DU Loses It's Mind???

[Seem too Xtrema2 you?]

I renewed my DW again today and tried to send in a little extra (living off a government loan...so dont have all that much to spare)....but I suggest we all start doing the same if we want to do the most for our birds...I have no plans of renewing my DU membership or for attending any future events...enough is enough...the hunting has dwindled enough as it is....I was the president of the DU chapter at my college, and now I almost regret it (not really....but this whole deal just stings a bit...especially when we as southerners do so much for DU and most of the rewards seem to benefit those above us geographically....nothin against any of you yanks or the way yall talk

[Drakeshead]

If I was not giving money to DW now because I was giving it to DU, then I would not start now. For instance, if the neighbor to my right and I were good friends, but I was not good friends with my neighbor to my left, why go and make friends with my neighbor to my left if my neighbor to my right makes me angry or upset? If it is not for the right reasons that you do something, then why do them? Just by not renewing your memebership to DU takes away the money. It isn't like for every dollar spent with DW that some agency is going to go to DU headquarters and take money from them.

[Ol' Susie]

It never ceases to amaze me how all theses DU/DW bashings get started. If you don't want to give money then fine but realize that for one that others are influenced from these comments. Right or wrong (I do not wish to debate the motivation behind the way DU runs their affairs.) their is alot of speculation going on over this matter. Make up your own minds and do what you wish, that is your right. But spewing all this venom is just not good for waterfowlers as a group. DU has done some great things over the past years. Hell delta has done some great things as well. As you can see it isn't just one group that is doing it all. Their is good from both organizations and more than enough room for both to exist. Competition between these organizations are good for us all and more importantly the health of waterfowl. Just be fair to those organizations and realize that some people in this world are followers and will readily jump on a bandwagon. Your actions and what you say now can jepoardize their donations to one or both organizations in the future.

[Dutch Dog]

Their is good from both organizations and more than enough room for both to exist.

Over the past several years DU has been steadily losing ground due to, well, for a lack of better words, STUPID decisions. If they keep it up there won't be but one "existing" I want my money that I spend to go towards DUCKS...there's anough bunny huggers around to take care of all the little owls that need a home and dall sheep to be taken care of. Their name isn't "wildlife unlimited" it's DUCKS unlimited....donations should be earmarked as such and not spent elsewhere. If they have a surplus of money they need to spend then buy some breeding grounds, look at predator control, look for ways to control the snow goose population, quit dumping corn in Illinois (joke) They need to quit wasting money on that stupid TV show also. You are trying to get folks to join DU based on their past reputation...which is how they maintain their membership now. Folks need to know what they are getting into and if all the facts aren't out there then how can they make a good decision about joining. Do you think they are going to tell a prospective member that their money isn't going to the ducks, but rather to pay for their bigwigs to go hunt all over the U.S. protect some little owl, etc NO!!! they are going to tell him just the opposite.

[sportsman450]

Your DU dollars at work.

They have one of the top 10 salaried Board of directors in the entire nation.

You make the decision. Do you want to help the ducks, or pay executive salaries? At least with DW there's a chance of the money being spent where it belongs.

[Double R 2]

If every duck hunter bought an extra federal stamp, acquisition funds for nesting habitat would DOUBLE. Seems pretty simple to me.

[sportsman450]

If every duck hunter bought an extra federal stamp, acquisition funds for nesting habitat would DOUBLE. Seems pretty simple to me.

who would ultimately be in control of that money and where it was spent?

[Double R 2]

Office of Migratory Birds, Department of Interior. Same folks that have been spending duck stamp dollars all along.

For the price of a "regular membership", a fella could buy three stamps for habitat and forgo the glossy mags and mass mailings overhead.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Good suggestion Ramsey. However, I suspect that most of the board DU critics just like to use DU as their whipping boy for all perceived ills in their little duck hunting world, as opposed to doing anyting positive for the ducks. Hopefully I am wrong and all of this anger being directed toward the wrong folks will be re-channeled into something positive for the ducks.

I look forward to seeing the 05 numbers and future 06 numbers for both MS DW contributions and MS federal duck stamp sales. Both should be through the roof and off the charts next year.

[Super Black Eagle]

For instance, if the neighbor to my right and I were good friends, but I was not good friends with my neighbor to my left, why go and make friends with my neighbor to my left if my neighbor to my right makes me angry or upset?

DH - you used the wrong analogy here. What should have been used is "a blond lives on your right and a brunette on the left, you have been seeing the blonde on the side for a while and now she just wants to cuddle. The brunette has always been friendly. what are you going to do?" Are you faithful to the blonde(DU), even though she turned her back on you?
Or do you go next door(DW) and continue to get the positive outcome

It makes perfect since that if you are going to leave DU, to switch to DW. The goal here is to get more ducks in the sky!

I had no idea that we could make an impact by purchasing additional fed stamps. I will be buying one for my AR license and one for my MS license from now on.

[sportsman450]

It makes perfect since that if you are going to leave DU, to switch to DW. The goal here is to get more ducks in the sky!

I had no idea that we could make an impact by purchasing additional fed stamps. I will be buying one for my AR license and one for my MS license from now on.

Exactly SBE!!!

And with Double R's suggestion, it's a perfect fit. Thanks Ramsey!

[SoftCall]

what do federal duck stamp dollars do for Canadian habitat? Just asking because I don't know. The vast majority of nesting habitat sits over the line.

[weimhunter]

I still believe that DU spends the money wisely. What everyone that helps with DU is upset about is if DU Mississippi can not afford 60-80,000 for someone that annually raises 500,000 plus and is always out there trying to grow chapters and membership, then what the heck is all this, Back to Grassroots crap. I was pumped this year for what we have done for DU but they can kiss my A$#. Ramsey, I will agree with the stamps, but it is hard to replace 500,000 from North MS DU. Mississippi Ducks Unlimited will never recover from this. Heck, just look at what has taken place with all the people calling it quits. I truely hate what has happended to DU here. They call themselves a grassroots org., HORSE CRAP. Just 6 months ago they gave John one of the biggest awards a RD could get. Complete horsecrap! I tell you what kind of person John is, he still came to my DU commitee meeting and will be there tomorowo to help us out with our 1/13/06 banquet. I was ready to tell them to come get there crap, but he has talked us into still having the banquet. Thats what kind of guy DU is loseing.

[Ol' Susie]

Dutch Dog do you really think the Saturday TV series DU makes is because they have extra money to pay people to go hunt high dollar leases and private land? C'mon man have you ever heard of promoting a product? Every single business including nonprofit ones promotes themselves and advertises in some capacity. So you think the show is stupid and therefor is a waste of money. Further how do you know that the direction of the show is geared toward you as an audience? Perhaps the purpose of the show is gain exposure to the general public and promote waterfowling and conservation of waterfowl and wetland habitat? But because you think it is stupid it has no meaning and is a waste of money? Better yet how do you know that DU isn't getting strategic alliaces through corporations securing future donations because of this show? They have to run advertisements and theses sponsors pay money to be associated with such orgs. as DU and DW. Look I said it before I don't argue the mission statements and operations of either org. This argument is stale and I think most everyone has read and heard enough of it. I think for the most part they both get it right. But to make such rash judgements and claims as you did about a TV series is attacking them unnecessairly. If you don't like it don't watch it and support DW if you wish and let those who maybe do like it go to DU and or DW?

[the doctor]

any body tried to visit the ms du website? I can't get it to work.

maybe DU is about to pull out of MS all together...hey a guy can dream cant he?

the doc