Is DU all that it is cracked up to be?
 

This will be my second season to duck hunt this year, and since i loved it so much last year, i thought i would do my part, so i joined Ducks Unlimited for the conservation of waterfowl. Well i talked to some of the people around my area and most of the regular hunters are really disappointed with DU. Apparently they spent $150,000 plus to help fix up PRIVATE land. they made this guy his own little waterfowl refuge on his property, and they neglected to finish a big public project that they have recently been working on. These hunters, who have previously been members of DU and also sponsors, told me to go with delta waterfowl next time because they do more for the public hunter than just for the private guys that can bring out the cash. What are your thoughts?

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

Forgot to mention that my brother-in-law and his friends said that here the past couple of years, the " major" sponsors or the people that are pretty high up in the community and those that were the DU chapter presidents and such were the ones winning all of the raffles that took place at the DU banquets. I think they said that DU fixed this little conspiracy that went on, maybe drakes1st can comment better, but the drawings and raffles were seemingly " fixed" to where the guys with the money always won??

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

G-Dawg,

I don' t know about all of that since this would be my first year to become a member. I was driving along and saw a billboard featuring the upcomming banquet which is in my home town.

I called and it seemed like every other organization, a few volunteers that do a lot and whole bunch of others that talk about it. I was thinking of checking it out but now will have to do a whole lot more research before committing.

Thanks for the heads up

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

I am a memebr of both DU and Delta Waterfowl. The only problem I have with DU is when you go to the banquets all the money raised goes to the national level to help with projects all over the country. For example Pheasants Forever at their banquets all proceeds form those go directly to the area the banquet was held thus more local programs. The DU does go to conservation but it' s not to much local conservation it goes where they need the money for other projects. I like DU that' s the only problem I have with them. I love Delta Waterfowl if I had a choice between the 2 to be a member of I would pick Delta Waterfowl. BUt for as long as I' m alive I will be a member of both organizations.

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

I too am a member of DU. What I would like to know is how is it that the people with money win so much at the raffles at the DU banquets. Could that they spend a lot of money buying raffle tickets and spots on the board for raffles? How can you fix a raffle when no one knows what numbers are going to be picked out of a hat? I am a member of Delta and Waterfowl USA and DU. I think all are good worthy organizations. When some people criticize the places that DU spends their funds they should realize that most goes to preserve habitat where ducks are hatched. I don' t see anything wrong with that. Also that is another reason to join so that everyone from north to south will always have a chance to watch waterfowl do their thing each year.

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

drgildy,
I see what you are saying, but those people that won the raffles are no longer in charge of the local chapter, because i think they were caught some how fixing the drawings. I can' t be too sure about this cause i was not present, this is just what i have heard
But I am sure about this: how do you justify DU spending mine and your money on someone' s private land? If i pay a membership fee, I want to see it go towards public hunting so I can enjoy that privelage as well! They spent $150,000 + building a waterfowl refuge on PRIVATE LAND![:@]

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

G-Dawg I cant speak for the " raffle fixers" you are talking about, (and I hope if true, they are dealt with severely) but I am on my local DU Committee here in Madison County, TN and I think I can fairly say that " fixing" at ANY DU event is a rarity. Do you know that each banquet is attended by a DU official who has rank and say over anyone else? There are many rules of protocal a committee must abide by as dictated by DU headquarters. dr got it absolutely correct, the wealthier members typically by more tickets thereby increasing their odds of winning. The absolutely best odds of any drawing for a gun is found at your local DU banquets. There simply arent enough tickets purchased by seperate individuals to make it a high number to draw from. When someone buys 50-100 tickets and drops them into the bucket with a couple hundred others, simple math dictates they have the odds in their favor!

DW is likewise a fine organization and I have noticed over the last few years that an alarming number of " average duck hunters" are switching to DW vs DU. I hate to see that, but it IS a free country. DU is the sole reason why we even have any ducks today! (I know, DW was founded in 38, but they havent had nearly the continental impact that DU has! ESPECIALLY in the first half of the 1900s.) DU does have many extremely wealthy members in its rank and certainly the banquets are as much of a social event as they are a fundraiser. But thats part of it. Bring likeminded people together for a common cause. I rarely even duckhunt anymore and everyone knows my blood has antlers in it, but I look forward to putting on our local banquet each Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Its a wonderful time with fellow sportsmen and a good way to make new huntin buddies and keep up with old ones!

As you said DU does pay for " private land management/re-construction/enhancement" . That is because the vast majority of wintering water is on private land here in the lower 48. Sure it helps the hunters on that land. But it likewise helps all the hunters around that area as well. Regardless what wetland/conservation laws are in effect, todays farmers must put every good acre into production. And in other instances, many areas and farms are being bought and restored to the great wetlands they once were. There simply isnt enough money in the govt sector to meet this management/restoration demand and this is where DU comes in. I hear many folks complain about DU " puttin in a floodgate" for a hunter/farmer. But what if they didnt? Thats one less waterhole, resting pool or roost for the birds! For every 10k acre refuge along the flyway, there are thousands upon thousands of small " potholes" that hold many more ducks overall. And that land is all privately owned. Ducks dont care who owns the land, they just know what they need and like. Collectively we sportsmen pay for all the ducks right? Well their grounds encompass Canada, the U.S. and Mexico for the largest part. Were ducks like deer and ranged on a square mile or two for their entire lives, yeah you could say its only right to spend this money here and that money there. But with BILLIONS of acres that make up the various flyways, added to the fact that the large majority of those acres are privately owned. What else could we do if we must take care of the land for the ducks needs?

DU is a great organization and one of the, if not THE best example of " for sportsmen by sportsmen" restoration/conservation/wildlife mgmt organizations in history.
RA

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

Red,

I must say that, that was one long and informative post!!!! I plan to attend the banquet and will make a determination as to my level of envolvment when I' m there. You become a member automatically because it' s included in the ticket price. But commitment is another issue entirely.

When talking with my local reps, they said that the only thing that they do is put on a fun shoot and the banquet. No youth programs, no conservation programs, no corporate sponsership, nothing. That concerns me. If I wanted another social outlet I could easily find it elsewhere.

Any input on this topic?

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

If money from the fundraisers stayed where it was made Louisiana would be in high cotton. Of course our last 2 duck seasons have been terrible. I know the weather hasn' t cooperated. I' d like to know what is really going on up north.

Is it true that 10% of the gross receipts from a fundraising banquet goes directly to the Regional Director?

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

Red,
Thanks for clearing that up! I didn' t realize all of that about the private land. I guess that it was just the way these people were explaining to me their ideas of DU. I do think those people winning the raffles were dealt with, and yes, i do realize that more raffle tickets means more chances of winning, but i believe that it was fixed, but i can' t say for sure, because i never attended and i was told of this only by word of mouth. I was hoping there would be a chapter member here on the boards. But i do kind of wish DU would have finished their current project on a local wildlife management area before building this guy his refuge.