DU v. Delta

[BrianB]

The biologist that DU hires are trained by Delta, generally. speaking of course

[GulfCoast]

Delta is more research and biology oriented. They have much less land under thier control, but tend to get more out of it. DU is simply about grabbing as much land as possible, and less concerned with how to get the max production out of it. DU has its head up its yazoo on the preditor issue, as Delta has pointed out. Delta will probably never be as big as DU, but is an important organization. So, I say, support them both.

[dos gris]

Major strengths -


DU: lobbying power, land acquisition partenerships, wetland restoration

Delta: waterfowl research

[bulldog]

Delta and DU are both very reputable organizations. I worked for DU in North Dakota (out of the Great Plains office)last summer on a nesting project, and I had a great experience with them. They are very professional, and I would recommend donating money to that office if you would like to see more ducks in Mississippi. They are doing great things in grassland protection. DU has gotten a bad rap in Canada because of land acquisition issues. Here in the US, they use easements and do not own land. They primarily transfer ownership to state and federal agencies. Delta also does very good work, and they have turned out some very good waterfowl biologists. I am confident that they always will. They make a lot out of the fact that they support hunting more than DU does, and I think DU gets its message out to a different sector of the public. In summary, both groups are needed to fill different niches in the role of waterfowl and wetland conservation, which is something that we are all interested in. If possible, become a member of both groups!

[judge jb]

and evey time you make a contribution to DU, you insure the safety of the DOLL SHEEP... maybe even those small fish off the coast of Peru... not to mention those eels of the Gulf Coast.... hey, lets re-locate some turkeys in mexico.... sounds great to me..... after all, i only care about ducks in my neighborhood.... from the hatch to the south.... lets not forget our fellow mexicans with liberal limits and days afield... yea, yea, i will spend my monies in my neighborhood where i can see results... i know this will hack off some, but i had to get it off my chest... a member of DU i have been for more years than alot of you have lived, but in my senile days afield, i will take care of my own and hope that everyone will do the same... God bless America and Ducks...

judge jb

[Ringbill]

This is basically a repeat of what Ed Penny stated (Ed and I work together), but I would like to add a personal touch. I have worked for DU in the fact that they provided significant funding for my Master's degree, and continue to provide the bulk of support for my PhD. They have the power, as stated earlier, to instigate landscape scale projects. They fill an important niche, and every dollar y'all give them helps ducks and people like Ed and I.

Delta has an especially wonderful place in my heart. I worked for Delta Waterfowl as a research assistant, and that was my foot in the door to the world of waterfowl ecology, management, and research. The ambiance and history at Delta is so thick you could cut it with a knife. You get excellent training, make the life contacts that result in career building as well as fantastic friendships, and truly learn how to become a scientist. Thanks to all who support Delta as well, the organization has literally changed my life.

Bottom line: both organizations do seperate but necessary things. If you can support both, please do. It helps both aspiring wildlife professionals like Ed and myself (who will protect our best interests as DUCK HUNTERS by helping to encourage and maintain HARVESTABLE levels of waterfowl) and the ducks themselves.

Ringbill

[ October 22, 2001: Message edited by: Ringbill ]

[JP]

Junior P..that's exactly why we started the Oklahoma chapter of Delta Waterfowl..to raise $$'s for tangible efforts/results FOR Oklahoma PUBLIC waterfowlers..

Granted, we're a hard scrabble lot and have raised only a few thousand dollars in the past fifteen months but we're making headway..the provincial attitude from some (not all) of the DU establishment has been noted, and not unexpected.

[Craig Williams]

I notice you are from East Tennessee. We just had a kick off chapter dinner back in September. We had about 40 people there from Greenville to Spring City. The next function should be in Febuary 02. Good to see other TN hunters on this site. Do you do much hunting in MS.

[Jeff]

All I got to say LA looses approx. 25 miles of wetlands a year and no one puts crap up to try and slow it down, nor did they do much to try and help CARA out when it was killed by Trent Lott last year. I said I went back and forth about joining because yes, I do want to help the ducks, but I would more so like to see someone help LA's coastlands some granted I don't know how other than lots of diversion projects, but that's where the research comes in. I know some people work very hard on that very research, but not for DU, they work for State and Fedral organizations. When I see some of these places working down here, they will get a lot of support. Also go to Anderson Tully in Henning, TN and look at that DU project, it took about 500 acres of good duck hunting land and they haven't done crap with it in five years except let cockulburrs grow on it. However they were real big on ground breaking and pictures and all of that. Where are they now?

[Junior P]

Wingman brought up a good topic about who was in DU. Some of you wrote in that you were also in Delta. We do not have a chapter of Delta in my area and I was just wondering the differences between DU and Delta. To me as an outsider looking in DU is more based on major areas such as Canada, prarie potholes, etc... Delta seems more grass roots in that the money raised locally goes to fund local projects.

Just wondering if I am correct and what you think of the two.

[Delta Duck]

Delta is more into the research asspect. The pothole project is great!!!

[Junior P]

TNDUCKS is your chapter in Knoxville? I heard about the dinner and I wish I would have known before hand. Anyway no I do not duck hunt much in MS. I do some quail and dove hunting down there. Most of my duck hunting is done on Chicamauga and the occasional pilgrimage to Arkansas. Where are you hunting?

[bulldog]

Research is being performed by many people like me (at Mississippi State)all over the US and Canada in the name of waterfowl and wetland conservation. DU and Delta carry out research and provide funds for other universities and agencies. If anyone is curious on exactly what is being done, go to Delta's or DU's website. DU is doing landscape-scale research (in the MS Delta and Prairie Pothole Region), and Delta performs nesting studies in the PPR.

[hemingway]

DU has evolved into a PC lobbying machine. IN my grandaddys day it was what Delta is today. But now caters to the elite....it has a multimillion dollar office complex in Memphis that will make your head spin. Its all about politics, Benilli giveaways, Hooters girls at frat party-like meetings and Nothing to do with hunting.

Delta, conversely is all about the Ducks and about 99% of money donated goes to ducks and research...whereas with DU not nearly that much.

I begrudgedly support both but my heart is with Delta...I too realize that some of that elitism, lobbying and palm greasing gets things done on capitol hill.

Just my .02$

[eyeinthesky]

I couldn't agree with Ed Penny more. DU and Delta are both good organiztions that have their own agendas. We do need both of them to help achieve our goals as sportsmans and duck hunters.