Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl page

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FLYBYU44

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Ducks unlimited used to have a site dedicated to Waterfowl hunting, and on that site you could find their land where you were allowed to hunt.

Unfortunately I never bookmarked the page as there was a link on the main DU page. I can no longer find the page however, seems like they changed their site. Anyone know where to go?
 
FLYBYU44 said:
A kind fellow on here located them, they don't appear to be 100% up to date, but here is the link.

http://maps.ducks.ca/ducknavigator/

I wonder why DU took down their hunting site? I would think that hunters would donate quite a bit of money. Their waterfowl site is what got me interested in waterfowl hunting and conservation.
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Hunters started DU. Hunters have provided by far the most amount of time, money and energy to DU and it's projects over the decades. However, DU has been hijacked by the anti hunting crowd, in the sense that hunting is the evil that they dare not say out loud.

I started with DU, went to many banquets over the years and donated money but I switched to Delta Waterfowl about 15 years ago. Delta supports hunters, hunting and gun ownership.

Wouldn't go to a DU banquet or give them money if it was someone else's cash.
 
DU aren't for hunters. They actually hurt duck hunters in my area. They buy up land and convert it to Marsh land which is good but they create fall time sanctuaries for ducks where no hunting is allowed. These lands are not managed very well and don't produce any ducks
 
brybenn said:
DU aren't for hunters. They actually hurt duck hunters in my area. They buy up land and convert it to Marsh land which is good but they create fall time sanctuaries for ducks where no hunting is allowed. These lands are not managed very well and don't produce any ducks
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DU actually "buys up" very little land. By and large, the vast majority of their projects are on private property (beyond those projects on Federal, Provincial or Conservation Authority land) and as such, it's up to the land owners whether or not they permit hunting on their properties.

DU is certainly pro-hunter, but their operational mandate is to preserve, restore and rehabilitate wetlands and adjacent uplands for breeding and staging waterfowl.

Your last statement is very much incorrect !
 
I had ducks unlimited come onto my property and dig out a wetland. From day one it was a nightmare dealing with them. The excavator operator and his flag guy were great. Had a few beers with them but the project co-ordinator from DU was a joke.
 
beretta boy said:
DU actually "buys up" very little land. By and large, the vast majority of their projects are on private property (beyond those projects on Federal, Provincial or Conservation Authority land) and as such, it's up to the land owners whether or not they permit hunting on their properties.

DU is certainly pro-hunter, but their operational mandate is to preserve, restore and rehabilitate wetlands and adjacent uplands for breeding and staging waterfowl.

Your last statement is very much incorrect !
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By not allowing hunting or trapping of skunks and raccoons what few ducks nest have their eggs eaten. There are many ponds and restored lands in my area. Very few are open to hunting. Most are choked out by fragmities (I may have spelled that wrong) in several years. I spent several years working du and the green wing programs. In my experience in my area they are not pro hunting.
It's very rare to see ducklings in these ponds that remain open yet during the fall migration they stack up flocks of birds away from where hunters can hunt them
I believe there are better options and organizations to support based on first hand experience
 
Ya it's called Delta waterfowl. The hunters group for hunters by hunters. DU seems to have turned into the upper echelon snob club.
 
Those supporting Delta are welcome to do so ... and they certainly do purport to support hunters. As a lobby group, they have a voice, but I've personally not seen anything to suggest how effective it is. Hen houses and wood duck boxes have been around for decades ...long before Delta jumped on the bandwagon. As for providing habitat for nesting and staging waterfowl ... they are a non-issue.

You are still sadly misinformed about predator control ... there's a ton of independent scientific literature and studies to conclude it doesn't work on a landscape scale,
although it may be beneficial, if kept up continually, nearly year-round on a local area. Just because 100 acres or so are trapped off, you realy think more predators don't move in from adjacent areas ?

Delta & their supporters are very much polarized against DU ... but no one does more for breeding waterfowl and wetland habitat. Period.

Just my personal experience. And I don't look to DU for hunting opportunities ... or support for non habitat issues. The loss of wetland habitat by drainage,
agriculture and other land development is a far more pressing problem for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife than skunks, foxes and support for hunters and gun control issues.

Just my opinion based on my knowledge, training and personal experience, hunting mostly all over Ontario and from the Atlantic to the Pacific in Canada, the US and abroad !!!
 
Ok, this is a bit much.

I give DU a lot of credit for seeing hunting as part of a bigger picture, with different elements that have to be played so that waterfowling can happen in the long run, period. I follow their FB feed and it's an interesting mix of history, hunting, education, and public relations; in other words, it's well-rounded. There is--and always has been--a strong conservation ethic at play here, precisely because waterfowl are so dependent on wetland habitat. And if you don't think that pays off in the long run, you're mistaken. A conservation project that gets kids out into a wetland so that they can see its value is worth it's weight in gold. They'll find out about the hunting angle in due course, and even if most don't get involved in hunting, they'll at least see the sport as one that is sustainable and environmentally responsible. And in today's electro-soaked world, that's important for the average member of the public to see.

Plainly put, these organizations can't just be about hunters and hunting--they have to be about that AND how hunting fits into the broader social picture. It's called being smart, making investments, and making the odd sacrifice here and there.

Unfortunately--and I've been at it long enough to see it happen--waterfowling has become a bit taken with the Duck Dynasty shoot-em-fer-the-bling mentality in the last few years. That may make it appealing to some, but it's NOT the face of the sport that should be presented to the public. And DU seems smart enough to know this, and to know that's about what you give back as well as what you get.

For what it's worth, I'm not a member of either organization, and my statements above simply reflect my personal observations and experiences over the years.
 
Winchested said:
Ya it's called Delta waterfowl. The hunters group for hunters by hunters. DU seems to have turned into the upper echelon snob club.
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You forgot the scientist part. Delta was originally formed with the financial backing of James Bell, who owned General Mills as well as was an avid duck hunter with extensive property at Delta Marsh. It was a science based organization until the early 1990's, without general public membership, working in conjunction with, among other schools, the University of Manitoba.

For those who suggest that DU is simply acting on the reality of the broader world, I would respectfully disagree. I think in time we will see DU go the route of the Sierra Club and others, environmental groups who are at odds with man being a part of the equation.

My view is based on the idea that for decades DU was a very important and effective preserver of wetlands and supporter of hunters (as it was supported by hunters). But I believe that has changed and is no longer the case. The hunters still active within DU just haven't figured it out yet.
 
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The Delta Waterfowl Foundation is/was an excellent waterfowl research facility ... and from Bell to Aldo Leopold to his star protege Albert Hochbaum, to Peter Ward and Bruce Batt onwards, have provided a great source of information and training. A great number of biologists and other wildlife professionals have done meaningful research & study there at Delta in gaining their graduate studies and degrees.

I'm not advocating one group against the other, but get my hackles up at members of one knocking the other down. If you are a waterfowler and believe retention of habitat to be a key component of your sport, both groups deserve your support. I'm glad Delta is a voice for the duck hunter, just as I'm glad DU is the leader in developing, maintaining and preserving wetland habitat for waterfowl. Both groups support each other. Need I remind you DU has committed $3.5 million for remedial work directly at Delta ?

There are those disgruntled with DU and their apolitical stand on some issues, but their Board has kept a pretty straight and narrow course in following their mandate,
a "singleness of purpose" to preserve, maintain and protect wetland habitat. They are definitely not anti-gun, anti-hunting or anti-trapping. Far from it, but are not an advocacy or lobby group for anything but wetlands & waterfowl. They keep their role pretty narrowly focused on their primary purpose, and have since 1937.

A considerable number of groups have taken on the advocacy/lobbyist approach as initially their reason for being. Almost all provincial Hunters, Anglers and Trappers Associations have functioned in that role for years. A number of other groups, while purporting to be focussed on a specific species, or habitat type, such as The Ruffed Grouse Society, Wild Turkey Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Quail Unlimited and Trout Unlimited have all done what Delta has more recently done, to bolster their membership and support. They have by design copied many of DU's most effective fund raising & membership/donor/development programs, while adding their voice to whoever will listen at the government level. ( I often wonder how effective some of them are at trying to be "everything to everybody" and stretching their resources too thinly ... or, are their habitat programs suffering as a result of their advocacy/lobbyist roles ? )

Hunting is permitted at a majority of DU owned sites. Trappers are often employed to deal with problematic furbearers such as beaver & muskrat, as well as snapping turtles. While "hunters" are perhaps not the majority of DU members and supporters these days, both hunter and non-hunter support alike is welcome.
(Funny, anti-hunters don't seem to get the wallet out for anything !) DU does very much appreciate and value their grass roots duck hunter support. That's the basis for their being. Dollars raised to preserve wetland habitat. Dollars: Habitat: Water: Ducks

There is contoversary over predator control ... both Delta & DU as well as others have conducted numerous studies and research to determine it's effectiveness.
Delta's position is that it is. DU, the CWS, USFWS, and many State & Provincial Government agencies, as well as several NGO's believe otherwise. While it can be effective on some sites, it is generally ineffective on a landcape scale basis and is econonically unfeasible to sustain. I chose to believe what I've read over a consdireable number of studies highlighted or published in the Journal of Wildlife Management who have "no dog in the fight". Maybe it's like statistics, one can tend to prove whatever you want" ... but what's the truth ?

There is little question that DU is the overwhelming leader in wetland conservation ... not my opinion, but one that is shared by all three North American Federal governments, provincial and state governments and their fish & wildlife agencies ... not too mention those from a surprising number of other countries.

If you are a duck hunter, you really should support both DU and Delta, unless you just want to kill ducks and don't care about the resource. By all means, get a full
understanding of what both groups do and don't do and get on board with each. Both represent you well.
 
BB, I'm pretty familiar with DU's work. For example, the lions's share of the $3.5 million DU (and it's partners, Delta Waterfowl, the provincial government) is spending at Delta is on our property.

That doesn't change my understanding that the non hunter faction, who as you mentioned tend not to open their wallets that wide, are gaining significant sway at DU. And that leads me to my belief, already somewhat in evidence, that DU will swing to a non hunting/anti hunting position.

To suggest that DU hasn't had a hand in advocacy on behalf of hunters over the decades is not accurate. For the first 50 to 60 years of it's existence or longer, it was populated almost exclusively with hunters, it was founded in the midst of the drought of the 1930's by hunters as a response to plummeting duck populations. It is also my opinion that, as non hunters becomes dominate in DU, their donations will slow for reasons previously mentioned. I think it is a major strategic error by DU to turn their backs on hunters.

But that's just my opinion and time will tell.


BTW, when my hunting lodge at Delta was destroyed in the flood of 2011, we lost an original 1937 founding member membership certificate for DU in the name of one of the previous owners of our property. Very sad to lose that.
 
I fully support wetland restoration. I appreciate that du does a lot for that cause I just don't believe their mission statement to be accurate. In my area almost every wetland they've reopened has been left sadly unchecked and un maintained. The few that are doing well and maintained on a regular basis have become bird watcher sanctuaries off limits to hunters. I'm not saying we don't need sanctuaries I'm saying that with all the imposed limits it makes it harder for the average Joe to have a successful hunt. Migratory bird permit sales tanked from various reasons. Baby boomers dieing off. Steel shot mandate. Gun registry. Lack of access. Many reasons. Duck hunters are now coming back in numbers. Maybe it's because of duck dynasty maybe not. More hunters buying duck stamps is a good thing because I don't know very many ppl who buy them that don't hunt. Actually I know 3. They buy the stamp to help promote conservation based on conversation with me a d others but are against hunting.

At one time I was a proud DU member and supporter. Now I choose to support other foundations and local programs. Programs that I see working and maintaining sustainable resources.

I agree with cansvasback. Politics became a priority sadly
 
My point was that anti-hunters tend not to be supportive of conservation ( or much else for that matter ) There is a considerable amount of non-hunter support for DU Canada however, and you are right about it growing. However, they are not "taking over" ... either within the DUC Board, executive or staff. If you bother to see what goes on with DU's "parent" organization below the border (DUInc.), you would quickly recognize they are very pro-hunting & pro-gun. They are the ones raising the majority of DU funds and the reason that there even is a DU Canada. The role is very clear here ... stick to the mandate: Conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated habitats for waterfowl. To stray significantly from that role would see a very large majority of DUIncs. funding remain south of the border. The grass roots are cognizant of the fact that funds are raised for that purpose and to re-direct funds otherwise would likely cause a great "grass roots" exodus.

Yes, DUInc. and DUC were founded by primarily duck-hunters, who reasoned that if the results of the dust-bowl (drought stricken ... a scarcity of ducks) was to be rectified, that there must be some way of conserving wetland and waterfowl habitat on the priaires of Canada. To that end, they raised funds in the US and transferred them to Canada to carry out the work. Candians were a little slow to get on board with fundraising, but they did commencing in 1974, with the very first dinner down in your bailiwick. In the US, after a considerable time ( early 80's I believe) the realiztion that there was a lot of work to be done below the border as well, particularly in the Great Plains states, physical wetland restoration works were undertaken there too.

Advocacy means an activity by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic and social systems or institutions. To that end, DUC has remained apolitical ... from 1937 on they have dealt with every level of government, federal, provincial, county/region and municipal, including many NGO's, to undertake their
work. Despite party politics at the top levels, there are what amounts to perpetual agreements with these senior levels of government to further wetland conservation. There is a great deal of cooperation and support at this level for DU conservation initiatives, because at the larger scale, wetlands benefit much more than just waterfowl, they provide flood control, help to purify water, and are considerable importance to a great number of species, including people. So... DU is considered a non-governmental conservation agency, which has been a registered charity for many years, on both sides of the border, providing significant economic and social benefit. They are not recognized as an advocacy or special interest lobby group. Bottom line ... no wetlands, no ducks, no duck hunters ... even though the grass roots of the organizations originated with (and remain) duck hunters. A great many others have joined in.

I doubt I will ever get you to change your minds. DU is not anti-duckhunter, anti-gun, and is not and I doubt ever will be such.
I will continue to support many conservation/habitat based organizations, and appreciate the work Delta is doing.

'Nough said !
 
BB, good to hear. Perhaps I am hanging onto perceptions from 15 years ago that are no longer accurate or appropriate. I'm all for more wetlands.
 
canvasback:

Old ideas die hard ... and misinformation along the way can tarnish things. I'm all for wetlands too ... and support hunting of all sustainable game. I'm proud to call myself
a "waterfowler" "conservationist" and "naturalist". Non-game species are important too ... and like waterfowl, habitat is key. Most people don't realize just how many species are, or are partly dependent on wetlands. As you probably know, hunters have for years been the majority supporters in North America for conservation.

I'm beginning to become more of an "upland hunter" than waterfowler with age. Retirees of like-mind are in short supply for 4:00 a.m. mornings and cold weather on big water ... and the young, bless 'em, are either at school or busy with work & their families. I do have a hunt planned for reds, cans and scaup however, as soon as they show-up ! Still a few weeks away. Miss my old Chessie ... buddies Lab will have to suffice.
 
BB, I'm doing the same myself. A little more upland than waterfowl these days but as you may have guessed, being from Winnipeg and with a place at Delta, ducks came first for a very long time. And while I'm not quite retired, I can see 60 quite clearly and those early cold mornings are not quite as easy as they once were.;)

A walk in the fields or woods during normal business hours, setter out doing her thing.....now that's a whole new ball game.
 
Roger that ! I see a couple of acquaintances for breakfast. They're off to work and I head for favourite coverts nearby. I sometimes feel a little guilty, but not much !

I'm in primarily grouse & woodcock country, but waterfowl were No. 1 for about 40 years before the shift.
Some reasonable duck hunting locally on Lake Simcoe and the Georgian Bay marshes ( all within 30 km. or less) but Lake Erie, Lake St.Clair, Lake Huron and the eastern end of Lake Ontario were frequently visited. Good field hunts for mallards and Canadas ... less than a mile away ! I could hunt deer locally at a friends place less than 5 km. distant, but choose to go to a traditional camp some 150 km. to the northeast ! Go figure !
 
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