Delta Waterfowl or Ducks Unlimited?

[Marc]

Which organization will help me and ducks more for my dollar? Who has more projects in BC and which organization is more tailored to hunters. I was getting ready to donate to ducks unlimited then I checked out the delta waterfowl site. If I had to pick one to support which would it be and why?

[Ian F.]

Pretty contentious issue this one

DU has the bragging rights over ALL CHARITIES of turning the highest proportion of donations into action. There focus is habitat creation and maintenance and preservation. The do so quietly and do it much better then anyone else including our governments and the same south of the border.

DU does not directly and openly support hunters, and did not weigh in on any gun issues in Canada in the last few years choosing to be neutral and non-commentary. Many folks have taken task at this, and "left" DU, but I think their actions are knee jerk. DU has always been apolitical, it's how they have been able to get so much done, they are on no one's side.

Delta focuses on research mainly with habitat second, they are vocal and more "militant" (using that word in it's lightest form) then DU. They openly support hunters.

I don't agree with some of Delta's programs and tactics, particularly it's focus on predator management which to me is just an attention grab and has little basis in science, a ploy to get more $$ if you will.

Both do good for ducks, both do most of their good in areas where they have the greatest bang for the buck, which means the prairies. But DU does have quite a number of project in BC including a hand in the Pitt/Addington complex.

Many folks choose not to choose and simply split their donation between the two organisations.

At the end of the day we each choose for our own reasons the groups we support.

Very best,

Ian

[f350ps]

There's a few guys from Delta Waterfowl that are members here that I'm sure can tell ya what they think. Here's yer chance boys. I do know that they were instrumental in the fight against Langley, nuff said. I personally think too much DU money goes south instead of staying in Canada K

[frodo]

No doubt it is Ducks Unlimited

[Kirby]

When I was working for DU I was told that 90 cents of every dollar go to protection and managment of wetlands.

Kirby

[dave]

Ian summed it up pretty well.

DU = waterfowl

Delta = waterfowl and waterfowling

[Crazy_Farmer]

Last year I went the delta route, my brother did the DU route, then we've got a california waterfowl sticker on the trailer, I also recieved a chrome DU emblem for a tailgate, I guess I'm trying to say we donate to both of them, and can only hope they are both using the money wisely.

A question for those who know, Is there not a difference between Ducks Unlimited and Ducks Unlimited Canada? Does our money go towards projects here or is it all put together under the DU banner?

[zaconb]

mo ducks=mo ducks!
I support both

[Zekeland]

DU gets some cash from me every year, but Delta gets 3x what I donate to the other guy....

DU is all about saving wetlands. Delta looks a little closer at the problem with more bird research...

We have some awesome pothole country out here...some of the best in NA...but nest success is less then 1% in many areas. So you can save all the wetlands you want , but if you don't look deeper into the problem little will change. This is where predator management comes in.

Delta is also the ringleader for recruiting new bird hunters for our country. I'm not sure how many youth hunts go on in BC, but here in Manitoba the youth hunts have grown all over the province.

Delta will not hesitate to lobby the government for the good of hunters and wildlife.


They each have a different agenda, But I would like to see them agree on issues some of the time....

[Marsh Hawk]

As a member of the Lower mainland chapter commitee for the Delta Waterfowl chapter here, I can only tell you what I have experienced. I help run the Delta-Ladner Rod & Gun Club's Junior program and for the past few years, we have been putting on a youth hunt during Waterfowlers Heritage Days. Our partner for this venture is Delta Waterfowl and they have been amazing.

They have sent out a biologist to talk to our youths during our orientation night before we head out. They have also footed the bill for all of the shells the kids shoot and each kid goes away with an armload of stuff including a call, a shirt , a hat and more. We have had great success with the youth hunt with lots of big smiles at the end of the day. Talk about a way to get a kid hooked on hunting.

If our youth are "the future of ducks and duck hunting" as Delta Waterfowls motto is for the youth hunt is, they more than put their money where it can do a lot of good.

Ducks Unlimited, though they have done a lot of good work over the years seems to have turned into a large fundraising machine. Every page of their glossy magazine seems to extol how much money they have raised.
When was the last time they promoted the future of hunting by helping kids get out in the field?

My 2 cents.

Marsh Hawk