Early Season Duck Hunting Recap: Wary Mallards, Wood Ducks Galore, & Gundogs

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

Welcome to The Migration Report, a new weekly segment from the Upduck Podcast focused exclusively on Wisconsin duck hunting and waterfowl migration. 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. 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. For more information, check out the following links: Instagram Facebook More About the Upduck Podcast Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duck season is finally here, and on this week’s episode we’re diving into hunting prep, sleepless nights before opener, and—most importantly—how to keep your gun dogs safe and healthy in the field. With warm temps hitting the Wisconsin duck opener, the crew sits down with Dr. Libbey Schmitt, a veterinary surgeon at WVRC, to talk about working dogs, hunting dogs, and what hunters need to know about canine care during waterfowl season. From diet debates (raw vs. kibble), joint supplements, and managing heat stress, to the real-world injuries vets see most often in bird dogs—this episode is packed with insights every duck hunter, retriever owner, and outdoor enthusiast can use. Whether you run labs, pointers, or versatile hunting breeds, you’ll come away with practical vet-approved advice for keeping your dogs safe in the blind and the upland field. If you’re looking for a duck hunting podcast that blends real hunting stories, expert veterinary insight, and gundog care tips—this is the one you don’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Upduck Podcast, we sit down with George Parker of Bluebird Waterfowl to talk innovation, duck hunting gear, and how changing the way you use spinning wing decoys can completely transform your hunts. From crumble cookies to steelhead fishing stories, we eventually dive deep into the science of waterfowl behavior, the Animator, and the brand-new floating wings that are shaking up the duck hunting world. George explains how Bluebird Waterfowl is rethinking spinner wings with new shapes, sizes, and colors designed to match changing conditions in the marsh—just like bass fishermen change lures. We cover why wings that float are a game-changer, the importance of motion and sound in finishing ducks, and how hunters can adapt to smarter, late-season birds. If you’re passionate about duck hunting, spinning wing decoys, or just love hearing the stories and science behind waterfowl hunting innovation, this episode delivers. Whether you’re chasing teal in early September or mallards in the late season, you’ll want to hear how Bluebird Waterfowl is bringing a new edge to the hunt. As George mentioned, use the code "upduck" to get free shipping on any order from Bluebird Waterfowl.https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This duck hunting podcast episode dives into a real, in-the-field case study on retriever steadiness, breaking, and handler discipline. Host Tyler goes “Mattless and Jeff-less” and brings back Aaron Joos of Red Cedar Retrievers (Western Wisconsin) to unpack a quick early-season goose hunt with Nala, his 4.5-year-old Labrador with a Senior Hunter title. We walk through what triggered a break on geese, what corrections worked, why geese are “kryptonite” for some dogs, and how to build steadiness in real hunting conditions—dog blinds vs. stands, using a “sit” shot call, running one shell to force control, and choosing handler-first decisions over pulling the trigger. If you run labs for ducks or geese, train for hunt tests, or just want a steady, family-friendly gun dog that turns it on in the field, this conversation is packed with practical, hunt-day fixes you can use on opening morning. We also touch on balancing field performance with off-season training, troubleshooting with other dogs in the spread, and setting up controlled reps that translate to live birds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We made it—episode 100 of the Upduck Podcast! From Jeff’s pirate costume malfunctions to Matt’s first-ever banded teal, and Tyler’s teal hunt chaos with Wren, this milestone episode is packed with laughs, lookbacks, and plenty of duck hunting stories. We dive into memorable hunts, favorite guests, technical disasters (tornado warnings anyone), and answer listener questions on everything from bucket list birds to hunting with young dogs. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just tuned in, this one’s a full spread of what makes Upduck, Upduck: duck hunting stories, upland talk, dogs that make every hunt better, and a whole lot of camaraderie. Grab a coffee—or a energy drink like Matt—and join us in celebrating 100 episodes of bird hunting banter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 99 of the Upduck Podcast is all about the highs, lows, and lessons learned as early duck hunting season kicks off. Jeff shares a hard PSA about losing an action camera to the river and a cellular trail cam that mysteriously stopped working on public land. From there, the crew recaps teal opener hunts across Wisconsin—slow flights, pressured marshes, and the importance of quick duck ID when teal and wood ducks are mixed in. We also cover gear talk including the new boat’s first hunt, dog-handling strategies, and why a Beretta A300 that actually cycles three shots can make all the difference. Beyond teal, dove hunting steals the spotlight as Matt admits he’s hooked after a pile of birds, wind-powered decoys, and a batch of poppers on the grill. The guys compare dove simplicity to teal season’s chaos, discuss public-land etiquette, and look ahead to the Youth Hunt and regular opener. With stories, strategy, and laughs, this episode is packed with duck hunting tips, gear insights, gun dog talk, and season-starting chaos—a perfect warm-up for what’s to come. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teal and early goose seasons are here! In this Feathered Report, we break down what hunters need to know heading into opener — from the Duck Stamp Modernization Act to North Dakota’s brood survey numbers, new habitat stamps, and even pheasant updates. Quick hits, straight facts, and a dose of preseason excitement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With teal season on the horizon and episode 100 just around the corner, the Upduck crew sits down with Brian Glenzinski, Director of Conservation Programs for Ducks Unlimited’s Great Lakes Initiative. Brian brings a wealth of knowledge on everything from public land access and DU’s wetland restoration efforts to the critical importance of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program in Wisconsin. We dig deep into how funding, policy, and partnerships shape habitat conservation across the Midwest, including updates on major projects like Princess Point and Avon Bottoms. Brian also shares his backstory, his favorite hunting boat (spoiler: he owns a fleet), and how DU leverages science to put ducks in the sky and boots on public ground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices