Free: Contests & Raffles.
Quote from: Stilly bay on January 30, 2013, 07:59:14 PMQuote from: full choke on January 30, 2013, 07:42:34 PMTo 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.
Quote from: full choke on January 30, 2013, 07:42:34 PMTo 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?
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.
Quote from: full choke on January 30, 2013, 08:06:21 PMQuote from: Stilly bay on January 30, 2013, 07:59:14 PMQuote from: full choke on January 30, 2013, 07:42:34 PMTo 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.contact skagit? what an incredibly original and novel idea. I wish I had thought of that.I never considered DU as a hunt club, but they sure as hell promote themselves as one; with all the DU merch and gear they sling around leaving alot of people to believe that its about ducks and duck hunting. not a lot of bird watchers attending those banquets where duck guns are raffled off either. their magazine is predominantly focused on hunting with some conservation news thrown in, if they really aren't about ducking hunting then why do they make it look like they are?I feel there has been some misrepresentation on DU's behalf.
The Nisqually Estuary RestorationWith the help of Ducks Unlimited, the Nisqually Estuary is restored after more than 100 years of man-made dikes separated this unique wetland from flourishing in its natural state. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cheney Wetlands ProjectDucks Unlimited recently completed the restoration of wetlands on 238 acres owned by the Inland Northwest Land Trust in the channeled scablands region near Cheney, Washington. This parcel of land contains a large, wet meadow that was drained several decades ago to improve forage for livestock surrounded by Ponderosa pines forest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington's Eastern Wetland HabitatsMuch of Washington east of the Cascades is technically a desert, yet this region supports many important waterfowl areas. Wetlands in this region are tied to local precipitation, naturally occurring streams and those areas created within the Yakima and Columbia Basin irrigation projects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington's Western and Coastal WetlandsDucks Unlimited’s Western Washington Wetlands Initiative spans a large and diverse geographic area, including coastal Washington and the entirety of Puget Sound. These areas provide habitat for a host of fish and wildlife species, including waterfowl, sensitive salmon species, shorebirds and other wetland-dependent wildlife. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Projects Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is located in the heart of the channeled scablands of eastern Washington—an area so named because of the pre-historic floods that scoured the soil away down to the bedrock and left the area with an abundance of swales and depressional wetlands. The 27 square miles within the Refuge is largely rugged scabrock, pine and aspen forests and grasslands that are interspersed with numerous small lakes and wetlands. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Snoqualmie Wildlife Area - Cherry Creek Restoration ProjectDucks Unlimited is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore and enhance wetland habitat on the Cherry Valley Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area, located approximately 20 miles east of Seattle, Washington. As part of this project, DU will construct a levee, install a water control structure/fish ladder, and complete several other tasks that will significantly improve the quality of waterfowl habitat on the site. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Padilla Bay ProjectsDucks Unlimited is working with a private landowner to restore significant wetland habitat on the south side of Padilla Bay, just west of Mt. Vernon, Washington. The specific project site is located on the south side of Highway 20 adjacent to the Swinomish Channel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pearsons Eddy - Snohomish River ProjectsDucks Unlimited is currently working on several projects along the Snohomish River just outside of Seattle, Washington. The Pearsons Eddy project is an ambitious effort to protect and restore over 600 acres of freshwater wetlands adjacent to this expansive urban environment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake Terrell Wildlife Area ProjectsWetland restoration has commenced on over 600 acres of new additions to the Lake Terrell Wildlife Area in Whatcom County, Washington. The project partners include: Ducks Unlimited, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pacific Coast Joint Venture, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, and the Lummi Nation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge ProjectsWillapa Bay is one of the most important staging and wintering areas for migratory birds on the West Coast. Habitat types include estuarine intertidal emergent wetlands, estuarine mudflats, freshwater emergent wetlands, forested wetlands, sand dunes, sand beaches and grasslands. These habitats have historically supported large numbers of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, anadromous fish and many other species of fish and wildlife. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skagit Wildlife Area ProjectsDucks Unlimited hosted a dedication on June 28, 2003 to celebrate the 270-acre wetland restoration project on the Skagit Wildlife Area. Greg and Carol James (owners of Topics Entertainment, a software publishing firm in Renton, WA) provided a substantial gift to DU to help with the project. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yakama Indian Nation ProjectsDucks Unlimited (DU) and the Yakama Indian Nation (YN) have forged a strong partnership to restore important wetland habitats in eastern Washington. This partnership is based on the philosophy that restored or enhanced wetlands must provide for the habitat needs of all wetland wildlife including steelhead, an endangered species in eastern Washington, and culturally important species for Yakama tribal members. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington Conservation ProjectsDucks Unlimited habitat conservation projects in Washington. These projects benefit waterfowl, other wildlife and people. View sample projects, project map and more.
Just a quick Google search turned up all these projects in Washington that DU is working on: QuoteThe Nisqually Estuary RestorationWith the help of Ducks Unlimited, the Nisqually Estuary is restored after more than 100 years of man-made dikes separated this unique wetland from flourishing in its natural state. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cheney Wetlands ProjectDucks Unlimited recently completed the restoration of wetlands on 238 acres owned by the Inland Northwest Land Trust in the channeled scablands region near Cheney, Washington. This parcel of land contains a large, wet meadow that was drained several decades ago to improve forage for livestock surrounded by Ponderosa pines forest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington's Eastern Wetland HabitatsMuch of Washington east of the Cascades is technically a desert, yet this region supports many important waterfowl areas. Wetlands in this region are tied to local precipitation, naturally occurring streams and those areas created within the Yakima and Columbia Basin irrigation projects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington's Western and Coastal WetlandsDucks Unlimited’s Western Washington Wetlands Initiative spans a large and diverse geographic area, including coastal Washington and the entirety of Puget Sound. These areas provide habitat for a host of fish and wildlife species, including waterfowl, sensitive salmon species, shorebirds and other wetland-dependent wildlife. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Projects Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge is located in the heart of the channeled scablands of eastern Washington—an area so named because of the pre-historic floods that scoured the soil away down to the bedrock and left the area with an abundance of swales and depressional wetlands. The 27 square miles within the Refuge is largely rugged scabrock, pine and aspen forests and grasslands that are interspersed with numerous small lakes and wetlands. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Snoqualmie Wildlife Area - Cherry Creek Restoration ProjectDucks Unlimited is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore and enhance wetland habitat on the Cherry Valley Unit of the Snoqualmie Wildlife Area, located approximately 20 miles east of Seattle, Washington. As part of this project, DU will construct a levee, install a water control structure/fish ladder, and complete several other tasks that will significantly improve the quality of waterfowl habitat on the site. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Padilla Bay ProjectsDucks Unlimited is working with a private landowner to restore significant wetland habitat on the south side of Padilla Bay, just west of Mt. Vernon, Washington. The specific project site is located on the south side of Highway 20 adjacent to the Swinomish Channel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pearsons Eddy - Snohomish River ProjectsDucks Unlimited is currently working on several projects along the Snohomish River just outside of Seattle, Washington. The Pearsons Eddy project is an ambitious effort to protect and restore over 600 acres of freshwater wetlands adjacent to this expansive urban environment. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake Terrell Wildlife Area ProjectsWetland restoration has commenced on over 600 acres of new additions to the Lake Terrell Wildlife Area in Whatcom County, Washington. The project partners include: Ducks Unlimited, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pacific Coast Joint Venture, U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, and the Lummi Nation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Willapa Bay National Wildlife Refuge ProjectsWillapa Bay is one of the most important staging and wintering areas for migratory birds on the West Coast. Habitat types include estuarine intertidal emergent wetlands, estuarine mudflats, freshwater emergent wetlands, forested wetlands, sand dunes, sand beaches and grasslands. These habitats have historically supported large numbers of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, anadromous fish and many other species of fish and wildlife. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skagit Wildlife Area ProjectsDucks Unlimited hosted a dedication on June 28, 2003 to celebrate the 270-acre wetland restoration project on the Skagit Wildlife Area. Greg and Carol James (owners of Topics Entertainment, a software publishing firm in Renton, WA) provided a substantial gift to DU to help with the project. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yakama Indian Nation ProjectsDucks Unlimited (DU) and the Yakama Indian Nation (YN) have forged a strong partnership to restore important wetland habitats in eastern Washington. This partnership is based on the philosophy that restored or enhanced wetlands must provide for the habitat needs of all wetland wildlife including steelhead, an endangered species in eastern Washington, and culturally important species for Yakama tribal members. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington Conservation ProjectsDucks Unlimited habitat conservation projects in Washington. These projects benefit waterfowl, other wildlife and people. View sample projects, project map and more. http://www.ducks.org/related/washington-projects
just curious, another thread got me thinking - what has DU done for you?
As for the habitat vs. hunting debate:I'd much rather have lots and lots of ducks, with few opportunities to hunt them, than lots and lots of places to hunt, with very few ducks.
The Nisqually Estuary RestorationWith the help of Ducks Unlimited, the Nisqually Estuary is restored after more than 100 years of man-made dikes separated this unique wetland from flourishing in its natural state.This restoration acctuall opened more land for hunting. And as far as I can tell the hunting has gotten better.
Also habitat for ducks is going to win over pheasants any day of the week because ducks are native and pheasants are introduced.
