ASCEND by Ducks Unlimited

Women Hunting Elk: First Archery Harvest and Hard Lessons

Learn what it really takes to harvest an elk on public land—from scouting to pack‑out—and how women are redefining success in hunting.  Host Erin Crider sits down with archery guide and instructor Anna Sabotka to break down her first public‑land archery elk harvest in Colorado—and everything that came with it. From scouting and studying elk behavior to calling strategies, shot execution, and a brutal multi‑mile pack‑out, Anna shares the real highs and challenges behind the moment. The conversation also explores elk camp experiences, mentoring new hunters, and why defining your own version of success matters more than the outcome. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How scouting leads to successful elk hunts * Realistic expectations for public land elk hunting success rates * Calling strategies, wind awareness, and shot decision‑making * What a full elk pack‑out actually looks like * How to process meat in the backcountry using the gutless method * Why mentorship and training camps help new hunters succeed * How to define success beyond just harvesting an animal The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey. Visit birddogwhiskey.com [https://www.birddogwhiskey.com/]. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms. Visit taurusUSA.com [http://www.taurususa.com/] Oklahoma Joes. Visit oklahomajoes.com [http://www.oklahomajoes.com/] and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory. Visit springfield-armory.com [https://www.springfield-armory.com/]

How Farming and Soil Health Shape Wildlife, Water, and the Outdoors

Learn how farming and conservation practices directly shape wildlife habitat, water quality, and the future of the outdoors.  Ascend host Adrian Jessen [https://www.instagram.com/reviewthisthing/] sits down with Joy Van Wyngarden [https://www.instagram.com/_joyofalltrades_/]—an Iowa farm‑raised conservation specialist and former watershed coordinator—to unpack how planting, soil management, and land stewardship influence everything from deer and ducks to clean water and food systems. Joy brings a rare blend of real‑world farming experience, conservation science, and hunting perspective. Together, they explain cover crops, wetlands, edge‑of‑field practices, soil health, and how small changes on private land can create massive downstream benefits for wildlife and people alike. In this episode, you’ll learn: * How conventional farming practices impact wildlife habitat * What cover crops are and why they matter * How soil health affects water, food, and animal populations * Why wetlands are critical for ducks, deer, and water quality * Simple ways landowners can assess and improve their property * The connection between agriculture, conservation, and hunting success * Why soil loss threatens the future of food and wildlife Follow @duascend [https://www.instagram.com/duascend/] or visit ducks.org/ascend [https://www.ducks.org/ascend] Presented by Ducks Unlimited. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey. Visit birddogwhiskey.com [https://www.birddogwhiskey.com/]. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms. Visit taurusUSA.com [http://www.taurususa.com/] Oklahoma Joes. Visit oklahomajoes.com [http://www.oklahomajoes.com/] and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory. Visit springfield-armory.com [https://www.springfield-armory.com/]

The Truth About Hunting : Host Round Table, Real Stories & Lessons

What really happens behind the highlight reels of hunting and outdoor life? In this candid roundtable episode, Bethany, Adrienne, Erin, and Julia sit down to reflect on a full season of conversations, hunts, and hard-earned lessons. Instead of a single guest, this episode brings together the voices behind the podcast to unpack what stood out most from unforgettable guests and powerful community moments to the realities that don’t always make it onto social media. The group shares personal hunting stories, including first harvests, missed shots, and the emotional highs and lows that come with time in the field. From elk hunts in the mountains to first-time duck hunters finding their confidence, this episode highlights how growth often comes through failure, persistence, and shared experiences. They also dive into deeper themes: the rise of women in hunting, the importance of mentorship and communication, and how intentional time outdoors can restore balance in an otherwise fast-paced life. Whether it’s teaching beginners, navigating fear around firearms, or simply making time to get outside, the conversation emphasizes progress over perfection. Above all, this episode is a reminder that no one starts as an expert—and that the most meaningful moments often come from the messy, imperfect, real parts of the journey. In this episode, you’ll learn: *  Why storytelling and community have been the most impactful part of this season *  How women are building confidence and connection through hunting and outdoor skills *  The importance of communication when mentoring new hunters *  Real hunting experiences from missed shots to first harvests *  How social media can create unrealistic expectations (and why showing failure matters) *  Why beginners often struggle with fear, perfectionism, and information overload *  How small wins in the outdoors can be just as meaningful as a harvest *  The role of conservation and why new hunters (especially women) are essential to its future *  Practical tips for introducing someone new to hunting or shooting *  Why intentional time outdoors can improve mental clarity and overall well-being Follow along for more real conversations, outdoor stories, and insights from women shaping the future of hunting and conservation. Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend [http://www.ducks.org/ascend]. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey. Visit birddogwhiskey.com [https://www.birddogwhiskey.com/]. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms. Visit taurusUSA.com [http://www.taurususa.com/] Oklahoma Joes. Visit oklahomajoes.com [http://www.oklahomajoes.com/] and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory. Visit springfield-armory.com [https://www.springfield-armory.com/]

Women, Wilderness, and the Will to Provide: Homesteading & Gator Wrangling

Discover how modern women are reclaiming ancestral skills—from raising and processing their own meat to handling unexpected encounters with Florida gators. Host Bethany Beathard sits down with Tiffany Sanders, homesteader, hunter, nurse, and nuisance‑gator responder, to explore what self‑sufficiency really looks like in today’s world. Tiffiny shares firsthand stories from the field, including the wildest gator call she and her husband ever responded to, how her children got involved, and what it’s like navigating communities that protect nuisance wildlife. The conversation shifts into the heart of Tiffiny’s work: empowering women to take ownership of their food sources. From home butchering and dispatching animals humanely to growing nutrient‑dense produce, she teaches women that you don’t have to be “born” into homesteading to thrive in it. Her background as a nurse opened her eyes to the connection between diet and health—and sparked her drive to grow and raise food intentionally. Together, Bethany and Tiffany dig into the historical roots of women feeding their families, the rise in self‑sufficiency post‑COVID, and why today’s homesteaders are simply rediscovering what women have always done. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The wild reality of nuisance‑gator calls—and how Tiffiny ended up in the middle of one neighborhood’s “gator protection squad” * Why nursing school led Tiffiny to grow, raise, and process her own food * How women historically provided for their families through gardening, preserving, and animal harvesting * Why more women are learning dispatching and butchering skills today * The importance of humane, low‑stress animal processing on small homesteads * How COVID reshaped food security and sparked a self‑sufficiency movement * Garden staples Tiffiny never goes without—especially her obsession with red potatoes * Why perfection isn’t the goal—intentionality is Follow along with Bethany for more homesteading conversations, practical skills, and stories from women who live close to their roots. Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world. Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend [http://www.ducks.org/ascend]. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey. Visit birddogwhiskey.com [https://www.birddogwhiskey.com/]. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms. Visit taurusUSA.com [http://www.taurususa.com/] Oklahoma Joes. Visit oklahomajoes.com [http://www.oklahomajoes.com/] and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory. Visit springfield-armory.com [https://www.springfield-armory.com/]

Carrying in the Field: How Women Stay Safe, Confident, and Prepared Outdoors

Learn how women are taking safety, confidence, and responsibility into their own hands—both in the field and everyday life. Professional shotgun shooter and DU Ascend host Julia Stallings sits down with Audrey Wikan, Drake Waterfowl spokeswoman and former gun‑industry marketer, to discuss what women need to know about concealed carry, field carry, legal realities, holsters, draw practice, and staying equipped on hunts. Audrey shares her early experiences working behind a gun‑store counter at age 19, why women beelined to her with questions, what she carries now, and how she mentors new shooters. Together, they unpack the realities of traveling with firearms, carrying while hunting or fishing, choosing the right gun, staying legal across state lines, and building confidence through training and mentorship. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why more women are choosing to carry in the outdoors * Training, mentorship, and how to find the right firearm * Holsters, appendix vs. backpack carry, and drawing safely * What to know about carrying while hunting, fishing, or hiking * Traveling with firearms: TSA tips, ammo rules, and packing hacks * Understanding caliber choices, recoil, and comfort for smaller hands * Why confidence and comfort determine whether you’ll actually carry Subscribe and join this exciting journey to explore, learn, and grow together in the outdoor world. Join the Ascend Instagram community at @duascend and http://www.ducks.org/ascend [http://www.ducks.org/ascend]. The Ascend Podcast by Ducks Unlimited is Sponsored by: Bird Dig Whiskey. Visit birddogwhiskey.com [https://www.birddogwhiskey.com/]. Enjoy Responsibly!  Taurus Firearms. Visit taurusUSA.com [http://www.taurususa.com/] Oklahoma Joes. Visit oklahomajoes.com [http://www.oklahomajoes.com/] and use promo code "DUCKS10" for 10% off your order. Springfield Armory. Visit springfield-armory.com [https://www.springfield-armory.com/]