Protecting Our Right to Hunt and Fish, Voluntary Easements, and State Policy (Ep 745)

Ducks Unlimited Podcast

Ducks Unlimited Inc.

Science, Sports, Birdwatching, Biology, Hunters, Wilderness, Habitat, Birds, Waterfowlecology, Recipes, Hunting, Decoys, Hobbies, Waterfowl, Leisure, Duckbiology, Duckcalling, Conservation, Goose, Geese, Landmanagement, Duckhunting, Outdoors, Goosehunting, Habitatconservation, Naturalresources, Outdoorrecreation

4.9 • 599 Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2026

⏱️ 70 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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 South Carolina State Senator Chip Campsen, DU’s Southern Region Director of Public Policy Ed Penny, and Wildlife Mississippi Executive Director James Cummins. They unpack proven tools like the South Carolina Conservation Bank, dedicated state funding models, and why respectful behavior and smart policy both matter for the future of hunting and fishing.

From perpetual conservation easements to college‑town river hunts and the role of Boone & Crockett, this episode shows how statehouses—and the people who vote them in—influence opportunities for every hunter and angler.

Takeaways:

How the South Carolina Conservation Bank leverages competitive grants and easements to protect ~500,000 acres—and why seed funding stretches dollars farther
Voluntary, perpetual easements: property‑rights friendly, customizable, and often paired with public access incentives
Why clustered easements (ACE Basin, Santee Delta) create ecosystem‑scale wins for waterfowl and wildlife
Dedicated state funding models (e.g., Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund) unlock big federal matches and local projects
Social license to hunt and fish: how hunter behavior, messaging, and policy safeguard opportunity beyond a constitutional “right”
CSF/NASC: bipartisan networks where state legislators swap playbooks that protect hunting, angling, and access

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

SPONSORS:
Purina Pro Plan: The official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited
Whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started, this episode is packed with valuable insights into the world of waterfowl hunting and conservation.

Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails:
Whether you’re winding down with your best friend, or celebrating with your favorite crew, Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment. Enjoy responsibly.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey everyone, join us on this episode as we continue our conversation about the importance of state legislation
0:09.2	in affecting what we are able to do as hunters, anglers, trappers, recreational shooters.
0:16.0	We visit with a series of guests on a couple of specific issues that will be important to you. They're important to conservation. They're important to our right to hunt. We also touch on a few other topics that are going to be important to hunters from all walks of life all across the U.S. Stay with us. Can we do a mic check, please? Everybody, welcome back to the Ducks on the podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Mike Brazier. I'm your host, Katie Burke.
0:38.3	I'm your host, Dr. Jared Henson.
0:40.3	And I'm your host, Matt Harrison.
0:42.3	Welcome to the Ducks Unlimited Podcast, the only podcast about all things waterfowl.
0:55.7	From hunting insights to science-based discussions about ducks, geese, and issues affecting waterfowl and wetlands conservation in North America.
1:03.9	The D.U. Podcast, sponsored by Purina ProPlan, the official performance dog food of Ducks Unlimited.
1:09.9	Purina Pro Plan, always advancing.
1:12.9	Also proudly sponsored by Bird Dog Whiskey and Cocktails.
1:16.3	Whether you're winding down with your best friend or celebrating with your favorite crew,
1:20.5	Bird Dog brings award-winning flavor to every moment.
1:23.8	Enjoy responsibly.
1:37.6	Thank you. moment, enjoy it responsibly. Welcome back, everyone. This is Dr. Mike Brazier. I'm going to be your host on this
1:41.3	episode. This is part two of our discussion on sort of state legislation, state policy, and the important role that a lot of our staff and a lot of our partners play in helping to shape the rules, the regulations, the laws that affect what we get to do as sportsmen and women, hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooters.
2:04.5	Previous episode, we spoke with Kaylee Liger and Swanee Evans,
2:10.4	and they kind of gave us a big overview of what this particular summit is all about
2:15.4	and what a lot of the folks are working on.
2:17.2	In this episode, we're going to transition what a lot of the folks are working on. In this
2:17.9	episode, we're going to transition to a couple of more specific examples. We've got a few people
2:23.1	that are going to join us here in a couple of segments, and we're going to give you a taste
2:27.1	of additional items that are important and how the work at the state level affects all of us
	...

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