Free: Contests & Raffles.
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?
Personally i think headquarters is better duck hunt now than it was than.
Quote from: Stilly bay on January 30, 2013, 01:09:09 PMI 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.
Quote from: D-Rock425 on January 30, 2013, 01:21:55 PMPersonally 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.
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.
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.
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, 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?