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[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Is DU all that it is cracked up to be?
 

tx I think its simply a matter of " time & money" for most chapters. While it would be great to say every chapter sponsors childrens events and hosts many other " PR" events, realistically there just isnt enough time and money. Most chapters are run by volunteers whose plates are already full with a plethora of other commitments as well. DU puts on their " Waterfowl Festivals" in a couple of cities each year for ALOT of people (and that number of Festivals is planning on growing in the future btw) but there simply isnt enough money, volunteers and sponsorship dollars to do something everywhere for everyone. Remember also that DUs main goal it fundraising for waterfowl, a dollar spent elsewhere is a dollar NOT spent on the birds. I dont think ANYONE wouldnt agree that doing community, civic and childrens events arent a great idea and cause. But sadly, execution of such plans is much tougher than most realize.

Quack Quack Quack!
RA

RE: Is DU all that it is cracked up to be?
 

I' ve talked in detail with several of the chapter heads here in Dallas and I' m seriously thinking of personally heading up a Dallas Greenwings program.

I' m waiting on some info from the National HQ for DU to see what is involved and where I might be able to help.

Youth programs are a hot button for me since I have an 8 yr old son and 3 yr old daughter. I' ve done things in the past with other hunting organizations and want to get more involved.

Corp. sponsership and fundraising is also an area I' m considering. It' s an easy tie in since I do that to some degree for a living.

Thanks for the info,
Michael

RE: Is DU all that it is cracked up to be?
 

tx,
More power too ya! Good luck with getting something started up!

RE: Is DU all that it is cracked up to be?
 

sup g- dawg Du in all I think is a good program, delta may be becoming better, we all need to be members of some organization to insure we have a place to hunt in the future, with all organizations there is a chance of some coruption or strong favortism. the case of fixing the raffle drawing was a big ? I was present a banquets two years in a row the same guy won three shotguns, youth one year and youth and adult the next year, don' t know how heard it was fixed but it could have been the fact put out earlier he may have simply bought an ass load of tickets so I can only say theres a chance of wrong doing but we have to take it look at the alternative of not haveing an organization representing us all in legal matters, or simply fighting for more management, so I' ll continue to pay my 25-50 dollars a year in memberships, and the occasional banquet, and continue to wish I was the one with land for DU to fix up.......have a great season guys and gals......always shoot Drakes1st...........

RE: Is DU all that it is cracked up to be?
 

When debating DUs merits, always ask yourself. Where would we be without them? Sure you will always hear horror stories and there will always be the guy who blames DU because he didn' t kill his limit. But I am greatfull someone had the vision to start this org.

RE: Is DU all that it is cracked up to be?
 

Hey all, this is a great discourse amongst all of you, kudos for opening up a great conversation topic for all to share.

I' ve been a member of DU for about 10 years now (something like that...the mind is going with the hair), and I' m a life member of California Waterfowl Association.

In my opinion, as a Californian there' s no better combination for the conservation and preservation of waterfowl, wetlands, and natural resources than these two groups. CWA (life membership is $1,000, btw...they take Visa and you can make annual payments of $200~~nice life member print each year, as well!) is VERY proactive at the state, regional, and occasionally federal level combating legislation that negatively impacts water/fowl, habitat, or hunter/angler rights. This includes investment in both public and private land projects. RedAllison said it best, I think, so I won' t rehash here. Suffice it to say that ANY money spent on wetland/upland refurbishment benefits all of us, the ducks, and peripheral wildlife.

CWA takes care of the flyway that concerns ME most, the Pacific. However, the over-reaching effects of CWA' s efforts are certainly felt from Siberia to Mexico, across the Western States and Canada. With a membership of 18K+, though, there is a limit to what they can do as a stand-alone conservation organization.

With its truly international reach, DU does for ducks what no other conservation group, multi-state (DW) or in-state (like CWA) can accomplish on its own. Yes there are those that question the size of the organization, where it spends money raised, and the projects on which the decision-makers choose to focus. I' ve even read in the past about disgruntled former members who' ve quit DU to join DW over the differences in predator management practices in the Prairie Pothole Region. While results point to fantastic nest and brood rearing successes in acreage managed as such, this can only be one piece of a very complex habitat and species management puzzle. It' s great to see more ducks on the Missouri Couteau, but if there are no wetlands, public OR private, for the birds to utilize when they get to you, what good does it do anyone? Everything in moderation, a balance of investment in multiple programs and regions, would seemingly benefit both waterfowl and hunter alike.

Where we truly begin to fail not only ourselves, our passion for our sporting heritage, and the birds is when we encounter dissention amongst our ranks and conservation organizations. Never should these conversations result in a ' this is a better conservation group than that one' stance. Freedom of Choice is one of our good fortunes, and where we each opt to spend our dollars on conservation is our individual prerogative. However, our absolutely over-reaching motive should be, at ALL times, regardless to which group we choose to send our dues, to maintain the delicate balance between man' s encroachment on Mother Nature' s turf and our hunting heritage. Pick your group how you pick your legislators: based on that which best meets your expectations and goals.

Finally, as far as the ' fixed' raffle at a DU event: I assisted with a DU dinner along with several gentlemen representing the Beverly Hills/Bel Air DU chapter. Believe me, I am not wealthy now, nor was I then. But I had a little cash and I was excited by the prospect of a Browning gun safe that was to be one of the ' premier' raffle items as well as several of the guns, jackets, etc. to be auctioned. At NO TIME was there any indication of impropriety, before or during the dinner/event. The only trickery I witnessed was meted out by the scantily clad raffle ticket gals calmly exposing what seemed an inordinate amount of flesh to peel the $100 bills from each of our wallets. Just when you thought you' d purchased your last wad of tickets, or half of a playing card, etc., another ' pair' was inviting you to pull out your Visa card and buy ' just one more $20 ticket' ...

Ironically that night, because I purchased the $500 raffle ticket package, I ended up winning a beautiful upland/pheasant print, ammo, soft-side gun case, Browning BPS 12 in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass, and the coup de gras? Mine was the first # called and I walked (actually, had to rent a damn lift truck, it weighs 600lbs!) away with that Browning safe. Keep in mind, former pro-beach volleyball player Kent Steffes was there; Barron Von Hilton donated that night; others in the audience of some stature purchased international hunting trips, etc. There was a substantial amount of money in play for a fairly substantial room full of prizes.

Moral of the story: Sometimes ya gotta play big to win big, and I made up for years of bad luck in Vegas!

Anyhow, soapbox and story aside: If you want to make a difference, get educated, get involved, contact your representatives (both political and the conservation organization(s) of choice), and do something. Sitting on your butt, complaining about where your $25 membership dues are being spent, and then wondering why there are no birds gets us all nowhere FAST!

So Cal opener tomorrow...good luck, shoot straight, skip the sprig and the cans, let ' em work, remember you' re not as good as you think you are on the call...and DON" T SKYBUST!!! ;)
DD