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"The Beginning Of The End" I can't tell you for sure how many years it has been since we had anything but the liberal framework for a duck season, but I would venture to guess we've had maximum days and maximum ducks for ten or twelve years now. While some hunters believe that's to much to offer, others are happy with things like they are. No matter which side of the fence you stand on regarding the season length and limits, I think everyone would agree with one thing; It has taken a lot of work and cooperation from several different entities who help keep Mother Nature happy and duck numbers high. Along with her (Mother Nature) blessings, which always make things easier, a lot of money has been spent. Through private donations and membership fees to organizations like Delta Waterfowl, or any other such group(s), we hunters have helped support the ducks and our sport. When we hunt waterfowl we also support the cause in another manor, Duck Stamps. Be it a Federal Stamp, a State Stamp or a Canadian Duck Stamp, we all buy them and understand it's yet another method to help fund the continuation of our sport. But will that continue? According to the press release I received from Delta Waterfowl this week, things may be changing and for the worse … at least from my perspective as a duck hunter. The title of this week's press release read; "Delta Waterfowl Opposes Proposals To Kill Canadian Duck Stamp" and Delta Waterfowl has officially gone on record in opposition to two of the proposals by Enviroment Canada (EC) that would potentially end the Canadian duck stamp program. Since 1984 Canadian duck stamp dollars, paid by resident and visiting hunters alike, have been placed in the hands of Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC). WHC is an independent, non-profit organization that has managed the Canadian duck stamp dollars and has been working with numerous agencies and organizations and according to Rob Olson, President of Delta Waterfowl, "The stamp program has served as a significant bridge between conservation interest and that keeps decisions about allocations of duck stamp dollars out of the hands of a few large corporate conservation interests." Since 1984, when the WHC started handling the Canadian duck stamp dollars, they have invested fifty-two million dollars in habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement, especially in wetlands and wetland-associated species. The Canadian duck stamp program generated about thirty-two million dollars of that money. However, under the guidelines of two of the three proposals put forth by Enviroment Canada (EC), which is similar to the U.S. Department of Interior, the money distribution would change. While Delta supports the continuation of the WHC handling the funds, the two proposals they oppose could mean drastic changes in waterfowl habitat and eventually the hatch numbers. Under the first of those proposals, fees collected from hunters would be given to a non-government organization for delivery. The second proposal calls for the fees to be directed to EC's "protected areas" system, many of which are bird sanctuaries where hunting is banned. To sum up the two proposals, opposed by Delta Waterfowl, it sounds to me like both resident and non-resident waterfowl fees would continue, but the stamp itself would be eliminated and the WHC would more than likely cease operation. The world of waterfowl has changed a lot during my time, but efforts by hunters to support the waterfowl have changed little. Sure, technology has improved and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Delta Waterfowl and many other organizations have learned a lot and made a lot of improvements over the years, but since I can remember … the money hunters paid for stamps has, for the most part, gone into programs for hunters. With two of the three proposals put forth by Enviroment Canada, things will be changing. If the allocation and distribution of the Canadian duck stamp dollars is put in the control of a new group, with an agenda of their own, it could have a dramatic impact on the future of duck hunting in the United States. Lower duck numbers mean shorter seasons and lower limits and to alter the funds distribution for the breeding grounds in Canada, that may be what we're going to see in the future. Redistribution of the money won't change things over night and why anyone, especially a governmental agency, would want to change a program that has seen years of success is beyond my comprehension. I don't know if there's anything we can do about the proposals, but I am glad to know the membership dollars I've sent to Delta Waterfowl over the years have helped provide hunters with a voice that's being heard in Canada. I just hope that voice is loud enough and strong enough that someone will listen to it. If it's not, we may be faced with … "The Beginning Of The End" … of the liberal season framework we've enjoyed for a long time. Contact Charles at: www.arkansaswaterfowl.com or snapp1@sbcglobal.net Contact Delta Waterfowl at: Delta Waterfowl |
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