Midwest Flyways Podcast

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, the guys are trying to figure out where the ducks went and whether some seriously strange weather is about to shake up the migration.

After duck opener, Joey, Cal, and Carter compare what they've been seeing around Minnesota. Some areas that normally hold plenty of birds have been surprisingly empty, while reports from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta sound like hunters are still seeing plenty of ducks farther north. At the same time, geese are starting to show up in bigger numbers around the metro, leaving the guys wondering when the next real push is coming.

That leads into a long conversation about rain, flooded corn, winter weather, snow, and how unusual conditions could affect duck and goose hunting throughout the Midwest. The guys also revisit the duck population surveys and compare those numbers with what they've actually been seeing in the field so far this season.

They also talk about why a real winter would be such a welcome change, especially when it comes to pushing fresh birds down the flyway and creating some of those classic late-season duck and goose hunts in the snow.

To finish things off, Carter puts Joey and Cal through another round of Say What?!

Topics Covered:
•Where the ducks went after opener
•Reports from Canada
•Weather and duck migration
•Snow and late-season hunting
•Say What?! waterfowl trivia


Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.

 

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New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on Sports Guyz Only...

Cal is calling in sick from the corner of his bedroom, Carter is extra crabby after another week of fantasy football abuse, and the guys waste no time revisiting some truly terrible roster decisions. Between insulting trade offers, injured players, and everyone finding a draft pick they'd like back, the fantasy league is already providing exactly the level of dysfunction everyone expected.

Then the conversation turns to the Vikings and a much bigger question: if Justin Herbert is actually available, do you sell the farm to get him? With the Chargers offense struggling and Herbert looking like he could use a fresh start, the guys debate whether Minnesota should throw three first-round picks or even more at the Chargers and finally take a massive swing at quarterback. They compare Herbert to Kyler Murray, question how much patience the Vikings should have with their current situation, and ask whether a roster with this defense is simply too good to waste waiting for average quarterback play.

That opens up an even bigger conversation about team building. Are first-round picks overrated when you're already close to competing? Should the Vikings copy the Rams and trade future assets for proven stars? And if Minnesota is sitting near the top of the NFC with a Super Bowl-caliber defense, how aggressive should they be about fixing the few positions still holding them back?

The guys also run through another week of NFL picks and underdog locks, debate whether Case Keenum should keep starting in Chicago, react to the Chargers' brutal start, and continue trying to figure out which NFL teams are actually good after the first few weeks of the season.

Plus:
•Carter's latest questionable fantasy trade offers
•The Vikings' offensive line problems
•Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy
•Marvin Harrison Jr. as a potential Vikings trade target
•The NFL admitting it blew a Rams call
•Scottie Scheffler's classy Presidents Cup moment
•Playoff baseball heating up
•Another week of fantasy football regret

It's Vikings trade-machine madness, fantasy football slander, NFL overreactions, and one simple solution to every problem: trade the picks and go get somebody good. Thanks so much for listening to Sports Guyz Only and be sure to subscribe and review!

 

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New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Sam Soholt is back for Part 2 of the conversation, and this time the focus turns heavily toward conservation, habitat, and what hunters can do to protect the places and wildlife they care about.

Sam and the guys talk about how your perspective changes the longer you hunt. At some point, it becomes about more than shooting ducks, you start thinking about where those birds come from, the habitat they need, and what needs to happen to make sure the next generation still has the same opportunities.

The conversation gets into wetland loss, drain tile, changing agricultural practices, conservation organizations, Duck Stamp dollars, and why habitat remains at the center of so many wildlife issues. Sam also explains why wetlands matter far beyond waterfowl, from water quality and flood control to the hundreds of species that depend on them.

They also talk about putting conservation dollars directly toward specific projects, getting involved locally, and Sam's Duck Ruck including what it was like walking 100 miles in three days and eventually knocking out 50 miles in a single day to raise money for conservation.

Toward the end, things get more personal as Sam talks about becoming a dad, wanting his kids to experience the same outdoor life he grew up with, and why preserving those opportunities matters even more now. The guys also look at how duck hunting changes as you get older, from chasing limits to appreciating the entire experience and finding just as much enjoyment in passing it on to someone else.


Topics Covered:
•Hunters and conservation

•Protecting waterfowl habitat

•Wetland loss and drain tile

•Duck Stamps and where the money goes

•The 100-mile Duck Ruck

•Passing hunting on to the next generation


Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, the guys sit down with photographer, filmmaker, conservationist, and lifelong hunter Sam Soholt. 

Sam takes the guys through how he actually broke into the outdoor industry, from filming hunts and taking whatever opportunities he could find to eventually turning outdoor photography and filmmaking into a career. They talk about rejection, grinding when nobody knows who you are, and why simply showing up over and over again can eventually open some pretty crazy doors.

And in Sam's case, some of those doors led to filming from helicopters, working on television productions, spending time on Kodiak Island, and ending up in situations where he wasn't entirely convinced he was making it home.

The conversation also gets into duck hunting versus big game, some unforgettable hunting stories, and what eventually pushed Sam toward doing more of his own work instead of always working for someone else.

Toward the end, the guys get into the beginnings of Sam's public land work, including the ideas that eventually became Public Land Tees, the Public Land Bus, Stamp It Forward, and some of the conservation projects he's become known for.

Topics Covered:
•Sam Soholt's path into the outdoor industry
•Getting your foot in the door
•Dealing with rejection
•Public Land Tees
•The Public Land Bus
•Stamp It Forward
•Waterfowl conservation and public lands

Part 2 with Sam Soholt continues next week.

Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, the guys continue the story of Reelfoot Lake with Part 2, diving into the violent conflict that erupted over who actually had the right to control the lake. After the earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 transformed dry land into water, generations of local families came to rely on Reelfoot for fishing, hunting, and travel. But when private land claims began colliding with those long-standing public uses, the dispute quickly became much more than a legal argument.

The episode gets into the rise of the Night Riders, a masked group that used intimidation and violence as the fight over Reelfoot intensified. The conflict ultimately led to the kidnapping of two men, the killing of Quentin Rankin, a major Tennessee National Guard response, mass arrests, death sentences, and eventually a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling over the lake’s legal status. Along the way, the guys mix the history with plenty of side conversations and joking around, from movie references to earthquakes, ancient seismic detectors, and the strange natural disasters that have shaped different parts of the country.

What started as a fight over fishing rights became one of the strangest chapters in American outdoor history. In the end, the courts determined that Reelfoot Lake would be held for public use, helping preserve the same legendary waterfowl destination hunters still recognize today.

Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, Nick Johnson is back for his annual visit to talk waterfowl hunting, traveling the world, and some of the weird stuff he’s tried along the way.

Nick and the guys get into everything from old-school duck hunters and spring goose hunting on James Bay to chasing waterfowl in Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Europe, and beyond. They talk about the places Nick has already hunted, the trips still on his list, and why some of the most interesting waterfowl hunting in the world happens far outside the places most hunters ever think about.

The conversation also gets into changing hunting regulations in Canada, freelance hunting versus outfitters, and whether the giant pile pictures coming out of Canada and Mexico actually have as much impact on duck populations as people think. Nick breaks down why hunter numbers matter and what he believes really determines whether a hunt is going to be great or miserable: weather, juvenile birds, and how hungry the birds are.

Nick also talks about turning Wingshoot Wisconsin into a full-time career, what guiding has taught him about bad hunts, and why keeping the right attitude matters when the birds don’t cooperate.

And because it wouldn’t be a Nick Johnson episode without trying something ridiculous, the guys finish with live pigeon decoys, baiting pigeons, hawk attacks, and a few experiments that definitely sounded better on paper.

Topics Covered:
•Waterfowl hunting around the world
•James Bay spring goose hunting
•Changes to Canadian hunting regulations
•Freelance hunting vs. outfitters
•Weather, juvenile birds, and hungry birds
•Building Wingshoot Wisconsin
•Hunting experiments

Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on Sports Guyz Only...

Nathaniel is out, Carter's fantasy roster is already under investigation, and the first week of football has given the guys plenty of evidence to determine who does and definitely does not know ball.

The Vikings lead things off after a rough opening performance from Kyler Murray that immediately has the guys concerned. The guys break down his bizarre first play, the hits he took, Minnesota's struggling offensive line, and whether the Vikings have another long season of quarterback and protection problems ahead of them. There are at least a few positives, though, with Christian Darrisaw looking like himself again and Justin Jefferson still doing Justin Jefferson things.

From there, it's a full NFL Week 1 reaction. Bo Nix disappoints, Baker Mayfield somehow helps put up points despite an ugly performance, the Browns continue finding new ways to make their fans miserable, and the guys start reevaluating a few preseason takes. Carter's fantasy team gets picked apart, Gavin's Josh Allen reach suddenly looks a little smarter, and the early standings provide just enough evidence for Cal and Gavin to declare themselves the side of the studio that actually knows ball.

The guys also look ahead to Week 2 with another round of picks and underdog locks. Plus, Caleb Williams' strong start sparks a surprisingly legitimate question: could he eventually become the greatest quarterback in Bears history?

Plus:
•Christian McCaffrey's latest fantasy concerns
•The Browns' unbelievable opening-day record
•Lane Kiffin mind games before LSU–Ole Miss
•The Packers' recent collapse
•Caleb Williams vs. the history of Bears quarterbacks

It's Week 1 overreactions, fantasy football victory laps, Vikings frustration, and a whole lot of arguing over who actually knows what they're talking about. Thanks so much for listening to Sports Guyz Only and be sure to subscribe and review!

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on the Midwest Flyways Podcast, the guys recap a rough Minnesota goose opener and try to make sense of where the birds went.

A lot of the geese that had been around for weeks seemed to disappear right before opener, teal reports were all over the place, and plenty of hunters around the state struggled to put together much of a shoot. Cal and Joey talk through their own opener experiences, hunting with the kids, and why early-season birds can change everything in a matter of days.
From there, the conversation turns to the conditions heading into duck season. Water is extremely low in parts of Minnesota, some traditional areas are drying up, and the guys compare what they're seeing in the field to the latest waterfowl population numbers.

Mallards are reportedly down, while several other species are up, but the amount of ducks they've seen this summer has them questioning whether the current counts are telling the whole story. They talk about survey routes, changing habitat, where birds may be moving, and whether collecting more data could give hunters a better picture of what is actually happening.

The guys also get into band superstition, grouse hunting, early-season scouting, and plenty of the usual side conversations along the way.

Topics Covered:
•Minnesota goose opener
•Early teal reports
•Taking kids hunting
•Low water across Minnesota
•Band superstition
•Getting ready for duck opener

Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, the guys kick off Part 1 of the story of Reelfoot Lake, one of the most legendary places in American waterfowl hunting history. Before the duck calls, cypress trees, and famous hunting culture, there wasn’t really a lake at all. That changed during the massive New Madrid earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, when the ground shifted dramatically, drainage patterns changed, and water flooded into the newly lowered landscape.

The guys break down just how violent those earthquakes were, including eyewitness accounts of the Mississippi River temporarily appearing to run backward and sections of land dropping by several feet. From there, they look at how the new lake slowly developed into a waterfowl destination, eventually becoming known for huge numbers of ducks, unique hunting traditions, and its role in the early development of duck calling. As usual, the history lesson comes with plenty of side conversations—from trains and earthquakes to infrastructure, old American cities, and just how strange it would be to watch an entirely new lake form in real time.

This is only the beginning of the Reelfoot story. Part 2 continues next week, when the guys get into the Night Riders and the violent fight that erupted over who actually controlled the lake.

Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to check out the Flyways Hunt Club for even more exclusive content every week.

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP

This week on Sports Guyz Only...

Everybody is back in the studio, and it takes roughly a minute for Michigan football to send the show completely off the rails. After Western Michigan nearly pulls off the upset, the guys break down the controversial ending, Michigan celebrating a win that came down to a questionable clock decision, and whether Bryce Underwood could already be playing for his job.

That quickly turns into a much bigger argument: has sports gambling gone too far? Cal makes the case that betting has become so intertwined with sports that it's starting to affect the integrity of the games themselves, while Gavin argues that gambling has been part of sports forever and isn't going anywhere. From DraftKings and player props to point shaving, questionable officiating, and whether making gambling illegal would actually change anything, the debate stretches well beyond one college football game.

The guys also look around the opening weeks of college football, including Notre Dame's strong start, Clemson's struggles, and whether Dabo Swinney's approach can survive in the NIL era. With college rosters now costing tens of millions of dollars, they debate how quickly the sport has changed and whether coaches either need to adapt or get left behind.

Then Cal tells the story of getting thrown into a high school football game against future NFL defensive lineman Beau Allen, which mostly involved accepting that blocking him normally wasn't an option. Somehow that leads to 700-pound squats, Jason Kelce stories, and another reminder that some athletes are simply built differently.

Plus:
•Remembering Barry Melrose and his impact on hockey
•Early college football championship contenders
•LSU's roster spending and the new NIL arms race
•Weekly NFL picks and underdog locks
•J.J. McCarthy vs. Caleb Williams in hindsight
•Another Brian O'Neill crashout

It's college football controversy, gambling arguments, NFL picks, questionable statistics, and enough side stories to make sure nobody stays on topic for very long.

Thanks so much for listening to Sports Guyz Only and be sure to subscribe and review!

 

Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club

New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana

Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite

(Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX

Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions

Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby

Support Conservation: DU

(Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear

Live Free: Turtlebox

Add motion to your spread: Flashback

Better Merch: /SHOP