Mike Brasher
DUPodcast Science Host
Appears in 158 Episodes
RELOADED EP210 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 6: Biology, People & Debates Produce Solid Foundations
Threats of a closed season in the Mississippi Flyway in 1968 led to intense disagreement, restrictive regulations, and amplified the challenges of managing the resourc...
RELOADED EP209 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 5: Conventional Wisdom Gives Way to Data
With growing band recoveries and a newly implemented Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, waterfowl managers in the 1950s sought a more science-based understanding ...
RELOADED EP205 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 4: Post War Pioneers & Flyway Information
World War II brought global upheaval in the 1940s and caused a redirection of national priorities and placed a temporary pause on regulatory and conservation momentum ...
Prairie Habitat Update & Spring Migration Timing with Dr. Scott Stephens (Ep 760)
Ducks are heading north, and we’re getting the first hints of what breeding habitat may look like this spring.DU's senior waterfowl scientist, Dr. Mike Brasher, sits d...
RELOADED EP204 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 3: Growing Pain & Progress
Into the 1920s, the Federal government endured growing pains in its new-found regulatory responsibilities for waterfowl harvest. Then, the 1930s brought a Dust Bowl, G...
Spring Habitat Matters: Waterfowl Management Academy on Better Wetlands for Ducks (Ep 758)
Spring is one of the most important—and most overlooked—periods in the waterfowl annual cycle. In this episode, host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with the creators of Wa...
RELOADED EP200 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 2: - The Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Following legal challenges to early attempts at Federal protection of migratory birds, policy makers and conservation leaders sought alternative avenues for establishi...
RELOADED EP199 - Waterfowl Harvest Management Series, Part 1: The Early Days
At the turn of the 19th Century, market hunting and unregulated harvest was taking a toll on waterfowl and other migratory birds. Growing concern produced the first at...
Feather Wars: Inside the Great Crusade to Save America’s Birds (Ep 753)
The history of bird conservation is full of conflict, characters, chaos — and ultimately, hope.In this special episode, host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with journalist...
wildturkeyDNA: Year One Surprises, Odd Plumage, and Big Plans for 2026 (Ep 752)
The wildturkeyDNA project is back—and year one delivered far more surprises than expected.Recorded on location at the NWTF Convention, Dr. Mike Brasher, DU's Senior Wa...
RELOADED EP462 - Fantastic Fowl Facts
Chris Jennings and Dr. Mike Brasher peruse a series of fun facts about waterfowl, including questions such as how many invertebrates a wood duck eats, which waterfowl ...
Remembering John Gordon: A Legacy in Waterfowling, Storytelling, and the DU Family (Ep 747)
In this special tribute episode, we honor the life, impact, and legacy of John Gordon—Media Productions Manager at Ducks Unlimited, lifelong outdoorsman, storyteller, ...
Great Lakes Waterfowl Season Review: What Worked, What Didn’t, What’s Next (Ep 746)
Get a clear read on what drove Great Lakes hunting success this season—and how to adapt for spring snows, steelhead, and turkey.Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by DU’s Chri...
Protecting Our Right to Hunt and Fish, Voluntary Easements, and State Policy (Ep 745)
Take a deeper dive into how state policy drives habitat conservation, promotes access, and protects our hunting and outdoor traditions.Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with ...
How State Legislation Shapes Your Hunting, Access, and Conservation Future (Ep 744)
Learn how state-level decisions directly impact your seasons, access, opportunity, and conservation funding.Host Dr. Mike Brasher sits down with Kaleigh Leager of the ...
RELOADED EP171 - Dabblers, Divers, Sea Ducks... What's The Difference?
Hosts Dr. Mike Brasher and Chris Jennings have a quick discussion on the basics of what separates these waterfowl types. Brasher explains anatomy, feeding types, and o...
Inside the Four Flyways: Science, Heritage & Waterfowl Hunting (Ep. 735)
Matt Harrison and Dr. Mike Brasher welcome outdoor writer and DU ASCEND Host Bethany Beathard to discuss her MeatEater article on North America’s four waterfowl flyway...
RELOADED EP646 - Malcolm Reed: A Christmas Special Holiday - Feasts & BBQ Secrets
Welcome to a festive Christmas special of the Ducks Unlimited podcast! Join hosts Dr. Mike Brasher, Katie Burke, and Dr. Jared Henson as they celebrate the holiday sea...
RELOADED EP160 | Women in Waterfowl: Hunting & Career Advice (2 of 2)
As the overall number of waterfowl hunters continues to decline, it is increasingly important that we invite and welcome new hunters from all backgrounds. An encouragi...
Holiday Weather Rollercoaster for Ducks and Duck Hunters (Ep. 733)
Despite a recent Arctic plunge, the outlook for duck hunters through the end of the year isn’t exactly promising. Dr. Mike Brasher is joined by Mandy Bailey, Chief Met...