EP 614. Blending Carving Legacies with International Waterfowl Conservation

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

A civil engineer turned wildlife biologist explains why he couldn't stay in a cubicle and had to chase ducks.

This episode of Duck Season Somewhere features host Ramsey Russell in a live studio at the DUX event in Memphis, Tennessee, interviewing guest Corey Lucas. Corey is the founder of Cedar Run Decoys and a wildlife biologist. He recounts growing up in rural Michigan, where his passion for the outdoors began, despite no family hunting background. Corey describes his first deer hunt at age 14-15, where he mistakenly shot a deer in the face, leading to an obsession with hunting. He later transitioned from civil engineering to wildlife biology, driven by a dislike for office work. Corey explains how he started carving decoys out of necessity, feeling store-bought plastic decoys were too dark, and developed a business focused on functional, high-quality pieces. The discussion highlights the pink-eared duck travel decoy project, a collaboration with Field & Game Australia to raise funds for conservation and anti-hunting efforts. Ramsey shares the origin of his travel decoy tradition, which began after a manufacturer rejected his idea, leading him to use a styrofoam decoy from a deceased friend. Corey emphasizes the importance of handcrafted decoys in preserving hunting heritage and creating personal legacies, noting that younger hunters are increasingly interested. The episode includes sponsor messages from brands like Mojo Outdoors and Sitka Gear, and concludes with Corey's reflections on his business's future and the value of genuine conversations in the hunting community.

As heard by us

A handmade decoy rig turns annual South Dakota hunts into a record of family, work, and time.

Carving a duck decoy becomes a way of keeping time here, as Cory Lucas talks through how a handmade rig can turn hunts into records of family and work.

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Why you'd press play

Want decoys with a life timeline? Press play for a carved rig, shop-night anticipation, and an annual South Dakota duck trip.

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