www.duckhuntersunited.org

[Don Miller]

Does anyone belong to this organization? I saw an advertisement in The Louisiana Sportsman. I haven't looked at the website, but it looks to be endorsed by Phil Robertson and has do to with the refuge imprinting problem. Check it out.

[GulfCoast]

Try reading this thread from the 'Refuge:

http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/show ... did=120549

[Don Miller]

Hey GulfCoast, I don't quite understand how this group plans to SAVE the flyway and stop short stopping. You would have to undo all of the DU project, return all delta farm land to hardwood forest, return all prairie pothole land to grass lands, undo all Corp Of Engineer flood control projects,open hunting on ALL of the refuges. I don't think what they are selling is possible, but I my not be understanding what Duck Hunters United mission statement is. I do agree that there is too much refuge land that does not allow at least limited hunting.

[Wildfowler]

I think they would also have to persuade about half of the farmers in the whole country who lease duck hole to stop holding water. But then again, I don't think my opinion on the issue is the same as theirs.

[SoftCall]

Not only would they have to convince them to stop holding water..they would have to convince them to quit farming. Food sources naturally short stop birds weather permitting and waste grain from normal agricultural processes falls in that category. If they are trying to stop "shortstopping" the goal sounds kind of far fetched at a glance.

We all have our opinions on shortstopping and how it is caused...who is responsible...and what should be done about it. I am glad to see that someone is stepping up to the plate to do the research. There has been so much speculation and it would be nice to know what the real root causes are and if it really exists as a result of weather or safe havens and food.

[Anatidae]

weather

[webfoot]

Here is a quote from the refuge on this organization's goals.

The money they are trying to raise to get this organization is going to help fund some research. He did mention that they hopefully are going to get Mississippi State University to help with some of the research to study the effects of things which may have been affecting the migration in the last couple of years.

Some of which are:

1. Programs which introduce an over-abundance of food in Northern regions

2. Programs whcih artificially adjust natural wetlands ecology

3. Programs which totally isolate resting areas. (like refuges)

It is not the desire of the organization to conflict with other organizations like DU or Delta Waterfowl but to merely try and help the hunter directly by addressing some of these issues.

[Don Miller]

I see the short stopping issue more myth than fact. I am sure it is going on to some to some degree, be it intentional such as dumping grain or to promote habitat such as artifically impounding water in grain fields, WEATHER is what causes waterfowl to migrate. When the food supply is covered by ice and snow ducks WILL migrate. I have never heard a waterfowl biologist say, "The reason we had a high mortality rate is the ducks have become domesticated, forgot how to migrate and starved to death." The no hunting zones on refuges, until they freeze up, they are a factor on migration. What do y'all think.

[Long Spur]

WEATHER, WEATHER, WEATHER, WEATHER, THAT IS ALL WE NEED!!!

[SoftCall]

Yep - I still think that weather is THE #1 element that impacts our experience here in the southern part of the MS flyway....I've been on that soap box plenty. I am curious to see what else they come up with though.

[Hambone]

Any of y'all ever read Nash Buckingham's stories about the great Canada goose hunting on the Mississippi River in the early part of the 20th century? Most of that was in our own Delta, in Tunica County. As Nash would say, now not a "corporal's guard" of the descendants of those geese make it this far south. They are almost completely shortstopped by the refuges from Kentucky north. I'm not against the refuge concept, but my views could change radically if they do to the duck flights what they did to the geese.

[bulldog]

Restoring the "natural" migration?? I guess one of the best ways to "restore the natural migration" is to get every duck hunter in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas to quit hunting for 10 years. That would go a long way in achieving DHU's goal. I, for one, will not quit hunting and I hope for good weather instead. I wish them luck in restoring the natural migration.