Arkansas duck hunter John Adams, Head of Sales & Development at Natural Gear, joins the show with the kind of perspective that only comes from decades spent on public ground. From the “glory days” of Arkansas timber to the realities of today’s crowded boat ramps and ever-changing culture, John doesn’t hold back.

He walks us through the early roots of Natural Gear, the evolution of the camouflage and apparel industry, and how competition, both in business and on public land, has reshaped the duck-hunting experience across the state. More than anything, it’s a conversation about what’s changed, what’s been lost, and what still makes it worth getting up at 3:30 in the morning.

John is one of the great storytellers of our time in the Arkansas duck woods, and this episode is equal parts nostalgia, honesty and hard-earned wisdom.

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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Noah Perry-Raymond James, and Ducks Unlimited.

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Duck hunters have always been prone to grumbling, but lately the frustration feels different...deeper, more widespread, and harder to shake. Across flyways and duck camps, many waterfowlers share the same sentiment: they don’t feel heard. In this episode of The Standard Sportsman Podcast, Cason Short and Brent Birch dig into where communication is breaking down and why expectations may be part of the problem. It’s an honest look at modern duck seasons and how a reset in perspective might help hunters find satisfaction again.

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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Noah Perry-Raymond James, and Ducks Unlimited.

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The 2025–2026 duck season proved one thing: success depended on where you stood and when you 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.

On this episode, Cason and Brent 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 we’re all pulling on the same end of the rope when the next season rolls around.

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Thanks to our sponsors: Tom Beckbe, Lile Real Estate, Perfect Limit Outdoors, Purina Pro Plan, Sitka Gear, Greenhead: The Arkansas Duck Hunting Magazine, Noah Perry-Raymond James, and Ducks Unlimited.

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All Rights Reserved. Please subscribe, rate and share The Standard Sportsman podcast.