Need Advice or info.....not trying to stir the pot.

[Bigpoppa]

I am a memeber and supporter of DU and Delta Waterfowl. I have been a long time member of DU and have been a Delta Waterfowl Member for over a year. I make a pretty decent living but am not rich by no means. I support both organizations with my contributions above and beyond my membership dues. I hear people say DU this and DU that, DU is too political or doesnt care about the hunters.
I for one have received many more benefits from DU than Delta Waterfowl. I know it is supposed to be "FOR the Ducks". But I am just being honest when I say that I am really not interested in being a member of an organization or club that does not in the end benefit me. Anyone who is being reallistic will probably say the same. I may not understand everything behind both organizations but I just havent been kept up to speed with Delta Waterfowl. At least FU sends me info and banquet info, and gift offers and stuff like that. What do I do to get more involved. Sometimes I just really think my money would be better spent somewhere else. Someone is going to say I am preserving future waterfowl. Well ok, I am beginning to think I should send my money to an orphanage or childrens hospital (I do some of this already) instead of sending it to an organization where I get no (NOTICEABLE)benefit. Help Me out.....can you convince me one way or the other? Not trying to stir, I just have some issues with this. Especially since the orgs are geared to Yanks.

[Jeff]

Well for me, Delta puts all their resources (that I know of) into the breeding habitat. Weather it's killin' preadators, or beefin' up the pot holes that's where your money goes. Then DU puts their money to restore habitat that you can see. This to me is a kinda good idea, but it's backfired big time. They have a bunch of places that they have helped build that are the refuges that are holdin' all our birds. It helps them by giving them a place to rest, but it screws up our hunting. At the same time DU hasn't done carap down here at my house where we hold the largest concentration of wintering birds. I know it's a tough thing to tackle w/ erosion and all but I would like to see some of DU's money spent down here. Delta's does all to make more ducks and geese which helps me more than building stuff to stop them from getting here. my two cents (and I got a cell call in the middle if it sounds disjointed)

[sondance]

Good post XPRESS. I couldn't agree more. Neither org. does much physical work in good ole MS. that the avg. joe six pack can see.

[Doc & Nash]

I for one think that both organizations are nessecary for the contiuance of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting, Delta can spend all the time they want researching breeding grounds, but if DU does not have a foot in the door of the White House or where ever else, Then Delta and you and me as far as that goes might as well be pissing in the wind.

I do not agree with the politics that goes on today but unfortuantly it is deemed nessecary, Trust me for every DU and Delta member Greenpeace has 10, and they and other orgs like them get their way, not only will we not be able to hunt but life as you know it will cease to exist as you and I know it. Ever one of Rosie O'Donalds friends will get there way. No guns, no cattle ranches, SOY FOR EVERY BODY,

I am not saying that I agree with all of the things DU does, but when they are sitting in some high rolling Gov't office, It is good to know that they have millions who support them and not just, 197,564 (my membership number. Now do not get me wrong, I work just as hard for my money as the next and I try to support both groups accordingly, but ya'll complaining about all the negative ways that they spend money when you do not think about the amount of new members that they are bringing in is just not right. After all that is what it is about, people united for a general cause, especially when it comes to Washington.
I do think it would be prudent if both Orgs worked together more, Maybe that is something that we as a internet society could promote, after all there are 800 plus members of this site.

[deltaduxs]

Well I was on the DU committe here where I live and you would be surprised where alot of your money goes. I can not speak for the entire DU itself but this chapter that I sat on,I wasnt real happy with. It was more or less a reason to have a party and more money went towards the local brewing company then the ducks

[peewee]

Express I dont know alot about the politics of both organizations but as a forester I have to disagree with some of the folks that say DU does nothing in MS. I have seen literally thousands of trees planted in the delta that were bought by DU which were conserving wetlands. Ask DU forester, Hell I know when he first got out of school thats what he did.
My first year I got out of college I hunted on a piece of property that was part of a big chunk approximately 5000 acres that DU help restored. There are a couple of other people on this site that was in that club with me.
Hell my hunting club now is composed of more than 2000 acres that DU furnished trees and culverts for.
I dont care for the DU partys or decals or advertising gemiks like the vaccum cleaner. But I do believe DU helps tremendously in creating habitat. For ducks as well as other animals. If you go back and look at the number of extinct animals or animals on the endangered species list the reason they are there 9 times out of 10 is because of loss of habitat or habitat destruction. It aint due to know damn predator.

Thats just my view on the situation!

[ February 06, 2002: Message edited by: peewee ]

[Bigpoppa]

I know each org needs our contributions but I just think I'm spinning my wheels. Being a member or a sponsor or a whtever of DU has become more of a status thing in my area, rather than a way to help waterfowl.

[steel shot]

Looks to me like he's trying to Stir the pot!!!!

[H2OFowl]

I get really sick of the "I want DU to do more in MS crap". Then when DU sets aside some land or helps get another refuge going. Eveyone bitches that they are holding all the ducks. I want my DU money spent wherever the hell it will produce the most ducks for hunting in MS. I dont care if its spent in Belize, as long as it is proven to put more ducks headed south in the MS flyway. Right now,it aint happenin that way. Right now the money is goin to keep everyone pacified and donating. "Screw the ducks, were gonna loose money if we dont do something." Just my observation.

[Delta Duck]

DU has done alot for putting all the govt. programs that give trees, pipes, and land together. DU is a master at this.

Ducks Unlimited has also over the past 5 years turned into a PETA and Green Peace.

They need to expand on the Ducks Unlimited mission statement. I don't have a clue what needs to be added, but it should include my membership as a gun toting hunter.

[captain duck]

It's OK to stir the pot. Talk radio would be out of business if there were no differences of opinion. DU is a must organization for the future of habitat and increased populations. However, you might also want to direct donations to DW. The research on predator control, breeding, etc. by DW is also a must for DU to successfully implement their stratigies in the field. I know you like gertting DU mail, banquet info, credit card offers and other correspondence but it all costs money to benefit you. DW will spend 90% of your money on ducks and therefore I believe every hunter should donante money to DW in addition to DU. If you are not aware of the biggest problem that the ducks encounter each spring and summer you might want to learn more about DW. The numbers on what predators do to ducks is so astonishing you would wonder how any ducks survive the hatch.

[Hambone]

Delta Duck, why don't you provide some specific facts in support of your contention that DU has become a "PETA and Greenpeace"?

[CaptnT]

I labored with this same subject long ago, and after giving money to both organizations (I went crazy one year and bought $1500 of framed prints at a DU banquet), I have decided the best thing that I can do as an individual is to practice ethical hunting, and try and teach new hunters to do the same. Passing on the suzies is doing a little on my part, especially if I blast a greenhead in front of her, maybe she will learn to be more careful. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

If you want to make a difference "on a budjet", this spring go to your favorite hole, or anywhere you know that ducks frequent, plant some seeds.

I'm not saying that is all you should do, but it helps me feel I am doing something besides just killing ducks. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[MemphisStockBroker]

Gentlemen, complaining on the board about DU is like kicking the dog when you are mad about work. It does not solve anything, and just irritates the dog. The DU national headquarters is about a mile from my office.
Anytime that I have business with them, I walk into their building and do it face to face. Point is, if you don't like what they are doing, let them know. Talk to your regional DU director, the state director or better yet - call DU headquarters. Ask them what they are doing in your area with YOUR money. Members should run the organization. If you don't let them know what you want done... shame on you. As with politicians, they can't read minds. And I am sure that if they received several hundred phone calls from pissed-off (this is a technical term) members in Mississippi all voicing their disapointment... someone will listen.

On a different note, if you have not attended their annual 'event' they have in the summer - you need to go. It is a class event, with labs everywhere and kids having fun and tons of stuff to do. Every quality gun manufacturer is on the skeet range, and for $5 you can shoot any gun you wish. $3000 polished show guns to your best camo duck guns.

Captn.... curious, did you attend the OB DU banquet?

[CaptnT]

The last time I came to banquet there was some bad weather, and somebody yelled after the power went off "there has been a tornado spotted heading right for us!"

Of course, it didn't.

I did get to comfort one of the Bud girls, I guess that was worth the price of admission. [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]