what has Ducks Unlimited done for you?

[Stilly bay]

just curious, another thread got me thinking. besides a pretty blah magazine, stickers, and raffle opportunities at banquets - what has DU done for you?

I know they have created habitat for birds and saved habitat that was being threatened so therefor they have created more ducks and more hunting opportunities... no one can deny that. but what have they done for the duck hunter, not just the duck? are there DU only properties and blinds? DU only guides? what benefits are there for the public land duck hunter?

I know of a few negative impacts-

DU had a hand in flooding the skagit headquarters, eliminating a pheasant release site and an area for walk in duck hunters, thereby putting a strain on other pheasant release site and walk in opportunities.
DU is also involved in the potential flooding of leque island, another pheasant release site and area that is well used by boatless public land duck hunters.
both the above are right in my own back yard, I wonder what other areas they are trying to ruin in the name of salmon habitat and the GLORY of habitat restoration. these areas would get used by thousands of people hunting, birdwatching, and enjoying the outdoors - they want to convert them to an salmon nursery that will attract more mergansers than ducks.

do they have your best interests in mind or  would your dollars  be better used somewhere else?

[D-Rock425]

Personally i think headquarters is better duck hunt now than it was than.

[Goldeneye]

Here is a place I wouldn't count as negative. 

  I don't hunt there but one I know about is the Welts property up in the Samish.  That was built with funds and input from DU.  I think there are over 20 ponds on the property.  So the walk in public can use the site.  I know it can be crowded, but given the way things are today easy access places will be.

[CoryTDF]

I know of a few negative impacts-

DU had a hand in flooding the skagit headquarters, eliminating a pheasant release site and an area for walk in duck hunters, thereby putting a strain on other pheasant release site and walk in opportunities.
DU is also involved in the potential flooding of leque island, another pheasant release site and area that is well used by boatless public land duck hunters.
both the above are right in my own back yard, I wonder what other areas they are trying to ruin in the name of salmon habitat and the GLORY of habitat restoration. these areas would get used by thousands of people hunting, birdwatching, and enjoying the outdoors - they want to convert them to an salmon nursery that will attract more mergansers than ducks.

do they have your best interests in mind or  would dollars your be better used somewhere else?

The skagit is not native pheasant habitat! I know they are cool birds and all but they were never meant to live there. That is waterfowl habitat if I ever saw it. I know they are one of the best tangible ways to prove that outdoors man do more than just kill. They put their money where their mouth is.

[D-Rock425]

Built with DU funds and dont they release pheasant there?

[singleshot12]

Personally i think headquarters is better duck hunt now than it was than.

You should of seen it before it was flooded! Acres upon acres of planted barley planted annually which brought in massive amounts of waterfowl each year. Now it is just another saltwater estuary with limited access and no pheasant release. Grain crops and cover is what creates the finest waterfowl and pheasant hunting.

[Stilly bay]

I know of a few negative impacts-

DU had a hand in flooding the skagit headquarters, eliminating a pheasant release site and an area for walk in duck hunters, thereby putting a strain on other pheasant release site and walk in opportunities.
DU is also involved in the potential flooding of leque island, another pheasant release site and area that is well used by boatless public land duck hunters.
both the above are right in my own back yard, I wonder what other areas they are trying to ruin in the name of salmon habitat and the GLORY of habitat restoration. these areas would get used by thousands of people hunting, birdwatching, and enjoying the outdoors - they want to convert them to an salmon nursery that will attract more mergansers than ducks.

do they have your best interests in mind or  would dollars your be better used somewhere else?

The skagit is not native pheasant habitat! I know they are cool birds and all but they were never meant to live there. That is waterfowl habitat if I ever saw it. I know they are one of the best tangible ways to prove that outdoors man do more than just kill. They put their money where their mouth is.

thats great and all, the whole pheasant vs duck hunter debate thing, but how is a duck hunter without a boat supposed access this public land once its flooded? hundreds if not thousands of duck hunters come to this spot yearly because its public land and they can walk in.

Personally i think headquarters is better duck hunt now than it was than.

You should of seen it before it was flooded! Acres upon acres of planted barley planted annually which brought in massive amounts of waterfowl each year. Now it is just another saltwater estuary with limited access and no pheasant release. Grain crops and cover is what creates the finest waterfowl and pheasant hunting.

thats right! about fifteen years ago the skagit area was rated number 10 in the lower 48 for duck hunting by field and stream.

[Stilly bay]

Here is a place I wouldn't count as negative. 

  I don't hunt there but one I know about is the Welts property up in the Samish.  That was built with funds and input from DU.  I think there are over 20 ponds on the property.  So the walk in public can use the site.  I know it can be crowded, but given the way things are today easy access places will be.

thanks goldeneye, I forgot about this place. good example.
 the purpose of this thread is not to bash DU, I honestly want to know what they have done just for the duck hunter.

[Tealer]

After seeing the last DU projects I am no longer a member. I see a lot of their projects running things to their natural state, which sucks for duck hunters.

[h2ofowlr]

The skagit is not native pheasant habitat!
[/quote]

Aren't pheasant non native anyway to the US??

Personally i think headquarters is better duck hunt now than it was than.

The duck hunting was way better before it became a salmon estuary.  Lots of birds and if the weather was stormy it provided some of the best evening shoots as the birds would dump in.  Many times 4-8 of us would limit out in 30-60 minutes.  Not even close to the same shoot.

[Stilly bay]

170+ views so far and only one person has been able to remark on a positive thing that DU does specifically for hunters.  I wonder how many people who opened this thread have DU stickers on their truck or memberships and they can't even answer.

After seeing the last DU projects I am no longer a member. I see a lot of their projects running things to their natural state, which sucks for duck hunters.

could you please list some examples. so far I am only aware of the two I stated. both small tracts of land that would benefit sportsmen and the game they pursue far better if they were just left alone and not meddled with.

[full choke]

To answer the original question: I think DU has done a lot for the Duck Hunter. I am not a strong supporter of DU- I am a member, they get my $35 and that is as far as it goes. I think that DU has a huge image problem. Most people seem to think that they are a HUNTING organization. They are not. What DU is, is a CONSERVATION organization. They are not in the business of making hunting spots. They are in the business of making ducks. Period. That is their focus. They secure and grow habitat so that ducks can survive. The average duck hunter thinks that they can donate to DU and then sit back and reap the rewards of some sweet well manicured duck pond that will hold a hundred thousand mallards throughout a 107 day hunting season. Not going to happen. The average duck hunter will throw up his arms and get mad at DU because they see a million dollars of "their" money go into a habitat project at a wealthy duck club. A club that they can't hunt. "DU is for the rich man!" "All DU is is a bunch of rich guys" "Why should I donate to DU- all they do is improve habitat on some rich guys property!" Ever heard these things before? Hard to disagree until you stop and think- maybe come springtime these lands will support a couple of dozen breeding pairs of mallards? Mallards that wouldn't have had the chance to breed there until the habitat was improved. Ducks need marshes to breed- not barley fields. DU is not in the business of planting crops so guys can shoot released pheasants, or only have to drive 20 minutes from home to crank off most of a case of 3 1/2" dead coyote loads at 120yd high spoonies. It sucks to lose hunting spots, I know. It would suck more to not have something to hunt.

[h2ofowlr]

I have been a member of DU since 1979, but in the last 10 years have really seen them go in a direction I no longer agree with.  They using matching funds and seem to help develop many private clubs.  You need deep pockets or to be in the in group to hunt these locations.  I understand DU is in it for the ducks and not necessarily in it for the hunter.  I guess they choose the 18 hours of rest these private clubs may get per day or the select shooting days vs. Hi pressure public areas.  I would be more supportive if they could buy large tracks of wetlands and at least let hunter shoot it every other day or select hours to provide additional resources to those that help support them.  This may be the last year I support DU.

[Stilly bay]

To answer the original question: I think DU has done a lot for the Duck Hunter. I am not a strong supporter of DU- I am a member, they get my $35 and that is as far as it goes. I think that DU has a huge image problem. Most people seem to think that they are a HUNTING organization. They are not. What DU is, is a CONSERVATION organization. They are not in the business of making hunting spots. They are in the business of making ducks. Period. That is their focus. They secure and grow habitat so that ducks can survive. The average duck hunter thinks that they can donate to DU and then sit back and reap the rewards of some sweet well manicured duck pond that will hold a hundred thousand mallards throughout a 107 day hunting season.

Bingo
the image problem is what I am getting at. I don't think half of the every day joes supporting DU realize that they are supporting an organization that is responsible for the loss of well loved public hunting areas of which there are precious few to begin with in this part of the state for instance. DU needs to support the duck hunters that have supported them all these years.

if every potential member/donator was made aware that DU could be the reason why you lose a well loved hunting spot some day, I wonder how many would still write the check?

[full choke]

To answer the original question: I think DU has done a lot for the Duck Hunter. I am not a strong supporter of DU- I am a member, they get my $35 and that is as far as it goes. I think that DU has a huge image problem. Most people seem to think that they are a HUNTING organization. They are not. What DU is, is a CONSERVATION organization. They are not in the business of making hunting spots. They are in the business of making ducks. Period. That is their focus. They secure and grow habitat so that ducks can survive. The average duck hunter thinks that they can donate to DU and then sit back and reap the rewards of some sweet well manicured duck pond that will hold a hundred thousand mallards throughout a 107 day hunting season.

Bingo
the image problem is what I am getting at. I don't think half of the every day joes supporting DU realize that they are supporting an organization that is responsible for the loss of well loved public hunting areas of which there are precious few to begin with in this part of the state for instance. DU needs to support the duck hunters that have supported them all these years.

if every potential member/donator was made aware that DU could be the reason why you lose a well loved hunting spot some day, I wonder how many would still write the check?

Maybe the only guys to write that check are the guys who want a duck to shoot at? That is my point- Get over the thought that DU is a hunting club. They are in the habitat business. Got a problem with whats happened at the Skagit- call the State up. I think their number is 1-800-328-7448 (check out the letters on your phone) They are the ones who spearheaded your loss of hunting spots.