Ep. 115: The River Before Us, a History of the Upper Ohio River

On this episode of The Migration Waterfowl Podcast, your host Brian Halbleib explores the fascinating history of the river he grew up around and still hunts today—the Upper Ohio River. Long before the locks, dams, barges, bridges and steel mills, the Ohio flowed through a vast wilderness filled with wooded islands, abundant wildlife and Native peoples who hunted, traveled and traded throughout the valley. From the arrival of European fur traders and the struggle between France and Britain for control of the region to a young George Washington’s role in events that helped ignite a global war, the Upper Ohio has witnessed some of the most important moments in American history. Brian follows the transformation of the river from a wild frontier to an industrial highway, the devastating effects of pollution and habitat loss, the rise of modern wildlife conservation, and the enduring role of the Ohio River as a migration corridor and hunting destination for generations of waterfowl hunters. **The River Before Us: A History of the Upper Ohio River** is a journey through more than 300 years of history, hunting and conservation—and a reminder that every time we launch a boat, set a spread of decoys and watch ducks follow the river, we’re becoming part of a story that began long before us. Feel free to reach out to us: [migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com](mailto:migrationwaterfowl@gmail.com) Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & TikTok: @migrationwaterfowl Migration Waterfowl Store - Gear Roost & Apparel https://www.migrationwaterfowl.com Patreon - Support the show & get more personal content from Brian https://www.patreon.com/MigrationWaterfowl Migration Waterfowl is presented by: Blue Bird Waterfowl https://bluebirdwaterfowl.com And also brought to you by these fine partners: Rig’Em Right Outdoors https://rigemright.com Flight Day Am-mo https://www.flightdayammo.com 10% off with code MW10 Aves Hunting https://aveshunting.com Retay USA https://www.retayusa.com frogg toggs https://www.froggtoggs.com The Duck Hole & Company https://m.facebook.com/duckholecompany Northern Duck Calls https://www.northernduckcalls.com 15% off with code MW15 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices