The Voice of the Duck Hunter – A Delta Waterfowl Podcast
Welcome to The Voice of the Duck Hunter — the official podcast of Delta Waterfowl, the Duck Hunters Organization. Each episode dives deep into the world of duck hunting, wetland conservation, and the people driving the future of waterfowling.
From prairie potholes to Capitol Hill, we share stories and insights from biologists, policy leaders, gear experts, and dedicated hunters who live for migration. Discover how research, habitat conservation, duck production tools, and smart policies keep ducks flying — and why your voice as a duck hunter is more important than ever.
Tune in for:
-Waterfowl population trends and breeding-ground science
-Habitat restoration and conservation policy breakdowns
-Gear innovation, retriever training, and hunting strategy
-Hunter recruitment and education (First Hunt, University Hunting Program)
-Conversations from the marsh — stories, heritage, and community
Whether you’re chasing ducks in the prairies, pursuing divers along the coast, hunting them in southern timber, or just a passionate waterfowl enthusiast, this show connects the science and stories that make healthy duck populations and duck hunting possible.
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen — and join the movement that uses science-based solutions to produce ducks, conserve prairie wetlands, and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting.
Visit deltawaterfowl.org to learn more about our efforts to achieve our vision of abundant ducks and endless opportunities for all waterfowl hunters.
Episodes
105 episodes
Field Notes: How Are Early Teal Seasons Set? | Episode 02
In this episode, we dive into what goes into setting the early teal season, including how wildlife managers use population data and harvest information to determine when and where the season takes place.Watch the full episode for an ins...
Ep. 103 | Will Oregon Ban Hunting? Breaking Down the PEACE Act (IP 28)
In this episode of The Voice of the Duck Hunter, Joel Brice sits down with Cyrus Baird, Chris Hoon, and Ryan Brunson to discuss Oregon's Initiative Petition 28 (IP28), also known as the PEACE Act.Together, they break down what the petiti...
Field Notes | 2026 Duck Hunters Expo | What to Expect
In this special Field Notes episode, host Joel Brice sits down with Chris Williams, Senior Director of Industry Partnerships at Delta Waterfowl, to give listeners a preview of the 2026 Duck Hunters Expo in Des Moines, Iowa.Whether you're...
Ep. 102 | How to transport ducks legally. | Rich Grosz & Jay Pilgrim
From daily limits and transport rules to tagging requirements, gifting birds, and freezer storage, this episode dives into the laws every duck hunter needs to understand to stay legal. Rich shares real stories from the field, common violations ...
Ep. 101 | How possession limits work. | Rich Grosz & Jay Pilgrim
What exactly is a possession limit? How many ducks can you legally have in your freezer? Can your buddy “give” you birds? And what are the most common mistakes hunters make without even realizing it?In Episode 101 of The Voice of the Du...
Ep. 100 | Joel Reacts to 100 Episodes of The Voice of the Duck Hunter.
100 episodes later, we’re taking a look back.To celebrate the 100th episode of The Voice of the Duck Hunter, Joel sits down to revisit a handful of memorable moments from the podcast over the years. From duck production and conservation...
Ep. 99 | The Future of Ducks: What Delta Is Researching Right Now
Delta Waterfowl’s 2026 Research Roster is here, and in Episode 99 of The Voice of the Duck Hunter podcast, Dr. Jay VonBank and Dr. Todd Arnold join host Joel Brice and break down the science shaping the future of ducks and duck hunting across N...
Ep. 98 | How Delta Waterfowl Is Fighting for Duck Production (John Devney Interview)
You hear about wars, politics, and trillions being spent—but as a duck hunter, where do you go to understand the policies that actually impact ducks and the future of hunting?Right here.In this episode, we break down the real wo...
Ep. 97 | 2026 Duck Season Outlook: What We’re Seeing Right Now | Matt Chouinard & Mike Buxton
Each spring, official waterfowl surveys help shape the outlook for duck seasons across North America—but at Delta Waterfowl, we don’t wait for reports.Our teams are on the ground year-round across the Prairie Pothole Region, tracking ha...
Ep. 96 | Rebuilding America’s Refuges | Director Brian Nesvik
Delta Waterfowl is leading the charge among non-government conservation groups to rebuild the staffing and infrastructure of America’s national wildlife refuges through its Restoring Our Refuges initiative. Stronger public lands mean better hab...
Ep. 95 | Duck Hunting Ammo Explained: Steel vs HEVI vs Modern Loads | Dan Compton
Nearly 50 years ago, waterfowl hunting changed forever. What started as a targeted conservation effort—requiring non-toxic shot in select areas—quickly expanded across North America and reshaped the way we hunt ducks and geese.Today, ent...
Ep. 94 | A Historic Milestone for Waterfowl Hunting | John Devney & Jim Fisher
In this episode, Delta Waterfowl celebrates a monumental milestone: 100,000 people introduced to waterfowl hunting through Delta’s First Hunt program. This achievement marks a historic moment and highlights a bright future for duck and goose hu...
Ep. 93 | Building a Case: Baiting Under the Microscope | Rich Grosz & Jay Pilgrim
Welcome back to another episode of Delta Waterfowl’s The Voice of the Duck Hunter. Two retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents join us for a powerful and eye-opening conversation. Rich Grosz — one of our most requeste...
Ep. 92 | Baiting Laws Explained: Federal Agents Break It Down | Rich Grosz & Jay Pilgrim
Welcome back to another episode of Delta Waterfowl’s The Voice of the Duck Hunter. Two retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents join us for a powerful and eye-opening conversation. Rich Grosz — one ...
Ep. 91 | Does Duck Hunting Really Hurt Duck Populations? | Senior Scientist Todd Arnold
🚨 CHECK OUT OUR GIVEAWAY VIDEO! 🚨Details and entry info are linked in that videos description.Subscribe to The Delta Network: @TheDeltaNetwork &...
Ep. 90 | A Duck Hunter’s Legacy: The Legacy of John V. Mesh | Jim Mesh
Welcome to another episode of Delta Waterfowl’s The Voice of the Duck Hunter. In October of 2015, Kansas City firefighters John Mesh and Larry Leggio lost their lives in the line of duty while battling an arson fire. A wall collaps...
Ep. 89 | Inside the Hunt Fish Rule With Cyrus Baird
If you hunt waterfowl on public land, this is an episode you need to hear.In this episode of The Voice of the Duck Hunter Podcast, host Joel Brice is joined by Cyrus Baird, Delta Waterfowl’s Vice President of Government Affairs, to brea...
Ep. 88 | Meat Science 101 for Duck Hunters | Blake Robbins
What happens after the shot matters just as much as the hunt itself.In this episode of Delta Waterfowl’s Voice of the Duck Hunter, Joel Brice sits down with Blake Robbins, a graduate student in meat science at Oklahoma State Unive...
Ep. 87 | Restoring Our Refuges: Delta Waterfowl’s Bold New Plan to Save Habitat & Hunting Access
Delta Waterfowl has just announced what may become one of the most significant efforts in our organization’s history — the Restoring Our Refuges initiative.This groundbreaking project focuses on two critical missions:• Restoring vit...
Ep.86 | Field Stories from a U.S. Wildlife Agent | Part 2
Part 2 of our interview with retired U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Special Agent Rich Grosz.In this episode he shares some of the most unbelievable stories from his years in the field—cases, encounters, and operations most people ...
Ep. 85 | The Frontlines of Conservation | Part 1
Join us on Delta Waterfowl’s Voice of the Duck Hunter Podcast as Joel Brice sits down with Rich Grosz, retired U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Special Agent and lifelong waterfowl hunter.Rich spent his career standing on the thin green...
Ep. 84 | 60 Minute Duck Hunts: Make Every Minute Count
In our busy lives, finding time to hunt can be tough—whether it’s before work, before church, or between other commitments. But even a one-hour hunt can be productive if you approach it the right way.Joining me is longtime Delta contrib...
Ep. 83 | Meet Our New Scientist | Dr. Jay VonBank and Dr. Todd Arnold
In this episode, host Joel Brice sits down with two of the newest members of Delta’s research team—Dr. Todd Arnold and Dr. Jay VonBank.Todd, a longtime professor at the University of Minnesota, and Jay, formerly with the U.S. Geological...
Ep. 82 | Meet Delta Waterfowl’s New CEO | Jason Tharpe on the Future of Duck Hunting
In today’s episode, host Joel Brice sits down with longtime Delta leader and newly appointed CEO, Jason Tharpe.A lifelong waterfowler from Louisiana, Jason has dedicated over 23 years to advancing The Duck Hunters Organization. Now at t...
Ep. 81 | Why Duck Hunters Should Care About the Farm Bill
Welcome to The Voice of the Duck Hunter presented by Delta Waterfowl. In this episode, host Joel Brice sits down with Delta’s Chief Policy Officer, John Devney, to unpack why agricultural policy—especially the U.S. Farm Bill—matters more to duc...