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What do you think of DU, Delta Waterfowl, etc.

8K views 68 replies 28 participants last post by  mk1848 
#1 ·
Someone suggested that we discuss this issue. I contribute substantially to both of these two groups. Life Time Sponsor of DU and contribute a good a good bit to Delta Waterfowl. Am I wasting my money or helping the conservation of water fowl. Feel free to state your case.
 
#60 ·
I have never donated to DW but did donate to DU in the late 1990's. Got turned off in the early 2000's at the state DU banquet. It was just a rich boy's club for the most part and them asking me to leave part of my estate to DU was just a bit too much for me.

Then I met a guy who's brother in law worked for DU and he sealed the deal for me. First thing they did for his BIL was give him a Rolex with a DU logo on it and send him to Mexico to slaughter a ton of ducks. Might have been a lie, but I didn't really need another reason.

By then I was saying that DU might have been great for the ducks but not for the southern duck hunter.

It's still a free country, so to those that do donate and go to the dinners to drop tons of money on tickets or guns that is your choice and it does not affect me in the slightest.
 
#61 ·
i can show you some pretty good areas in central arkansas where we used to kill quiet a few ducks until DU stepped in and made some "IMPROVEMENTS" and now the only thing you will kill there is coots. I stopped supporting DU in the late 90's and will never give them another cent. They are all about the money and zero about the hunter.
 
#64 ·
As was mentioned, there is a critical difference.

Ducks Unlimited was founded as a habitat improvement organization. If you read their statements, they are about the preservation and restoration of wetlands. They are ok with hunting, they support it, but they are not an organization specifically for duck hunters, except that they were founded by duck hunters and are probably 99% supported by duck hunters.

Delta is a research based org, with the goal of putting more ducks in the air, and supporting duck hunters. They approach from a holistic standpoint - do everything you can to produce more ducks on a given acre...predator control, etc., where DU takes the approach that having more acres will be better for everything and everyone.

Both are right, in their way. Delta takes the idea of working with what we have now, DU wants to acquire, improve, etc. more.

I think DU has really grown beyond their founders' intent, and I think the idea of DU putting improvement money into private clubs sucks, but I'm enough of a realist to know that if I had a club, I'd probably be looking at every dollar of help I could get, too...

As far as spending money north versus south, that's a tough call, and I'm glad I don't have to make it. Which takes precedence? You could put 1,000 acres of nesting habitat back into production right in the heart of duck breeding country, or you could do what in Arkansas? Put more water control structures in Five Oaks? Improve some boat ramps? Buy another public hunting area (which is outside DU's scope)?
 
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