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Save it for the Blind Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by California Waterfowl
Welcome to the Save it for the Blind Podcast. Dive into the world of duck hunting, conservation, and legislation. Join us for insightful discussions on preserving both tradition and nature. Our podcast isn't complete without tackling the legislative side of things. Discover how local and national policies impact hunting seasons, bag limits, and wetland preservation. Interviews with experts and policymakers will shed light on the intricate balance between hunting traditions and the need for sustainable practices. RSSVERIFY
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- 2 days ago34 min
Protecting Your Hearing in the Blind with Jeff Thruston
Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Jeff Thruston, owner of ESP Hearing Protection, for a conversation about something a lot of waterfowl hunters ignore until it’s too late: hearing loss. Jeff explains how ESP’s custom-fit electronic hearing protection works, why comfort and directional sound matter in the blind, and how modern technology can protect your hearing without taking away the sounds that make hunting what it is.Episode highlightsWhy duck hunters skip hearing protection — bulky earmuffs, poor fit, wind noise, and wanting to hear calls and birds are some of the biggest reasons hunters leave protection at home.Custom fit vs. one-size-fits-all — the crew talks about molded hearing protection, keeping earbuds secure in wet hunting conditions, and why fit becomes especially important in the marsh.Hearing the hunt around you — Jeff breaks down how ESP maintains directional and environmental awareness, so hunters can still tell where birds, voices, and other sounds are coming from.Choosing the right setup — Apex, Stealth, Elite Digital, and Classic models come into the conversation, along with pricing and how hunters can determine which level of protection makes sense for them.Simple matters in the field — Carson highlights the straightforward design: turn them on, adjust the volume, and hunt without dealing with multiple modes or complicated connections.When hearing loss becomes noticeable — Jeff and Carson share personal examples of realizing one ear was no longer hearing as well as the other, and how that can affect everything from hearing birds to communicating with hunting partners.Shotguns are loud — the conversation puts gunfire into perspective by comparing a shotgun blast at roughly 140 decibels with other extremely loud noises, reinforcing what repeated exposure can do over a lifetime of hunting.It’s not just about shooting — hearing loss can make it harder to locate a gobble, elk bugle, calling duck, or even hear your partner say “take ’em,” turning hearing protection into a hunting-performance and safety issue too.Waterfowling is built around sound—from wings overhead and geese in the distance to calling with your buddies in the blind. This episode is a reminder that protecting your ears now can help make sure you’re still hearing all of it years down the road.
- 1 weeks ago20 min
2026 Waterfowl Opener Recap
Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down for a quick opening-weekend recap, breaking down how California Waterfowl properties performed across the state and comparing this year’s results with recent seasons. From a seven-bird average at Sanborn Slough to strong shoots at Grizzly Ranch, Butte Creek Island Ranch, Potrero, and Goose Lake, the opener delivered plenty of opportunity—but also a few surprises in bird behavior and species composition.Episode highlightsA strong opener overall — CWA properties combined for roughly a 4.6-bird average, nearly a bird better than the previous year.Sanborn Slough stole the show — hunters averaged seven birds per hunter, including geese, making it potentially one of the strongest CWA property openers on record.Grizzly Ranch delivered again — a 5.4 average, led by green-winged teal and northern shovelers, with enough opportunity that Carson felt most groups had a real shot at limits.Butte Creek bounced back — after averaging 2.3 birds last year, the property climbed back to a five-bird average, with wood ducks leading the way.Potrero moved in the right direction — after flooding earlier this year, the Suisun property jumped to a 4.6-bird average, while nearby Denverton came in lower than expected.Goose Lake stayed productive — the Tulare Basin property averaged 3.8 birds, down slightly from last year but still providing plenty of shooting opportunity.The ducks are already acting educated — Jeff and Carson talk about birds in the rice behaving more like January ducks than opener birds—circling, ignoring calls, and doing their own thing despite plenty of birds being present.Refuge results — Yolo finished among the strongest state wildlife areas, while Delavan posted a solid opener with pintail leading the harvest.More hunts are coming — first-come, first-served rice blinds are expected to open soon, along with additional pig hunts and donated family opportunities in the Yolo Bypass.Opening weekend showed that there are plenty of birds on the landscape—but with mild weather in the forecast and ducks already showing signs of pressure, the question now is how quickly things settle into the early-season doldrums and what the next weather change brings.
- 2 weeks ago1h 1m
Opening Week: Birds, Refuges & What Hunters Can Expect
With California’s balance-of-state opener right around the corner, Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down for a full preseason check-in with people who have been watching birds and habitat firsthand. The crew talks expectations for opening weekend, what they’re seeing on CWA properties, and why there’s real optimism heading into the season—with plenty of ducks already on the landscape and more birds still holding farther north.Episode highlightsThere are birds around — Carson says nearly everyone he’s talked to is seeing ducks, and one CWA property was holding more birds than he’s seen there in ten seasons working for the organization.Could another push still be coming? — plenty of birds remain farther north, setting up the possibility of another migration push if colder weather finally forces them south.Weather could make or break it — after several seasons of flooding in the Butte Sink, Jeff and Carson talk about how concentrated storm systems and winter weather could reshape hunting again this year.Yolo Wildlife Area update — Wildlife Area Manager Garrett Spann joins the show to discuss current conditions, hunter access, property changes, habitat projects, and what visitors should know before heading out this season.A firsthand look at bird movement — CWA’s egg salvage coordinator and waterfowl biologist checks in after spending time trapping pintail on refuges and shares what the crew has been seeing across the Valley.Specks, snows, and one unusual goose — the conversation turns to goose numbers and a recently banded bird that appears to be some type of hybrid.Diver hunting preview — the final portion of the episode shifts toward divers, coastal hunting, specialized boats, and how flooded conditions can change when and where birds return to an area.The real cost of getting out there — rising fuel prices also enter the conversation, especially for hunters making long drives to rice blinds and refuges multiple times a week.There’s always plenty of preseason speculation, but this episode brings together boots-on-the-ground observations, refuge updates, and firsthand bird reports to give California hunters a better idea of what they may find when legal shooting time finally arrives.
- 3 weeks ago46 min
Hunting Dog Health with Dr. Seth Bynum
Carson Odegard sits down with Dr. Seth Bynum, avid bird hunter, outdoorsman, photographer, veterinarian, and Veterinary Communications Manager for Purina, for a practical conversation every hunting-dog owner should hear before the season gets rolling. Seth shares his unconventional path from journalism and outdoor photography into veterinary medicine, then dives into the health and conditioning questions that come with putting a retriever back to work after months away from the marsh.Episode highlightsGetting your dog season-ready — what hunters should be thinking about when conditioning a dog that may have been out of hunting shape for eight months or more.Hot-weather hunting — California openers can push toward 90 degrees, making heat and physical exertion an important consideration even for dogs accustomed to warm weather.When to use a dog vest — cold water, fog, wind, body condition, and protection all come into the conversation when deciding whether your retriever needs neoprene.What belongs in a canine first-aid kit — plus why hunters should give their dogs a thorough post-hunt check for seeds, cuts, paw injuries, and other problems that adrenaline can hide in the field.Rest and recovery — how to think about hunting multiple days in a row, recognizing fatigue, and knowing when your dog may need a day off.Swimmer’s tail and heavy water work — a condition many waterfowl hunters have seen after long days of retrieving and swimming.Feeding through hunting season — whether food intake or diet should change as workload increases, and how far ahead of the season hunters should begin making adjustments.Puppies and veteran dogs — when a young dog may be ready for its first real hunt and how owners should think about eventually retiring an older hunting companion.Whether your dog is heading into its first season or has spent years riding shotgun to the refuge, this episode is packed with practical reminders for keeping that hunting partner healthy, comfortable, and ready to work.
- Oct 7, 202641 min
Klamath Wetlands, Waterfowl & Restoration with Dr. Karl Wenner
Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Dr. Karl Wenner, longtime Klamath Basin resident, hunter, farmer, and orthopedic surgeon, for a deep conversation about the landscape he has called home since the late 1980s. Karl shares how his background in biology and wildlife eventually brought him to Klamath, what he has watched change across the basin, and why he still believes wetlands can be a major part of its recovery.Episode highlightsA lifetime in Klamath — Karl explains how he went from marine biology and wildlife work in Florida to medicine, waterfowl hunting, and eventually building a life in the Klamath Basin.Then versus now — after decades hunting and living in the region, Karl reflects on the incredible waterfowl years he witnessed and what current habitat and water conditions look like heading into this season.Wetlands as part of the farm — Karl describes how a roughly 70-acre wetland became a working tool on the property, filtering phosphorus from agricultural water before that water could return to the lake.When conservation and agriculture work together — the project allowed the farm to continue flooding agricultural ground for its operation and for waterfowl while using wetlands to improve water quality.Helping endangered suckers — Karl discusses experiments using wetlands as rearing habitat for young fish, what researchers have learned so far, and why demonstrating success on private ground could eventually lead to larger-scale restoration.The biggest challenge facing Klamath — in Karl’s view, the historic loss of wetlands remains at the heart of the basin’s problems. He describes the region as once being the “Everglades of the West,” with roughly 300,000 acres of interconnected wetlands.Reasons for optimism — rather than treating agriculture, fish, tribes, waterfowl, and the local economy as competing interests, Karl believes a functioning ecosystem can benefit all of them together.Restoration takes a team — CWA, Klamath Watershed Partnership, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, UC Davis, Ducks Unlimited, farmers, and others have all played roles in moving this work forward.This episode is a different kind of Klamath conversation—one focused on what can happen when working farms, wetlands, waterfowl, fish, and conservation are treated as pieces of the same system.
- Sep 28, 202643 min
Inside the Migration with Cory Overton
Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Cory Overton, Science Director for California Waterfowl, for a preseason look at what hunters may see across the Pacific Flyway this year. Cory breaks down breeding conditions, mallard and goose numbers, an exceptional year at Klamath, and how weather could shape bird movement once the season gets underway.Episode highlightsOverall season outlook — despite national mallard numbers being down, Cory explains why many of the breeding areas that supply California looked considerably better and why he expects a fairly average year overall.Klamath had a huge year — improved water conditions produced what Cory describes as one of Klamath’s best productive years in decades, with near-record mallard banding efforts and thousands of birds handled.Specks are a bright spot — Pacific Flyway white-fronted geese increased again this year, while snow geese faced much tougher breeding conditions in the north.Southern California banding — roughly 250 birds were banded in Southern California, the most CWA has been able to mark there in a long time.Smart-band technology — Cory shares early results from new tracking bands, including wood ducks unexpectedly showing up around Fresno and Gilroy, and explains how hunters carrying cell phones may actually help researchers collect more location data this winter.Some ducks really are homebodies — one tracked shoveler stayed around the same pond for years, while a hen mallard spent roughly three months inside a hunt zone without leaving during daylight.The El Niño question — Cory explains why California’s winter could look dramatically different depending on where the jet stream sets up, ranging from heavy atmospheric rivers to comparatively dry conditions in the Central Valley.New Delta mallard research — CWA is beginning additional telemetry work on hen mallards in the Delta to better understand how birds use different California regions for nesting, brood rearing, molting, and winter habitat.From breeding-ground conditions to the latest tracking technology, this episode gives California hunters a science-backed look at what could be coming down the flyway—and the factors that may determine how the season ultimately plays out.🦆 Duck season is almost here. Hit Follow, leave a quick review, and share this episode with your blind crew so everybody knows what to watch for when the first birds start moving south.
- Sep 21, 202654 min
Hunt Bums with Casey Hartwell
Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard sit down with Casey Hartwell, founder of Hunt Bums, to talk about how a passion for waterfowl hunting turned into a growing platform built around gear reviews, field experience, and helping everyday hunters make better decisions. Casey shares his path back into hunting, why he started Hunt Bums, and how his marketing and research background shaped a more data-driven approach to reviewing products and understanding the hunting community.Episode highlightsHow Hunt Bums started — Casey talks about getting back into hunting as an adult and eventually building a platform around the lifestyle, gear, and experiences that came with it.Honest gear reviews — why Hunt Bums tries to evaluate products on their own merits, call out failure points, and avoid sugarcoating a review just because a company sent the gear.What hunters are actually spending — Casey breaks down findings from Hunt Bums’ hunter survey, including the Pacific Flyway’s high average annual spend and the rising cost of shotguns, shells, decoys, waders, and other essentials.Lowering the barrier to entry — his biggest advice to new hunters: find a mentor, borrow gear first, learn what actually works for you, and then invest in quality equipment.Keeping waterfowl culture alive — Casey makes the case that experienced hunters need to be more willing to bring newcomers along and show them that duck hunting is about far more than just pulling the trigger.California hunting challenges — rising costs, access to quality public ground, and overcrowding are some of the biggest issues he sees facing hunters in the state.Why California rice still hits different — even after hunting clubs and other setups, Casey explains why there’s still something special about spending a morning in a California rice blind.What gear has his attention this season — new shotshell technology, waders, decoys, and other products Casey is looking forward to putting through real-world testing.From gear and access to mentorship and the future of hunting culture, this episode is a solid conversation about making waterfowling more approachable while keeping the traditions and community that make it special.
- Sep 16, 202653 min
CWA Hunt Program Preview: 2026–27 Waterfowl Season
Jeff Smith and Carson Odegard break down what’s ahead for the 2026–27 California Waterfowl Hunt Program, covering everything from dove and big-game opportunities to the full slate of duck and goose hunts coming this season. They walk through CWA-managed properties from Suisun Marsh and the Delta to the Butte Sink and Goose Lake, share updates on habitat and blind improvements, and highlight several donated hunts that give everyday hunters access to some exceptional private clubs.Episode highlightsDove season recap — how opening weekend went at Goose Lake and in the Butte Sink, plus why some of the best dove hunting can happen after the opener when most hunters have already moved on.A brand-new CWA property: the Golden Gate Duck Club joins the Hunt Program this year near the Pacific Flyway Center, with Wednesday hunts, two groups of two hunters, and decoys provided.Butte Sink updates — what hunters can expect at Butte Creek Island Ranch and Sanborn Slough, including habitat conditions and a new blind location at Sanborn.Staten Island & Quimby Island — why Staten continues to produce strong goose and duck numbers, and what makes both Delta properties capable of delivering a hunt of a lifetime.Goose Lake keeps improving — habitat work at the Badger Almond unit has helped turn it into one of CWA’s strongest-producing properties, with more improvements planned this season.More than waterfowl — the crew covers CWA’s Schaefer Ranch pig hunts, deer opportunities, and other programs available before and during duck season.Donated private-club hunts — opportunities at places like Mystic Lake, Lucky Seven, Upper Valley Ranch, and Mulberry, giving hunters access to properties they might otherwise never get the chance to experience.Whether you’re putting in for your first CWA hunt or already planning out your season, this episode is your roadmap to the properties, application hunts, and unique opportunities available this year.🦆 Get those applications in. Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with your blind crew—and keep an eye on CWA’s Hunt Program throughout the season as additional opportunities come online.
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About Save it for the Blind Podcast
Welcome to the Save it for the Blind Podcast. Dive into the world of duck hunting, conservation, and legislation. Join us for insightful discussions on preserving both tradition and nature. Our podcast isn't complete without tackling the legislative side of things. Discover how local and national policies impact hunting seasons, bag limits, and wetland preservation. Interviews with experts and policymakers will shed light on the intricate balance between hunting traditions and the need for sustainable practices. RSSVERIFY
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