what has Ducks Unlimited done for you?

[DR. DUX]

What about state and federal duck stamps. That program has oversight and has been very effective?

[Special T]

Explain those 2 if they have been so sucessful, because I have no idea what they do, and likely many others don't either...

[jgoetz]

Free address labels for envelopes.   

[Skyhigh]

Explain those 2 if they have been so sucessful, because I have no idea what they do, and likely many others don't either...

DR..will do a great job explaining the stamp program, what it does and how it works and the accountability for the funds and how DU maximizes your dollars through the stamp program.

DR,,you have way more patience explaining this stuff...Good job.

[duckkillerclyde]

all DU has ever done for me is harass me about going to $100 a plate dinners.   

[DR. DUX]

Explain those 2 if they have been so sucessful, because I have no idea what they do, and likely many others don't either...

Sorry it took so long and I don't have a ton of time right now but real quickly both funds are dedicated funds with a very narrow definition of use. In the case of the WA duck stamp those funds can only be used to create or improve public waterfowling opportunities. The expenditures are split between capital and opperating expenditures. Capital are funds used to acquire or increase hunting oppertunities and opperating are improvements (ie rebuilding, rehabing, food plots, studies......) to existing public hunting lands.

These funds are overseen by the Waterfowl Advisory Group (WAG). It is a 25 member citizens group which was put together to oversee the duck stamp expenditures, provide input on waterfowl related issues, and be a liaison between the dept and the public. I know quite a bit about the WAG as not only am I an original member I also wrote the WAG's mission statement.

Sorry I took so long to respond but I'm in DC advocating waterfowl issue. So if I'm a bit late please understand I'm a little tied up.

[ITMman]

Found the site this morning, got approved to post and then immediately read the "Waterfowl" forum...this post actually!  I read through all 9 pages and wanted to actually answer the very first post...

DU has given me cool duck head stickers, a free membership (one year...long story, but a nice one!), a nice magazine I look forward to getting, and as a walk-in hunter at Skagit Headquaters...before and after renovation...I actually like it better now! (Although now I'm confused...did DU help or not?? )  I hunted there probably a dozen times this year.

So...I'm getting what I want out of DU.  And if my yearly subscription helps keep ducks out there somewhere to hunt...count me in!

[Special T]

"Capital are funds used to acquire or increase hunting opportunities and operating are improvements (ie rebuilding, rehabing, food plots, studies......) to existing public hunting lands." Dr DUX

Thats good to know because we have seen a huge decrease in the planting of food plots here.

[DR. DUX]

It's good to know there is an opperating budget but it might be bad to know that even though its half the annual fund the cost of planting has grown so much that it accomplishes very little in that area.

To me a very interesting discussion would be is how much would we as duck hunters be willing to pay for a duck stamp if it garunteed the food plot planting and dike maintenance so many want? In the dept's opinion much more than the public is willing to pay but I'm not sure of that.

[Stilly bay]

To me a very interesting discussion would be is how much would we as duck hunters be willing to pay for a duck stamp if it garunteed the food plot planting and dike maintenance so many want? In the dept's opinion much more than the public is willing to pay but I'm not sure of that.

if were talking an iron clad guarantee I would pay $100 bucks without thinking twice. $100 is a pittance compared to getting to what we once had ten-fifteen years ago.

West side pheasant hunters pay $90 ish for their brief two month long pheasant season? but they see a return in the money ( investment if you will) every weekend they hunt. if WDFW can promise massive improvements on water fowling AND deliver, I don't think it would be out of the realm of possibility for most duck hunters to pony up the equivalent funds to a night on the town, a tank of gas for their 4x4, or an evening at a DU banquet.
but would it also cover the loss of all the other duck hunters who already have a hard time justifying the money spent on stamps? How many guys or kids that only go out once or twice a season would just not go at all and not buy any stamps because the price was out of their league? I imagine that loss would be huge.

[Special T]

"We need more funds" cry falls on deaf ears for me. Trust is a key element for funds and the WDFW does not have it.  Especially because the answers given fall back in line with more $$$. In poor economic times we hear there is a shortage of funds, and in the good economic times we are told costs have risen so much we need more $$$! Several of your points my be relevant where you live and hunt, and i'm guessing its the East side of the Mts.  If we are to get somewhere we must think outside of the box not whine and complain about how little funds we have. Perhaps Washington water fowlers should find some one with a tractor and some one to donate the use of the planing equipment to plant a few rows of corn on all these "abandoned" pieces of property by the WDFW because it requires too much management. Perhaps Millet should be planted or some other crop if corn takes too long to grow on our side of the mts... If the WDFW does not want to eliminate BS rules preventing good mgt because they can no longer share crop then WWA should find some people do do the heavy lifting for the WDFW surely the WDFW could spare the $$$ for seed and fuel if that was the only cost for planting. I won't support an increase in any funding until the state PROVES how they are spending the money we currently are giving them.

[DR. DUX]

T I just explained how there is oversight for the duck stamp spending. The WWA is heavily represented on the WAG. You yourself said you had a good buddy on the WAG. Yet that's not enough?

Stilly, I agree, I think kids, seniors, military, new hunters, and some other groups might need an exception and I'm not advocating anything, just looking for ideas.

[Special T]

"We need more funds" cry falls on deaf ears for me. Trust is a key element for funds and the WDFW does not have it.  Especially because the answers given fall back in line with more $$$. In poor economic times we hear there is a shortage of funds, and in the good economic times we are told costs have risen so much we need more $$$! Several of your points my be relevant where you live and hunt, and i'm guessing its the East side of the Mts.  If we are to get somewhere we must think outside of the box not whine and complain about how little funds we have. Perhaps Washington water fowlers should find some one with a tractor and some one to donate the use of the planing equipment to plant a few rows of corn on all these "abandoned" pieces of property by the WDFW because it requires too much management. Perhaps Millet should be planted or some other crop if corn takes too long to grow on our side of the mts... If the WDFW does not want to eliminate BS rules preventing good mgt because they can no longer share crop then WWA  OR DU should find some people do do the heavy lifting for the WDFW surely the WDFW could spare the $$$ for seed and fuel if that was the only cost for planting. I won't support an increase in any funding until the state PROVES how they are spending the money we currently are giving them.

My change is in red, and that is how i should have written it.

[Ned]

West side pheasant hunters pay $90 ish for their brief two month long pheasant season? .

Isnt that $90 cost to help cover the cost of pen raised, grain fed, realeased pets they get to shoot???

The state doesnt "Raise & release" ducks.



.

[wildweeds]

I actually went to the Lake Terrell headquarters and volunteered to sit in the cab of the john deere to do some field work that is sorely needed in a reseed program that has went by the wayside since the old manager Tom Reed(a big time waterfowl supporter/sportsman)retired,he was always all over reseeding the food plots as waterfowl was one of his passions along with archery hunting for elk.As has been mentioned those with a passion go farther than their "JOB" in their job.I was told thank you but fuel and seed were not in the budget.I'm a farm raised kid so it wasn't because I don't know how to giter done.I think the fields could benefit from a strip management replanting myself if the funds aren't available for a complete redo.Heck ol Tom was instrumental in the waterfowl habitat improvement on the Intalco area that flooded many acres of land that never held water and he also used to plant feed strips over there as well that were pretty good pheasant hunting opportunities that supplied the dumb chickens with something to eat.Tom played a big role in the marietta project as well if I remember right.Great steward for waterfowl he was.

"We need more funds" cry falls on deaf ears for me. Trust is a key element for funds and the WDFW does not have it.  Especially because the answers given fall back in line with more $$$. In poor economic times we hear there is a shortage of funds, and in the good economic times we are told costs have risen so much we need more $$$! Several of your points my be relevant where you live and hunt, and i'm guessing its the East side of the Mts.  If we are to get somewhere we must think outside of the box not whine and complain about how little funds we have. Perhaps Washington water fowlers should find some one with a tractor and some one to donate the use of the planing equipment to plant a few rows of corn on all these "abandoned" pieces of property by the WDFW because it requires too much management. Perhaps Millet should be planted or some other crop if corn takes too long to grow on our side of the mts... If the WDFW does not want to eliminate BS rules preventing good mgt because they can no longer share crop then WWA  OR DU[/color ]should find some people do do the heavy lifting for the WDFW surely the WDFW could spare the $$$ for seed and fuel if that was the only cost for planting. I won't support an increase in any funding until the state PROVES how they are spending the money we currently are giving them.

My change is in red, and that is how i should have written it.