carbonhunter Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 It seems like some our southern duck hunting friends have some issues they would like to take up with Ducks Unlimeted, but they never give them. So here it is friends lets here what the problems are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lil hunter Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Re: DU I've heard a lotta southerners say DU shortstops ducks preventing them from having a good season. But I'm gonna stay outta this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted January 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Re: DU How do they shortstop them, by providing more habitat for ducks farther and farther north?? We can all be gentalmen/women in here, just wondering what the opinions on this are?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest benelli_man_84 Posted January 31, 2005 Report Share Posted January 31, 2005 Re: DU Well, I usually dont see ducks headin down to Ga till about February. Most of the geese we hunt are resident geese. We are on the Atlantic Flyaway and see fewer ducks than yall do in Arkansas. I would like to see DU put some more habitat further South than working their way further North every year like they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterfowler_gal Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: DU I have been hunting for over 9 years-mainly waterfowler...involved in it since I could walk... Throughout the years Minnesota which originally was quite an awesome waterfowl state if I do say so myself has died down to you are lucky if you see a flock of geese and mallards in the same day. I worked as a field assistant down on the Mississippi River and we weighed and banned ducks. There is not enough feeding grounds and they found the ducks had weighed less than ever. We need to conserve everywhere. If it is a big issue in the south why not do something and contact your state chairperson for DU. As hunter's we need to do what we need to do to make these birds and habitats survive or we can kiss our hunting good-bye... And I am going to whatever I can in my power to prevent that from happening.... Alright I am done preaching...lol AMEN...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coles Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: DU i dont have any problems with them but when i was down in louisiana in december 2003 and i heard abunch of people complaining that they were stopping all the ducks in arkansas. i heard most of this at our duck camp down there but like i said i dont have a problem up here in montana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted February 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: DU [ QUOTE ] I have been hunting for over 9 years-mainly waterfowler...involved in it since I could walk... Throughout the years Minnesota which originally was quite an awesome waterfowl state if I do say so myself has died down to you are lucky if you see a flock of geese and mallards in the same day. I worked as a field assistant down on the Mississippi River and we weighed and banned ducks. There is not enough feeding grounds and they found the ducks had weighed less than ever. We need to conserve everywhere. If it is a big issue in the south why not do something and contact your state chairperson for DU. As hunter's we need to do what we need to do to make these birds and habitats survive or we can kiss our hunting good-bye... And I am going to whatever I can in my power to prevent that from happening.... Alright I am done preaching...lol AMEN...lol [/ QUOTE ] pretty much agree Heather. I see where the southern half is coming from..fewer ducks in their area's. That said i think the idea of duck habitat across the board is not a bad thing. The more habitat the more ducks. Ohio has had a great 03,04, seasons i hope you all have the same. We all understand the 2:30 wake up call........LOL I think duck and waterfowl need to be protected as they are. waterfowl are touchy animals and we all love those cupped and commited wings so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: DU I don't think habitat is the only factor. I've waterfowl hunted Arkansas, Mississippi, Southern Illinois, and Alabama the past couple of years and there has been plenty of habitat and food for waterfowl. I live in one of the best waterfowl hotspots in Alabama and there's plenty of habitat around here. Personally I think the weather (especially the last several years) has had more to do with the lack of birds than habitat. If the birds don't have a reason to migrate south, then why should they...regardless of the amount of food down here. Someone posted some pics the other day from Ontario Canada of hundreds of ducks feeding on some corn he had put out. If ducks never leave Canada, we surely don't have a chance at killing any way down here. I don't know the answer for the lack of ducks down here but it sure has been tough hunting the past 3-4 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterfowler_gal Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: DU There are a lot of factors that determine the season. I am not saying just habitat effects it. Weather was a key primary factor for us this season in November-They rode out on a cold front and that was that. What I am saying is on Ducks Unlimited behaf (which is what this post is about) and what there purposes is conservation projects and habitat restoration for our waterfowl. Obviously since they weighed less than ever there is a problem. I am not trying to sound like an ****-hole but I do want to get my point across. I take part in a lot of Ducks Unlimited events and I gotta defend what I know and believe in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntn4bucks Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: DU waterfowler_gal, I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. I know you were not saying that just habitat effects waterfowl hunting in the south. I was just expressing that waterfowl hunting has been very tough the past several years even with the proper habitat. Has DU done things to cause this? I don't know. Could DU do things to improve it? I really don't know that either. All I know is it's getting harder and harder to consistantly take ducks this far south. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted February 1, 2005 Report Share Posted February 1, 2005 Re: DU I've seen DU blamed in other posts here on occassion, but whenever I've asked the poster to provide some evidence of their claim they don't respond. In Minnesota we like to blame our DNR for poor waterfowling. Given the fact that waterfowl are migratory, it's always EASY to blame somebody else along the flyway, or to blame DU or Delta Waterfowl because they are the most visible presence in waterfowl/wetland conservation. The fact is that DU and Delta Waterfowl, and the smaller state waterfowl organizations, can only do so much. Even with all of their money, they still can't make it rain in a dry year. And they can't change the pattern of cold fronts that set the birds on their way south. It can't be easy all the time, that's the nature of nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CBU93 Posted February 2, 2005 Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: DU The problem that Southern duck hunters have with DU is perception...the perception is that by our joining and supporting the organization, the funds that we, as southern duck hunters, raise is NOT spent locally in hunter friendly enviorns. What money that DU claims to spend locally is spent in areas where hunting is so regulated or limited that the average DU member can not participate, or totally eliminated. Local money going North is an issue that will never be settled...generations of ill will going back to the War of Northern Agression and Reconstruction. Don't get me wrong... funds needed to protect the breeding grounds is neccessary, without doubt. But, the perception is that a disproportionate amount of money is leaving the areas that raise it. As far as the migration...weather is the key. If there is no snow cover to the north, there will be few ducks in Dixie. From all accounts I've seen, bird numbers are up and rising for the past few years, this was the most harsh winter to the north in the MS flyway in years (or at least the closest to the norm), and this was the absolute worst duck season I have experienced in my life...ever. It's all about PERCEPTION. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted February 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2005 Re: DU [ QUOTE ] The problem that Southern duck hunters have with DU is perception...the perception is that by our joining and supporting the organization, the funds that we, as southern duck hunters, raise is NOT spent locally in hunter friendly enviorns. What money that DU claims to spend locally is spent in areas where hunting is so regulated or limited that the average DU member can not participate, or totally eliminated. Local money going North is an issue that will never be settled...generations of ill will going back to the War of Northern Agression and Reconstruction. Don't get me wrong... funds needed to protect the breeding grounds is neccessary, without doubt. But, the perception is that a disproportionate amount of money is leaving the areas that raise it. As far as the migration...weather is the key. If there is no snow cover to the north, there will be few ducks in Dixie. From all accounts I've seen, bird numbers are up and rising for the past few years, this was the most harsh winter to the north in the MS flyway in years (or at least the closest to the norm), and this was the absolute worst duck season I have experienced in my life...ever. It's all about PERCEPTION. [/ QUOTE ] Well said, i figured that was an issue The thing about public hunting land is true around here as well. You can up to the lake and hunt a ton of DU property. But unless its erie not much is done that we see any reward for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covehnter Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Re: DU It's alot less to do w/ short stopping and alot more to do w/ no ducks period. . . due to breeding ground loss and predator abundance there are less ducks in the air, i'm a southern waterfowler and dont have a problem w/ DU. I'm a member of the Delta Chapter so i lean toward our techniques for improvement more but as long as anyone is doing anything that will help the ducks i'm pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathews4life Posted February 3, 2005 Report Share Posted February 3, 2005 Re: DU [ QUOTE ] The problem that Southern duck hunters have with DU is perception...the perception is that by our joining and supporting the organization, the funds that we, as southern duck hunters, raise is NOT spent locally in hunter friendly enviorns. What money that DU claims to spend locally is spent in areas where hunting is so regulated or limited that the average DU member can not participate, or totally eliminated. Local money going North is an issue that will never be settled...generations of ill will going back to the War of Northern Agression and Reconstruction. Don't get me wrong... funds needed to protect the breeding grounds is neccessary, without doubt. But, the perception is that a disproportionate amount of money is leaving the areas that raise it. [/ QUOTE ] Couldn't have said it better myself. I used to be a member of DU, but i dropped my membership about 3 yrs ago. All their habitat work is done up north so the ducks have no reason to leave. I believe that if they would indeed spread out their habit and conservation programs throughtout the states, not just up North, it would make more southern hunters supportive of their programs. JMO!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CBU93 Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Re: DU Another thing too, while we are discussing DU. In countless arenas, corruption runs rampant at the local level. Some of the things I have personally witnessed... rigged drawings at banquets, auction items sold to preferred bidders, abuse of priveleges at the DUGOF, bought and paid for raffle tickets trahed wihtout entering into the drawing.... If this is going on without being spoken about locally...God only knows what is really going on at the national level. Another thing is the amount of nonhunters and the influence their $$$ has with policy at DU. There is also the perception of elitism at DU. Hard to explain, but any diehard, southern duckhunter knows exactly what I am talking about. DU sticker on a beat up, muddy, late model F-250: GOOD; DU sticker or license plate on a newly waxed Lexus: NOT GOOD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clayman Posted February 4, 2005 Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Re: DU CBU, I do appreciate your "perception" response. You're the first person who ever explained that way to me, and it makes a lot of sense. If the corruption you mentioned about your local chapter is true, that really stinks! I haven't seen anything like that with my chapter. Why isn't it being spoken about locally? Why aren't the "average Joe's" in your chapter raising a fuss? As to your "elitism" comment. I come from a blue-collar middle income family, and I understand what you are trying to say, but I don't condone it. It's statements like that that promote the classism that you speak of. The guy driving the lexus probably also drives a hunting vehicle - it may not be a redneck rattle trap of a pickup (probably a shiny new black Chevy Suburban) but none-the-less, he's still a duck hunter. Whether he has money or not, regardless of what a person drives, or where a person lives... Even if he's a white-collar upper-crust snob, he's still a hunter and one of our own. Frankly, I'd rather see him making donations to hunting/conservation organizations than supporting groups like PETA or the HSUS. A rich guy's money is as good as mine when we're both supporting the same organization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted February 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2005 Re: DU Well said clayman...if it wasnt for a certain upper-class duch hunter i never would have grown to love this sport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest CBU93 Posted February 6, 2005 Report Share Posted February 6, 2005 Re: DU Clayman, Maybe it's a regional thing??? I really wouldn't know about other areas of the country, just speaking of what I have seen here... All in all, there is a combination of problems we have experienced in the south over the last several years when it comes to duck hunting. DU has just happened to be a really convenient scapegoat of some exasperated duck hunters here. The corruption I spoke of has occurred with two different local chapters I know of. One reason that I have been told by a local official is that with the rigged drawings, even with large chapter bodies, there are still very few actively participating members. The prizes are generally looked at as a way of compensating those members for time and work spent. I preferred to keep my mouth shut and my yearly dues...my choice. As for the classicism arena...I've seen it several times myself, that a company pays to take a client or two on a guided duck hunt one year...generally the client and recipient of the hunt is in a position that they generally have a great deal of leisure money to spend...the next year, that same client returns with a pair of DU waders, DU jacket, DU gun of the year, a brand new lease to hunt that year (which is usually the result of finding a traditionally good area for ducks and offering the landowner an obnoxiously greater deal of money than the current leasor, driving up those local leases) that he will only hunt three or four times a season... See where that is going??? DU becomes an easy target, particularly considering the massive marketing campaigns that they do every year. Not trying to point fingers here or down any organization...just stating what I've seen, heard, and at one time or another probably thought myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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