[KO]

It's crying shame that DU is taking a beating considering the work they've done......if you guys knew what I know you'd be more concerned about ducks and they're future rather than just killing more of them.

The continents duck population has been declining since the 70's....an unamed biologist has stated that the day is coming when we will have ducks to look at, but not hunt...

So before you bash DU....do your ducking future a favor and look at the entire picture, not what's lying dead in your boat....

 

[mntwins]

correct me if I'm wrong but did'nt DU fund the poisioning of lake jenson, our what ever lake it was :smile:

 

[KO]

Lake Christina...now they are working on Lake Nelson...another bullhead and fathead infested lake

 

[mntwins]

thanks :thumbsup:

 

[h2ofwlr]

FYI the CIA (Christina-Ina lake Asooc) contributed a big amount to do that poisioning too....

Personally that is one gripe I do have about DU--they take ALL the credit. You know all those acres they talk about restoring? Many were also helped financially by local Conservation groups too and most have matching Fed/State $ involved-but they take all the credit--that is arogant IMO and turns off some of the regular Joes from contributing more. Yup a local group gives $5k and DU does not share credit, and the local guys of that group see this and say-screw DU to becoming of continuing a membership

 

[Dunk221999]

You southern boys are so selfish, if you have ever been to sask or manitoba you would greatly appreciate the habitat areas that ducks unlimited have created in those provinces. These are breeding grounds for the ducks that you shoot during your 3 month season that you have down there :thumbsdown: . The ducks arn't being shortstopped. The fact of the matter is that there just arn't the ducks that there used to be. The population is down, and there is no reason that we should be having liberal duck seasons. There is a loss of CRP grass in the Prairie Pothole Region, there is an increase in predators, and the water quality is quickly dimiting especially in minnesota, due to farming practices, which is really unfortunate. Since you southern boys are agianst Ducks Unlimited and its corporate image, I will sincerely encourage you to join delta waterfowl. As far as I'm concered delta does the best job of any organization as far as findin out what it takes to maintain and produce healthy waterfowl populations. They are based out of Bismark ND, and contribute money to the production of hen houses, controll predator trapping (which they have found contributes to an increased brood survival rate of something like 51%.), and they also and trying to enroll more land in the conservation reserve program in the U.S. Another great thing they are doing, is trying to get a CRP program started in Prairie Canada. If this happens, this will be an unbelievable asset to the continents waterfowl populations as this will greatly benifit duck production.

Again here are the problems,
1. there arn't that many ducks anymore
2. we are loosing habitat
3. and also there is not enough habitat.

-how can you say DU is doin bad things for the ducks, when all they are doing is creating habitat on the breeding grounds of the ducks that you will hammer on all winter long. In minnesota, they are workin on christina and have a plan to go though about 20 shallow lakes and make them the best habitat possible for the ducks. Like someone said earlier, everytime I hear you southern boys whining, I throw a few more bucks there way.

Have a nice day!

 

[mntwins]

Please tell me you arent talking about ou 3 month season :laughing:

 

[widowmaker]

What most people in MO and AR are angry about is the information that has been spread the past season or two. I'm from the Stuttgart area and now live in SW MO. It's true that many duck hunters in these areas are angry at DU because word has spread that DU has been feeding ducks in extremely large quantities after snowfall or freezing conditions harms the food supply in northern states. I don't know if this is actually happening, but that's what's been flying around instead of ducks the past few seasons. Weather, in my opinion, has played a more substantial factor in having below average seasons in the South. The birds simply haven't needed to migrate until after the seasons have closed. MO has pushed their season two weeks later this year, and the forecast for the north zone opener this weekend is near 70 degrees. Wish me luck fighting the mosquitoes. Does anyone have any info. about DU feeding ducks in northern states when food is short or covered up?

 

[h2ofwlr]

WM,
As far as I know--I have yet to hear or see any evidence or facts that DU is doing any corn dumping north of the mason-dixie line. All rumors, etc.... and that is it. Heck as a joke on another site I am a" long time member of the DU for Dumping Corn up North Club (also known as short stopping)." and NDHSSMA [Northern Duck Hunters Short Stopping Mallards of America] :laughing:

As you mentioned--warmer weather is a big part of it. It keeps the water open and less snow on the fields-thus the Ducks (Mallards) keep further North than they used--Often our seasons are done and there still are ducks around--the only thing to push them south is the weather at that point. And the 2nd thing is I firmly believe that there are NOT the number of ducks really around like there used to be and that is a big part of why hunters are not seeing ducks too.

 

[KO]

Well I live in the northern state...and I can tell you for a fact that nobody, not DU<USFWS, or the MN DNR is buying 2.00 corn and feeding birds....the hunters complaining about the lack of birds should wake up....the birds aren't there......period...I'll challenge anyone who thinks the continents duck population is healthy....it's not

 

[Dunk221999]

Totaly agreed..... the continents population is not healthy at all!

 

[recker]

Myself i no longer am a member of du and have joined delta waterfowl as i agree more with how they go about spending money on things like predator control. Just a personal choice but i like how they do things.

 

[Ol' School]

let me please explain to all of you up north. You should be greatful for du spending all that $ and time in the economically strategic marketing plan to sell more stamps. Thats it. This is coming from the "Duck capital of the World" or should i say post capital. They have ruined hunting as we will ever know it down here. Thank goodness for the old days. Dont be suprised when you start seeing a large increase in out of state plates in your state. DU Sux, WAR Delta Waterfowl!

 

[KO]

Well I'm glad we're being realistic.....come on up up and I'll show how few ducks there really are....what I can show you is thousands of miles of ditches and drain tile and hundreds of places that used to be wetlands that are now black. If DU wasn't spending money up here there would be even fewer ducks than there are now....Although imagining fewer birds than almost none is hard....I'll put it as simple as I can....THE BIRDS DON'T EXIST...THE POPULATION IS IN TROUBLE.....DU ISN'T HIDING THEM...THEY DON'T EXIST.....IF DU IS DUMPING CORN UP HERE...DRIVE ON UP HERE AND SHOW ME THE SPOT....BECAUSE I WORKED SOME OF THE BEST MIGRATION SPOTS IN MN......NO DUCKS...PERIOD....NOT DURING THE SEASON AND NOT AFTER...END OF STORY

 

[big ben]

WOW DU SUX DU SUX DU SUX DU SUX DU SUX DU SUX DU SUX DU SUX
If du wasn't here you'd be complaing about how they wern't. What are those of you who think DU sux, doing for habitat. Instead of having du here we should just get alot of housing developments and to buy the land instead of DU buying it. All i'm saying is that at least DU keeps habitat for the ducks. MN is 3rd nationally in the amount of hunters, being thear are so many hunters ducks have few places to rest, so many of the resident ducks are heading south a week after the season starts, more hunters means more ducks killed, so less hunters means more ducks per hunter. Minnesota will begin to decrease in duck hunters ( simply because people can drive out of state and have a good shoot somewhere else ). Maybe how DU spends thier donations is crazy but at least they are keeping and improving habitat for ducks. Something we should try to do independantly.

 

[KO]

AMEN DU HAS SINGLE HANDEDLY DONE MORE FOR DUCKS HAN ANY OTHER GROUP.....

 

[h2ofwlr]

AMEN DU HAS SINGLE HANDEDLY DONE MORE FOR DUCKS THAN ANY OTHER GROUP.....

You are right, "HAS" is correct. What about the future? Some think though thatin recent years they have turned their backs on the hunters who are the back bone of the Org traditionally. They are now going after big Corp donors who want to disassocitate themselves from "Hunting/hunters" for PR reasons. And that is a big slap in the face to many members-me included.

And some members are very uncomfortable in DU obtaining land where "No tresspassing" is the norm. The little guys are looking at it as the millions going to enhamce the rich members lands/leases where the average Joe will not even be able to hunt it.
I do want to make it clear though--I see both sides of it-thus I'm on the fence to a degree. 90% of all wetlands/grasslands are in private ownership. So yes the vast majority of $ will be spent on private lands. But when the average Joe DU member is locked out of ever even seeing much less using these restorations/enhancements. Maybe a more concerted effort should me made to try to direct $ where the public can hunt it too.

And before anybody says I'm anti-DU, I am not. I used to be on the local comm for a couple of years. But I'm an average working class Joe, and they kinda looked down on me as many were "suits". Hmmm I guess $200 in blue collar $ must somehow have less value Yup it took me a half weeks wages to gather it up, VS their 4 hrs wages I guess. That was 12 years back. What is that $200 now-about $325-350 in todays wages? I now give it to other Conservation Orgs who appreciate that I do give it and that do not look down thier noses at me. But I am still a DU member, just not actively supporting them. If you want to help and be on their comm--go for it by all means. Maybe my experience was an anomally with that particular comm. If you have a few extra bucks to give--do so.

There are very few conservation Orgs out there actaully DOING something, and DU is one of them. Nature Conservancy is another that I have seen pull together temporary funded to get another National Waterfowl native grasslands Refuge in NW MN. 2 other good grassroot Orgs is the MWA and Delta Waterfowl. For my tastes, Delta is more like what DU used to be like of yesteryear-a duck hunters conservation Org. And I'm a member of 4 of the 5 of them and been on 3 of their comms too. Heck about $150 will cover all 5 for a basic membership each year. I know people who give more that that each Sunday at Church, so I guess it is priorities of where your charitable contributions go. I remember talking to a guy that worked a part time for a few months each summer in addition to his FT job. 1/4 of the $ he made went to conservation Orgs, the other 3/4 was for his hunting stuff and trip $ in the fall. :thumbsup: If there is a will, there is a way to help IMHO.

 

[big ben]

Has delta ever been in the state ? Or can we get them up here ?

 

[h2ofwlr]

Delta started in MN. The original Delta Dinner is based in Mpls area. I've been on their comm that last few years. There is one at Pine River too. And they are started a brand new Chapter at Fargo/Moorehead area. And there has been talk of another one starting in St Paul.

 

[big ben]

Cool if they ever get a chapter around st.cloud i'm in.