Midwest Flyways Podcast

In this episode of Ten Minute Tuesday, the guys dive into the fascinating history of sink boxes—one of the most effective and controversial duck hunting methods ever invented. From the legendary waters of Maryland’s Susquehanna Flats to the heyday of Chesapeake Bay market hunting, they explore how hunters developed a way to disappear among the decoys and bring ducks closer than ever before. The episode covers the origins of sink boxes, how these unique floating hunting platforms operated, the massive decoy spreads and crews required to run them, and the incredible harvest numbers they produced. Along the way, they discuss famous visitors like President Grover Cleveland and Annie Oakley, the role sink boxes played in the development of Chesapeake Bay waterfowl culture, and why these hunting systems eventually became a target of conservation efforts. Whether you view sink boxes as a brilliant innovation or a relic of a bygone era, their impact on waterfowl hunting is impossible to ignore. Join the guys as they unpack the rise, dominance, and eventual fall of one of the most fascinating chapters in duck hunting history. Thanks so much for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast! Be sure to subscribe and leave a 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 kick things off with a discussion about summer plans, UFC legends, classic fighting movies, and why getting older apparently means everyone is tearing something in their foot. Then the conversation shifts into waterfowl biology as the crew dives into a fascinating discussion about domestic mallards, game farm releases, and whether decades of human interference may be having a larger impact on wild duck populations than many hunters realize. From nesting success rates to the spread of domestic genetics across North America, it's one of the most thought-provoking conversations the podcast has had in a while. The guys also tackle another submission to the Flyways Department of Grievances, featuring one of the most painful public land hunting stories imaginable. If you've ever had someone set up way too close, invite themselves into your hunt, or completely destroy a morning in the marsh, this one is for you. To wrap things up, the crew battles through another rough round of Say What?, covering everything from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and avian botulism to teal nesting habits, swan calls, and waterfowl history. Topics Covered: Summer plans and UFC talk Domestic mallards and game farm ducks Waterfowl nesting success rates The spread of domestic duck genetics Giant Canada geese and changing populations Public land hunting etiquette Flyways Department of Grievances Migratory Bird Treaty Act history Avian botulism and waterfowl trivia Another chaotic round of Say What? Thanks for listening to the Midwest Flyways Podcast 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

In this week’s Ten Minute Tuesday, we dive into the rich history of the legendary Mississippi Flyway — the river system that helped shape waterfowl hunting culture across America. From indigenous hunters navigating flooded timber in dugout canoes to the rise of market hunting, steamboat duck commerce, elite duck clubs, and the birth of iconic destinations like Stuttgart, Arkansas, this episode explores how one river became the backbone of North American duck hunting history. We break down the incredible scale of the Mississippi Flyway, the migration patterns that still define modern hunting today, and the stories that built the traditions many waterfowlers continue to live for every fall. This is Part 1 of a two-part history series, covering the southern and central reaches of the flyway before heading north next week. If you love waterfowl history, duck camp stories, conservation culture, and the roots of the hunt, this episode is for you. Subscribe to The Midwest Flyways Podcast and join the Flyways Hunt Club community for more weekly episodes, stories, and conversations centered around the future and heritage of waterfowl hunting. 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, we sit down with our buddy Jeremy Cmiel after his very first duck hunting trip — a South Dakota waterfowl adventure that ended up becoming much more than just a hunt. What starts as a conversation about first-time hunters, migration, and getting humbled by educated mallards slowly turns into something deeper: why experiences like this affect people so profoundly in the first place. We talk about waking up before sunrise, laying under massive migrations of birds, hearing snow geese cut the cold air overhead, earning meals from the land, and the strange way hunting makes you notice nature everywhere you go afterward. Jeremy shares what surprised him most about waterfowl hunting — not just the shooting, but the reverence for wildlife, the connection to the outdoors, and the camaraderie that comes from chasing birds with good friends. Along the way, we get into: • South Dakota duck camp stories• Permission hunting and meeting local farmers• Duck stroganoff that changed Jeremy’s life• Liar’s Dice marathons until 2am• And why waterfowl hunting feels different than almost anything else At its core, this episode is about more than hunting. It’s about reconnecting with something honest, ancestral, and deeply human — the kind of experience modern life rarely gives us anymore. Whether you’re a lifelong waterfowler or someone who’s never stepped foot in a blind, this conversation will probably make you understand why people keep coming back to the flyway year after year. Thanks so much for listening 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