Ducks Unlimited Suggestions

[duckaholic]

Myself and friend are heading up the local DU chapter starting later this Spring. We have brainstormed for a few ideas that we think would be helpful in sparking interest in the chapter. I value any suggestions that come from the members of this site and that is why I would like to run a few by all of you. Please feel free to give any suggestions you may have as all will be greatly appreciated.

We would like to run a shooting league for anyone who would like to participate. We would like to have both team and individual events that compete in both traditonal skeet and one based on more of a hunting scenario(shooting out of ground blinds, blind throws, and mixing of targets which would include mini clays, regular clays and rabbits).

We would also like to get the kids in the chapter AND the community involved by asking for volunteers to help the local DNR with the banding of waterfowl and helping build wood duck boxes and nest protectors on the local public hunting marches and possibly a few requested private grounds.

The thought of guiding a few kids from the chapter during the early September goose season and the youth waterfowl season is something we are also looking into.

Since Southern Iowa isn't really a waterfowler's heaven, we are trying not to focus strictly on waterfowl. Deer and turkey are also going to be in our sights. We might even throw in a few Cougar hunts into the mix!!!!

Once again, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Steve-O]

Where in Southern Iowa are we talking because i wouldnt mind helping out if it is in my neck of the woods. It depends where in southern Iowa because most kids in the small towns dont have anything to do especially in small farming communities so getting youngsters involved is always a great idea. I think you are heading in the right direction. If you are going to do the guide thing for the kids make it a raffle just so it sounds fair. Or the top kid volunteer gets a couple days hunt or something to that effect. Let them pick what they would like to do, i.e. deer, turkey, or waterfowl hunting, if that would be possible.

 

[FarmlandQDM]

Sounds like you have alot of energy and good ideas to put towards a conservation organization. I am a member of DU too, but it also sounds like you want to do many things on a local level. Pheasants Forever or the newly formed Quail Forever might be something you should look into instead of DU. I am an avid waterfowler and haven't hunted pheasants in 20 years but I am a life member of Pheasants Forever because of all the work I see our local chapter do for waterfowl and other local wildlife. The key is PF lets the chapters keep 100% of the money they raise to spend on wildlife conservation and education projects that the local chapter decides to do. It's hard to beat the PF system if you are really interested in accomplishing things on the ground locally.

 

[duckaholic]

The reason you don't see the work that Ducks Unlimited puts into the habitat is because waterfowl do not spend all of there time in Iowa. In fact there is only 2-3 weeks of the year that Iowa olds good consitrations of waterfowl. Right now the state of Iowa is doing some work for the Spring migration. They have done studies and have noticed that from the time the birds enter Iowa and leave, they will loose up to 21% of their body weight. DU has a couple programs running as we speak to help in with this problem. If you love waterfowl like I do........You can see the benefits!

 

[FarmlandQDM]

You're right Duckaholic ... if you raise money in Iowa and spend it on projects in Canada it can help waterfowl hunting in Iowa ... that's why I am a member of DU ... but I also know it is difficult to get funding approved to do local projects even if it is money that was raised locally ... I have seen this frustration in many DU chapters trying to get things done locally on the ground because their projects ideas get denied funding from above ... where the money goes ... in time this can wear out even very dedicated volunteers.

 

[iowaqdm]

My biggest problem with DU is they promote cutting down trees so avian preditors can't eat the ducks. I spend lots of time and money every year planting trees only to see the DNR and DU boys out there with their chain saws tipping them over. I was a member of DU for years but haven't renewed my membership for the last five years or so. PF plants trees, native grasses, and helps build wetlands and 100% of the money generated stays in the county. I like that I can drive buy the projects and see where the money goes. I'm not trying to bash DU. However, I devote more of my time to PF and will likely be on the NWTF committee next year. If you (duckaholic) do start a new chapter and want to have more ducks, tell the head DU boys to spent their time trapping instead of cutting down trees. You'll have 10x the amount of ducks!