In their latest episode, Standard Sportsman podcast hosts Cason Short and Brent Birch (also Greenhead’s editor) recap the 2025/’26 duck season.
The season proved one thing: success depended on where one stood and when they showed up. With mallard numbers down and dry conditions gripping much of the Mississippi Flyway and Central Flyway, many hunters faced a hurdle right out of the gate. Then, just as the season wound down, a blast of snow, sleet and ice slammed the Deep South, locking up habitat and reshuffling birds overnight. For some, it was a last-minute gift that sent the season out on a high note. For others, it marked an early curtain call.
In this episode, Short and Birch break down how the season unfolded, compare it to years past and talk candidly about what these shifting conditions mean for the future of waterfowling. They also dig into how hunters can work together through conservation, habitat and advocacy to make sure everyone is pulling on the same end of the rope when the next season rolls around.
Listen here.
