Share

cover art for Waterfowl Migration with Houston Havens

Mississippi Outdoors Podcast

Waterfowl Migration with Houston Havens

Season 2, Ep. 6

In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt welcomes back Houston Havens, MDWFP Waterfowl Program Coordinator, for a deep dive into duck migration, breeding grounds, habitat management, and what really affects duck populations each season. From frozen Delta water to ducks migrating thousands of miles to the prairie pothole regions of Canada, Houston explains how weather, habitat, and private landowners shape the future of Mississippi duck hunting. This episode offers a full-season recap, insight into the science behind duck bands, and the crucial role of landowner partnerships in sustaining healthy waterfowl populations.

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 19. Fishing Mississippi's Lakes with Greg Glotzbecker

    32:58||Season 2, Ep. 19
    In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt sits down with Greg Glotzbecker, Fisheries Coordinator for MDWFP. Greg explains the unique dynamics of Mississippi’s oxbow lakes—how they’re formed, why they matter, and the challenges of managing sportfish in an unpredictable, flood-prone environment. He also discusses what the data tells us about the state’s fisheries, from tournament bass numbers to the impact of live sonar, and why some lakes consistently produce bigger fish. Whether you’re into crappie, bass, or catfish, this episode offers a data-driven and personal look at how Mississippi keeps its waters healthy and its anglers happy.
  • 18. Urban Wildlife in Mississippi with Adam Rohnke

    50:18||Season 2, Ep. 18
    In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Adam Rohnke of Mississippi State University's Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center. Adam unpacks the surprisingly wild landscape of the Jackson metro area—from coyotes near downtown to invasive nutria rats in neighborhood parks. He explains the goals of the Jackson Urban Wildlife Project, a camera-based monitoring program tied to a national network, and shares how citizen scientists play a key role. The discussion covers research, public outreach, and the complex human emotions around geese, foxes, deer, and more, all within city limits.
  • 17. Mississippi Paddle Mafia with Camille Richards

    34:24||Season 2, Ep. 17
    In this episode, host Matt Wyatt sits down with Camille Richards to explore the story behind the Mississippi Paddle Mafia—a grassroots paddling group that’s become a driving force for community, conservation, and outdoor adventure across the state. Camille shares how the group started, the unique name origin, and how they're introducing more Mississippians to the rivers, bayous, and backwaters of their own backyard. From overnight camping floats to adaptive paddling outreach, this episode charts a course through both fun and purpose on the water.
  • 16. Baseball and Duck Hunts with Davis Bradshaw

    29:21||Season 2, Ep. 16
    In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Florence native and professional baseball player Davis Bradshaw. They talk about his journey through the ranks of baseball and what it’s like now playing for the Mississippi Mud Monsters. But just as important to Davis is his life off the field. From deer hunting in his backyard to duck hunting in the Mississippi Delta, Davis shares how the outdoors keeps him grounded, no matter where baseball takes him.
  • 15. K-9 Game Wardens

    37:09||Season 2, Ep. 15
    In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, host Matt Wyatt sits down with the officers of the Law Enforcement K-9 Division at the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Officers share their stories about how they became conservation officers, what led them into the world of working dogs, and how these K-9s help track missing persons, assist in investigations, and support search and rescue operations across Mississippi. You’ll hear how these elite dogs are trained, what makes them special, and why this unit is such a critical part of protecting both people and wildlife in Mississippi.
  • 14. Mississippi’s Marine Mammals with Dr. Holley Muraco

    36:07||Season 2, Ep. 14
    In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Dr. Holley Muraco, a marine mammal researcher with Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center. From growing up in Potts Camp to training dolphins at Disney and researching walruses in Alaska, Dr. Muraco shares her fascinating path back to Mississippi. She dives into the state’s surprising marine mammal diversity, including urban dolphins in the Mississippi Sound, manatees most people never see, and even resident sperm whales and giant squid battles off our coast.
  • 13. Mississippi Humor Goes Viral with Trent Ellis

    41:03||Season 2, Ep. 13
    In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Trent Ellis, a Mississippi hunter turned viral storyteller, to talk about his path from a quiet finance office to social media stardom. Trent shares how he went from sitting in a school break room with zero clients to making millions of people laugh online. They talk about overcoming rejection, working with what you’ve got, and why the best content comes from real life and the rural South.
  • 12. Turkey Behavior with Dr. Richard Buchholz

    32:42||Season 2, Ep. 12
    In this episode of the Mississippi Outdoors Podcast, Matt Wyatt sits down with Dr. Richard Buchholz, biology professor at the University of Mississippi, to explore the strange and fascinating world of wild turkeys. Dr. Buchholz shares his journey from the Bronx Zoo to studying wild turkeys in the Florida wilderness, eventually becoming a leading researcher on turkey behavior, mating displays, and yes—the science of the snood. They also discuss his work with oscillated turkeys in Central America, his surprising methods for catching them, and the growing success of the Gulf Sea Life citizen science app.
  • 11. Undercover Again with Kennie Prince

    41:37||Season 2, Ep. 11
    Host Matt Wyatt welcomes back Kennie Prince, retired conservation officer and author of Poacher’s Nightmare, for more outrageous and unforgettable stories from his undercover career. Kennie shares new tales—from a fake duck hunt gone sideways, to a turtle trafficking ring tied to international exports, to a gun buy that accidentally knocked out fiber optic service to 800 homes. He explains how going undercover was as much acting as it was law enforcement, and how even his wife got in on the role. With humor, danger, and the kind of stories only real field experience can deliver, this episode dives even deeper into Mississippi’s wild side.

Comments