Delta vs DU. . . the big deal?


Covehnter

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This seems to be a battling issue nationwide, is this really a competition? If so, who wins? i thought it was all for the ducks and geese? I really dont understand the reasons for being totally against any organization that is working for the betterment of waterfowl populations, whether it be restoring nesting grounds or reducing predator populations in those regoins. I'm constantly coming in contact with individuals with negative attitudes toward one organization or the other. It kinda just blows my mind? confused.gif I'm ready to support anyone that has intentions of helping waterfowl, even if its a farmer wanting to put out a couple woodduck boxes!

The reason for my ranting is this. . . i'm in school away from home, so i'm stuck to public land hunting and on my drive to the local National Forest in which i'm spicin' up my bowhunting spots there is a huge cornfield next to a big lake. Well my mind is centered on the number of geese that must use that once they cut the corn. Well yesterday i see a truck up at the barn, so i figure what the heck would asking hurt. I drive up and approach a guy standing by his truck, wearing my delta waterfowl committee hat. I begin asking about geese using the field and the such when he tells me thats where he puts on his du sponser shoot each year. He points to my hat and i reply telling him i'm a committee member of the ga chapter of delta and he replys with . . boooooo!! I really dont understand the logic? I responded by saying that no negativity was needed because both organizations are working toward the same goal. I continued to talk with the guy and ended up spending the better part of an hour there talking duck and goose, which was fun to me. So all ended well, i'm suppost to keep in touch and he ended up being a pretty nice fella. His initial greeting just ruffled me a little b/c it caused me to notice the great amount of that same type of attutide everywhere else in the waterfowl world.

Sorry for the extremely long vent. Off my soapbox now! grin.gif

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Re: Delta vs DU. . . the big deal?

I guess I'm not involved enough with either organization to really know why one would be pitted against the other. I am a current DU member and have wanted to join Delta Waterfowl for some time now. Like you, I figure any organization that contributes to the betterment of the sport is good. I guess it's kind of like our political system. We have both parties that collectively are suppose to represent the people as a whole but sometimes their animosities towards each other get in the way of that.

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Re: Delta vs DU. . . the big deal?

While the end goals are pretty much the same - more ducks and better habitat. As you pointed out in the opening of your post, there are differences in philosophies between the two organizations.

I would wager a guess that the reaction you got from the farmer DU Guy, is that he's a fundraiser for DU and sees Delta as an impediment to getting more dollars for DU (if Delta didn't exist, Delta supporters would most likely give their resources to DU.) It becomes a battle of available resources more than one of competing philosophies.

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Guest gastj

Re: Delta vs DU. . . the big deal?

My personal reason for not being a member or committee member of DU. Now it's been 6 or 7 years ago here in OHIO we had a ballot on the docket for the removal of dove hunting. We recieved funds multiple organizations that have nothing to do with doves or ducks. We raised our own all over the state and defeated it by a large margin on the issue. The problem lyed in when DU you was questioned on why they have a DU camoflague line of equipment, waterfowl show, and on and on, but they said they don't support hunting or hunting issues. They were for the waterfowl and the habitat. The regional director went to bat for us and multiple other chapters and in return they "shifted" lines and he was FIRED. When we asked his bosses they told us that was not our business and they didn't have to tell us squat. We got 35-40 plus chapters together and in the end 19 disbanded. We all wrote the National Directors and Top Dog himself and a letter was sent to all of us that said without cussing (barely) we could shove our we raised and our doves up you know where. He said that he did not need us. I still have the letter framed in my room. Grassroots payed his salary, but you couldn't tell it buy his attitude. Since most probably went back. For our county DU just sent me something today about re-organizing a chapter, but that won't include me. As long as I'm a live I'll never give a "...." thing to that organization. I thought about try starting a Delta Ch., but were still burnt out from all the years on Pheasants, Turkey's and the DU.

I know this a isolated occurence, but when you raise 30,000 plus for 17+yrs and you get wrote off you kind of have a bad taste in your mouth.

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Guest teamgoose4

Re: Delta vs DU. . . the big deal?

i was born in memphis and have lived within 30 minutes of it all my life. i grew up duck hunting and hear a lot about du. i have numerous ties to the local chapter as well as some of the head hochos. a few years ago me and a buddy of mine who's dad is the president of our local chapter started a chapter at our high school. this was in the 02-03 school year. we had a du festival at our school and raised $2000+. Anyway our regional director told us we were the very first high school chapter in the world and for our efforts we would be rewarded by having our picture and names honored in the magazine. after waiting until halfway through the next school year i saw no picture of us but low and behold a picture of v.p. don young son and his high school chapter in the magazine being honored as the first high school chapter to have a charity dinner. now we didnt start the chapter to gain recognition but we did get lied to and for that i quit supporting the high school chapter my senior year. i am still a supporter of du but only for the ducks. this is just one example of some of the sour taste that du can leave in your mouth. anyway i say support the ducks any way you can but screw the rich businessmen who are only out for your money. thats my 2 cents.

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