Why is DU buying land in LA?

[hunter4life]

I was talking with a few guys I know this past weekend, and it came up that DU is buying up a ton of land in LA, MS, AR, TN. It seems to me that they should be more concerned with the breeding grounds in Canada, ND, and SD. I know DU is buying up land to give the ducks Refuge, and so they have a nice place to take the politicians, but at the same time they are making hunting more of a bussiness that only the rich will be able to afford before you know it.
The government is spending a ton of money with the CRP program, reclaiming farm land and reforresting in the southern part of the flyway. I think this is absolutly great, but at the same time in SD, ND they are spending money to get farmers to plow and farm the "virgin" prarie. The breeding grounds should be the most important thing around.
Well I'm just wondering what everyone else is thinking.

[mudsucker]

I believe it is a rumor as DU is not in the business of buying land. That is what I understand.

[Chad Manlove]

I was talking with a few guys I know this past weekend, and it came up that DU is buying up a ton of land in LA, MS, AR, TN. It seems to me that they should be more concerned with the breeding grounds in Canada, ND, and SD. I know DU is buying up land to give the ducks Refuge, and so they have a nice place to take the politicians, but at the same time they are making hunting more of a bussiness that only the rich will be able to afford before you know it.
The government is spending a ton of money with the CRP program, reclaiming farm land and reforresting in the southern part of the flyway. I think this is absolutly great, but at the same time in SD, ND they are spending money to get farmers to plow and farm the "virgin" prarie. The breeding grounds should be the most important thing around.
Well I'm just wondering what everyone else is thinking.

Your friends are wrong. DU is NOT buying any land in the south. DU will purchase property on the breeding grounds where it benefits nesting waterfowl.

[lipsplitter]

hey hunter4 life while you are spouting off about du doing things for rich people why dont you think about what duck populations would be without du. there might not even be any ducks to hunt if it werent for the work of du. du has conserved over 11 million acres since 1937 thru easements and other forms of conservation. not just for rich people or hunters in general but for mother nature as a whole. we are losing 100,000 acres per year of wetlands. I encourage support of du and other organizations that are conserving habitat.

[Double R 2]

hey hunter4 life while you are spouting off about du doing things for rich people why dont you think about what duck populations would be without du. there might not even be any ducks to hunt if it werent for the work of du. du has conserved over 11 million acres since 1937 thru easements and other forms of conservation. not just for rich people or hunters in general but for mother nature as a whole. we are losing 100,000 acres per year of wetlands. I encourage support of du and other organizations that are conserving habitat.

My sentimenst exactly

[hunter4life]

Back up folks,not trying to start a riot! just asking a question. Du does buy land in the south. The more land that gets privatized (by the state or whatever), the fewer hunters will be able to afford it, and evetually hunting (what built the country) will die out. I DO NOT want this to happen. People in LA have quit hunting because the state can't afford to maintain WMA's and the land is leased to hunting clubs. These people have hunted that ground for 30 years.

[Chad Manlove]

Back up folks,not trying to start a riot! just asking a question. Du does buy land in the south.

Well....not trying to pick a fight either, hunter4life....but I happen to work for Ducks Unlimited here in Mississippi. I've worked for DU going on 8 years now. I'm just trying to put the facts on the table before "rumors" are allowed to run wild across the Internet.

I don't intend to be rude, but the short answer is: No, DU does not buy land in the south. We do not own a single piece of property in AR, LA, or MS.

Recently, we helped the AR Game and Fish Commission purchase Frog Bayou WMA in northwest Arkansas. The title was transferred to AGFC and it will be open for public duck hunting.

Please elaborate on why you think DU buys land in the south.

[webfoot]

I've worked for DU going on 8 years now

Now that explains why we don't have ducks.

[weimhunter]

Just another I think I know this because a friend told me lie. Thanks Chad for responding to this because I was fixen to go postal.

[hunter4life]

At this point I will back off of the DU buying land thing. It may not be in DU's name, but whatever.
2 questions, not trying to get anyone upset!
1) What, if any, is DU's involvement with Askew bottoms in Tate county MS? If no involvement, how was it decided to only allow duck hunting Friday-Sunday and only till noon? The noon time shooting hours are not new but Fri-Sun were instated last year.
2) If DU was involved are there any plans to improve the bottoms (levee repair, more pumps, permenant blinds etc.)?

[Micah]

From my understanding, DU consults with the State and Federal agencies on their wetland projects. That's where the DU signs on refuges/WMAs come from.

If DU is involved in setting usage policies (which is highly unlikely), it would be in the role of making suggestions to the controlling agency. The MDWFP, Wildlife Refuge administration, or Corp of engineers is the responsible party.

You're assumptions are way off base as the facts show.

[lipsplitter]

du does not make laws, rules, regulations etc. period

[hunter4life]

My last 2 questions were just that, not assumptions. As to facts, some of you replied,"it's my understanding". I'm more confident now. As for being off base, maybe, but that's what people talk about. I don't tend to get caught up in it, but thought it would be a good topic to get out. I'm not arguing DU hasn't done good work, but they have brought more of a business aspect to hunting. Sorry if I offended any DU die hards. see you around

[Micah]

Hey,
I'm no DU diehard.

[Chad Manlove]

At this point I will back off of the DU buying land thing. It may not be in DU's name, but whatever.
2 questions, not trying to get anyone upset!
1) What, if any, is DU's involvement with Askew bottoms in Tate county MS? If no involvement, how was it decided to only allow duck hunting Friday-Sunday and only till noon? The noon time shooting hours are not new but Fri-Sun were instated last year.
2) If DU was involved are there any plans to improve the bottoms (levee repair, more pumps, permenant blinds etc.)?

Good questions.....

Yes, DU has been involved recently on Askew WMA. Please take a look at this link. http://southern.ducks.org/coe_ms.php

Also, this link. http://southern.ducks.org/askew.php

We helped install a water well that will be used to pump up the public hunting areas during dry periods.

DU did not have any involvement with regulations setting or actual management decisions on the WMA. The Corps ultimately decides what's best for the WMA. I'm not sure why they changed the hunting days....maybe lack of manpower to enforce???

I'm not aware of any new projects at this time.