, and why this late-season Midwest waterfowl pattern just feels “off” this year. Jeff also looks ahead to their upcoming Oklahoma duck trip and the tradition of Wisconsin gun deer opener—deer camp, the orange army, and going into the season old-school with no trail cameras, just a tree stand and hope for venison. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stable weather and steady south winds have stalled the migration, leaving hunters working educated birds and waiting on the next big front. Still, folks are finding success in the right places. Tyler breaks down conditions and bird activity across all four regions of the state in this week’s Migration Report — from divers up north to local mallards still hanging in the south. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

the crew sits down with Josh Kaddatz, Community Coordinator at Sitka Gear’s Vernon Hills store — and a brand-new waterfowl hunter learning the ropes of his first season. Josh shares his journey from firefighting to working in the outdoor industry, how Sitka develops and tests its gear, and what hooked him on duck hunting after his very first wood duck. The guys dive deep into layering systems, cold-weather hunting gear, and what makes Sitka’s design process different, while also swapping stories about misses in the pheasant field, jealous labs, and what happens when your gloves don’t cooperate with your safety. Plus, Josh previews the Folds of Honor collaboration, upcoming Vernon Hills events, and offers pro tips for staying warm and dry in late-season hunts. Check out the following links for even more content: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The November 10th Migration Report breaks down the latest waterfowl movement across Wisconsin. From Green Bay to Pool 7 on the Mississippi River, new pushes of mallards, divers, and geese are finally showing up after the first big cold front of the season. Hear bird activity updates, hunter conditions, and migration trends across the Northeast, Northwest, Southwest, and Southeast regions of the state of Wisconsin. For more information and content, check out the following links: Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hunting updates from the Upduck crew: timing ducks before a cold front, layout boat bluebills on Green Bay, Minnesota pheasants, public-land pressure, family hunts, decoy talk & duck recipes. Check out the following links for more information and content Instagram Facebook Youtube More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From early-season teal and local wood ducks to the arrival of northern mallards, divers, and geese, The Migration Report tracks the pulse of Wisconsin’s waterfowl season. Tune in for insights on migration patterns, weather fronts, and habitat conditions that shape each week’s hunts. Whether you’re setting decoys in the Mississippi River bottoms or glassing a cattail marsh up north, The Migration Report is your go-to source for real-time updates across Wisconsin’s flyways. Each episode brings firsthand updates from hunters and contributors across the state—covering the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest regions—to keep you informed on where the birds are flying and how conditions are changing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, the crew sits down with Kyle Schmidt of Northwoods Taxidermy to talk all things waterfowl, upland hunting, and wildlife conservation. From managing wetlands for wood ducks and mallards in southeastern Wisconsin to insider tips on duck and pheasant taxidermy care, Kyle shares what it takes to keep mounts pristine and properties thriving. Learn about Safari Club International Check out more at the following links: Instagram Facebook More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warm weather in Saskatchewan made for a slower than expected week last week, and we are all watching for the next front to push in a fresh batch of birds. From early-season teal and local wood ducks to the arrival of northern mallards, divers, and geese, The Migration Report tracks the pulse of Wisconsin’s waterfowl season. Tune in for insights on migration patterns, weather fronts, and habitat conditions that shape each week’s hunts. Whether you’re setting decoys in the Mississippi River bottoms or glassing a cattail marsh up north, The Migration Report is your go-to source for real-time updates across Wisconsin’s flyways. Each episode brings firsthand updates from hunters and contributors across the state—covering the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest regions—to keep you informed on where the birds are flying and how conditions are changing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Wisconsin DNR Game Bird Ecologist Taylor Finger for a deep dive into the science, data, and decision-making behind our state’s waterfowl seasons. From how duck season dates are set to the math behind bag limits and banding 10,000 birds a year, Taylor breaks down what really drives season structure — and how public input plays a key role. We also explore the challenges of balancing hunter opportunity with conservation, why teal and wood duck limits are what they are, how weather and migration trends impact bird movement, and what the future may hold for Wisconsin hunters. Whether you’re a weekend duck hunter or a lifelong waterfowler, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the biology, policy, and passion shaping the sport of duck hunting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Warm temps and south winds kept Wisconsin’s waterfowl migration quiet this week, but signs of change are in the air. Cooler temps, northwest winds, and frost in the forecast could finally trigger the next big flight of ducks and geese. From early-season teal and local wood ducks to the arrival of northern mallards, divers, and geese, The Migration Report tracks the pulse of Wisconsin’s waterfowl season. Tune in for insights on migration patterns, weather fronts, and habitat conditions that shape each week’s hunts. Whether you’re setting decoys in the Mississippi River bottoms or glassing a cattail marsh up north, The Migration Report is your go-to source for real-time updates across Wisconsin’s flyways. Each episode brings firsthand updates from hunters and contributors across the state—covering the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest regions—to keep you informed on where the birds are flying and how conditions are changing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crew welcomes back Bob Owens of Lone Duck Outfitters—professional retriever trainer, gundog coach, and passionate grouse hunter. Bob dives deep into training philosophies for retrievers, setters, and pointing dogs, the art of force fetch, and how to transition your hunt test dog into a rock-solid duck dog. He also shares insights from his Wisconsin grouse hunts, discusses steadiness in the blind, and drops wisdom on building confident, resilient gundogs. Whether you’re chasing ruffed grouse through the Northwoods or working your Labrador retriever on late-season mallards, this episode is packed with real-world tips for hunters and dog handlers alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From early-season teal and local wood ducks to the arrival of northern mallards, divers, and geese, The Migration Report tracks the pulse of Wisconsin’s waterfowl season. Tune in for insights on migration patterns, weather fronts, and habitat conditions that shape each week’s hunts. Whether you’re setting decoys in the Mississippi River bottoms or glassing a cattail marsh up north, The Migration Report is your go-to source for real-time updates across Wisconsin’s flyways. Each episode brings firsthand updates from hunters and contributors across the state—covering the Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest regions—to keep you informed on where the birds are flying and how conditions are changing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duck season is officially underway, and the Upduck crew breaks down the highs and lows of early-season hunting across Wisconsin. From wood ducks and mallards working tight timber holes to gundogs making their first retrieves, this episode dives into what makes early hunts so unpredictable and exciting. We talk calling strategies, decoy setups, scouting cold fronts, and real-world retriever lessons from the marsh. Whether you’re chasing birds on public land or fine-tuning your duck dog for the season ahead, this episode brings a full dose of waterfowl hunting stories, gear talk, and migration insight. Tune in weekly for more duck hunting reports, gundog tips, and migration updates from across the Midwest. Check out the following links for more information & content. Instagram Facebook More About the Upduck Podcast Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices