With a busy season ahead, this episode of the Squadcast was bittersweet as it's the last time you will hear from us for a while. We first touched on a quick recap of SquadFest 2022 before making an official announcement for SquadFest 2023, so be sure to mark your calendars for July 28th-29th, 2023! We then get into freelance waterfowl hunting basics and the steps you need to take to experience success while doing your own thing in unfamiliar territory. Get your buddies together, load up the dogs, step outside your comfort zone, and go somewhere and make some memories!

SquadFest is upon us, and Cody and Ashley are here to help break down all the great things you can expect in year 2! From exclusive show specials from Dive Bomb Industries and our incredible vendors to the retriever combine challenge, Rut Daniels meet-and-greet, cornhole tournament, countless food and drink options, and oh yeah, the best duck and goose callers in the world competing for over $30,000 in prizes! You do not want to miss this exciting, free-admission, waterfowling event for the entire family!

Coming off a tremendous 2021 season where Michael Pittman Jr. made 88 receptions for 1,082 yards and 6 TDs, the expectation is even higher for 2022 with the arrival of veteran quarterback Matt Ryan. This duo was recently named NFL.com's 3rd best new QB-WR combo, so don't be surprised to see big things happen in Indy this season! What may surprise you is Pittman's love for all things outdoors and a new love for waterfowl hunting after spending a significant amount of time in the middle of the Mississippi Flyway the last couple of seasons. Sports fans and outdoor enthusiasts will love this episode as we go back and forth between playing football at the highest level and chasing waterfowl. You'll also hear a funny story from Pitt's rookie season and his ejection in week 15 last season against the New England Patriots!

In the world of waterfowl, social media can be an intimidating place for a new hunter or someone looking to get into the sport, as it often feels like everybody is an expert and has been hunting their entire life. This episode with Jordan Nisly is an encouraging reminder that it's never too late to get into waterfowling and quickly experience a ton of success. From his day job as a butcher at the family shop to banded racing pigeons to his introduction to waterfowl hunting and starting a YouTube channel, we had a blast covering many different topics during this conversation!

From chasing ducks on small ponds in high school to now co-owning a waterfowl outfit in Alberta, Canada, and guiding at one of the premier outfitters in North America, Cadillac Creek Outfitters, Cole Townsend lives and breathes waterfowl hunting. Being only 27 years old, Cole has extensive guiding experience and knows what it takes to be successful as this industry continues to evolve. Listen along as we go back to the roots of his guiding career and the path that led to where he is today. You may also be surprised at his favorite and least favorite things about guiding waterfowl hunts!

When the last shot of waterfowl season is fired, most outdoorsmen do not go into duck depression until the fall, but they move on to the next outdoor passion in their lineup. Some turn to fish, some turn to turkeys, some turn to trapping, and some to all the above. In this episode, we have a chat with Drew Comer, who turns his attention to bowfishing for giants in the spring in addition to everything else listed. If bowfishing interests you, give a listen as Drew dives into basic bowfishing strategy, the equipment you will need, and where it can take you if you get serious about it!

There are certain areas of waterfowl hunting that are extremely grey where you can quickly end up on the wrong side of the law, even when you had no intention of doing anything illegal. In this episode, we are joined by Pennsylvania Game Warden, Mike Workman, to talk about some of the most common waterfowl issues discussed on social media, such as party hunting, pile pictures, separating birds, donating birds, tagging and transportation, possession limit, and processing. Tune in and learn how you can play it safe this season in the field!

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have heard the famous catchphrase “Didn’t Go 20” by the hilarious hunting parody alter ego, Rut Daniels. While everyone in the hunting community knows Rut, they may not be as familiar with the man behind the character, Mr. Bud Fisher. Join us on this episode as we chat with Bud about his background, the origin of Rut Daniels, and those famous one-liners. We even get his take on Will Smith's slap heard 'round the world! You don't want to miss this one!

14-year big league veteran, 3-time All-Star, 2-time Silver Slugger, and now the owner of legendary Sure-Shot Game Calls, Jay Bruce, joins us on this episode of the Squadcast. We had a blast on this one as Jay took us back to his roots of waterfowl hunting, shared some incredible stories from his time in the major leagues, and how he came to be the owner of a call company that's been around since 1959. Jay has big plans on how they will put Sure-Shot Game Calls back on the lanyards of waterfowlers across North America and rejuvenate this iconic brand. If you are a sports fan with a passion for waterfowling, you will love this episode!

Kyle Fagler, owner of Guides Choice Retrievers out of Burns, Wyoming, joins us on this episode to talk about several great topics. We first touched on some new Dive Bomb products such as the dog vest, dog bumpers, and bumper bomber that Kyle had been prototyping for us all season. We then dive a little deeper into real hunting situations one will encounter while in the field with their gun dog and how to approach them. This episode is a must-listen for any gun dog owner looking to maximize their off-season training sessions and prepare for the obstacles ahead during the season.

In this episode, we interview Mr. Charles Whitwam, the founder of Howl for Wildlife. We dive deep into the conversation about their dedication to protecting our wildlife resources and how all outdoorsmen have the opportunity to have their voices heard. We learn about the driving forces behind this organization, why it started, and their goals over the next few years.