Ep. 104 Season Outlook 2025–26: Refuge Managers on Water, Habitat & Access

Jeff sits down with a panel of California wildlife refuge managers to lay out what hunters can expect this season—water deliveries, flood-up timelines, food on the landscape, and how weather and pressure will shape bird movement from the opener through the late split.

What you’ll hear

• Water & habitat status across key refuges: unit-by-unit flood-ups, moist-soil production, and sanctuary plans to hold birds after the first volleys
• Access updates: road work, blind repairs, closed-zone adjustments, and any changes to check-station flow or shoot times
• Species timing: teal on the front end, mallards and wigeon mid-season, specks/snows and divers as winter builds
• Weather game plans: how managers react to storms, fog, and har ...