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Indiana Ducks Unlimited
March, 2012 edition newsletter
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cover, Contacts, Facts & Events / 2 Comments From Curt / 3 “At Large” with Jim Prough / 4&6 PRIDE & Social Media / 5
The “OFF” Season / 6 2012 Volunteer Event / 712 What are we DUing? / 1314 Success in the Field / 15 Tom Kreuter Spotlight / 1617 Gov. Signs Gaming Legislation / 18
Sweet 16 University Chapters / 19 IN. 2012 Conservation Rpt. / 2028 Messages from the Editor / 29
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Upcoming Indiana Events Cover Photo The Indiana State Newsletter cover will feature photos contributed by DU volunteers from around the state of Indiana whenever possible. Please submit your photo and a few words about the who, what, when, where and why …..
“Volunteer of the Year, Pam Harkin” Location: 2012 Volunteer Appreciation Event
Photographer: Jack Maxwell
State Facts
2011 Accomplishments Completed Projects: 20 Acres Conserved: 569.5
Acres of Technical Assistance: 5,911 Dollars Invested: $479,741
State Contacts
Mud Lake Sportsman's Night Out Smoker
Friday, April 13, 2012 IN University DINNER Saturday, April 14, 2012
White Rivers W Fork SNO Saturday, April 14, 2012
Three Rivers Dinner Banquet Saturday, April 14, 2012
IDNR NE IN Conservation Banquet Thursday, April 19, 2012
Anderson Dinner Friday, April 20, 2012
Wabash County Dinner Banquet Saturday, April 21, 2012
Sullivan Terre Haute Sportsman's Night Out Saturday, April 21, 2012
Dekalb County Dinner Banquet Saturday, April 28, 2012
Porter County Dinner Banquet Saturday, April 28, 2012
Purdue University Adopt-A-Team Saturday, April 28, 2012
Purdue University Dinner Banquet Saturday, April 28, 2012
IN DU Ladies of the Outdoors Event Saturday, April 28, 2012
St Joseph Valley Golf Outing Saturday, May 05, 2012
White County Dinner Banquet Saturday, May 05, 2012
Yellow River Dinner Banquet Saturday, May 05, 2012
Indy Sponsor Dinner " 75th DU Anniversary Dinner" Friday, May 11, 2012
Crown Point Gun Bash Friday, May 11, 2012
Blue River Dinner Saturday, May 12, 2012
Fort Wayne Sponsor "75th DU Diamond Anniversary Event" Thursday, May 17, 2012
IPFW University Adopt-A-Team Thursday, May 17, 2012
Big Lake Shoot Saturday, June 09, 2012
St Joseph Valley Greenwing Event Saturday, June 16, 2012
Greenwing Goose Banding @ Crosley State FWA Saturday, June 16, 2012
Crystal Valley Corn & Sausage Roast Thursday, August 02, 2012
Muscatatuck Dinner Banquet Saturday, September 08, 2012
Lowell Dinner Banquet Saturday, September 08, 2012
Three Rivers Waterfowl Hunters Party Saturday, September 08, 2012
Big 5 Banquet Friday, December 07, 2012
Indiana State Chairman
Curt Lee [email protected]
Indiana State Treasurer Pam Harkin [email protected]
Indiana State Chairman Elect
Jim Franz [email protected]
Indiana State Council Chairman Frank Wolka [email protected]
Indiana Regional Director – North
Dave Neal [email protected]
Indiana Regional Director – South Joe Borders [email protected]
Indiana Director of Developement
Doug Gorby [email protected]
Indiana Regional Biologist Michael Sertle [email protected]
Indiana State Webmaster/Newsletter
Randy Armstrong [email protected]
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Comments from State Chairman Curt Lee
WOW! I can’t think of any other way to describe our recent Volunteer Celebration Event in Indianapolis. There aren’t many better ways to spend an evening than with DU volunteers, and especially the great volunteers from Indiana. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to see old friends and to meet new people who share a common love of waterfowl and conservation. Thanks to all of the three hundred plus volunteers and their families who made the trip to Indy for this event. I want to especially thank our Regional Directors Dave Neal and Joe Borders for planning and organizing the event, and to the members of the State Leadership Team who gave up their time to manage the check in desk and run raffles – WELL DONE. As the name implies, the purpose of our Volunteer Celebration Event is to celebrate our accomplishments of the past year. It is also an opportunity to recognize those committees and volunteers who have made exceptional achievements in front of our fellow
IN DU volunteers. I was very proud to have been a part of the recognition program. This year twenty of the fifty two active chapters in the state were recognized with awards based on improvement above a set level over the past year. To have nearly 40% of our chapters going the extra mile to meet Top Flight criteria such as filling the hall, improving event efficiency and recruiting sponsors is a testament to the passion and dedication IN DU volunteers have for our conservation mission. Top Flight Awards were also presented to the District Chairs whose chapters collectively met high levels of growth as a result of their leadership and coaching. In addition to the Top Flight Awards other group and individual accomplishments of the past year were acknowledged for the Chapter raising the most funds through the Sealed Bid Auction program, most acres conserved, District Chair of the Year, Area Chair of the Year and the Volunteer of the Year. To all those committees and individuals receiving awards Congratulations for an outstanding year.
I want to say a few words about our State Treasurer Pam Harkin, who received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Pam has held this position for little over three years. As those of you who are treasurers of local committees know the treasurers’ post is many jobs rolled into one. It is no different at the state level. Pam has been accountant, business manager, supply chain manager, and marketing expert. Through her organization and hard work we have been able to liquidate several thousand dollars of surplus merchandise that had been accumulated from past state packages, and will finish this fiscal year with a surplus of operating funds to turn back to DU for conservation. Thanks Pam for a job well done.
A list of all of the award recipients and pictures of the event can be found later in this edition of the newsletter. Along with our state Top Flight Awards I want to congratulate our Presidential Citation Award Winners. These are chapters who have attained similar criteria as our State Top Flight Awards with higher standards at the National Level. IN DU Chapters receiving Presidential Citation Awards for 2011 are; Tipton County, Adams County, DeMotte and Crawfordsville. Also, For the third year in a row, Purdue University has made the DU Sweet Sixteen. This year they finished fifth in the nation of all University Chapters. Their highest finish yet. Congratulations to all of the IN DU chapters for their achievements at the National Level. This past week I met with my own local committee planning our upcoming membership dinner, a group of volunteers starting a new committee and the Indianapolis Sponsor Diamond Anniversary Event committee. Three very different groups with different fundraising focuses, however during the meeting all three took time to talk about their past season and ask about the spring nesting forecast and next year’s migration. As water fowlers and conservationists we have a firm commitment to not just preserving what we have, but making it better for future generations. As we celebrate our accomplishments of this past calendar year, and come to the close of another fiscal year I challenge each of you to stay focused on the DU 75th anniversary slogan “Conservation for Generations” In closing I want to remind you all of a couple of very important items. When it’s time to renew your vehicle registrations remember the DU license plate. Twenty five dollars of the special plate fee goes directly to conservation programs in Indiana. Secondly are the Diamond Anniversary events in Indianapolis, May 11th and Fort Wayne, May 17th. Plan to attend one of these events and help us raise $75,000 at each one to celebrate Ducks Unlimited 75th Anniversary. As always Thanks for all you do for the Ducks.
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“At Large” With Jim Prough
I have recently travel to the winter board meeting and I am happy to report that 75th year of Ducks Unlimited is off to a roaring start!!! I can’t wait to see the results and the impact for the Ducks! As I have done in this section of our newsletter, I try to explain some of the issues the Board faces, and what we do at our board meetings. The Ducks Unlimited Board of Directors have three official meetings per year: A fall board meeting (this year it’s in Indianapolis), A winter meeting; And before the National Convention.
The board meetings tend to have over 90% participation of the 60 board members, and this past meeting was no different. The board meeting sets the tone for the whole organization and the meeting’s agenda is packed full. We have reports from the CEO (Dale Hall), President (John Newman), Treasurer (Bob Hester), WAT (John Childs) and both sides of the border (Tom Worden DU Canada and Hoosier John Tompke DU Mexico). New Business is discussed and I won’t bore you with full reports but it is suffice to say that we have a lot going on in our 75th year. Some of the topics or items that I found interesting:
• Membership goals o 675,000 – 700,000 Currently 550,959 o WOW, that is a huge number!!! But a number that is needed to ensure that our good work
continues!! • Greenwings
o How to ensure that when they leave the Greenwing ranks they become DU members. • University Chapters
o How to grow the chapters and get them involved more into DU. They are our future leaders!!!
• Military Involvement o Sponsoring their attendance at the national convention, o The DU Challenge coin o The DU Challenge coin was a way for me to thank my family member for their military
service. These coins give them both the coin and a DU membership. The DU challenge coin recognizes all branches of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The history of the challenge coin: Challenge coins surfaced during the World War II era.
The practice of carrying a coin designed specifically for a unit was popular with the Army Special Forces. Carrying the coin at all times and presenting it when “challenged” to prove affiliation with that unit resulted in a number of consequences for those who could not produce a coin; the most popular required the coinless solder to buy a round of drinks. That practice continues to be popular today. I look forward to sharing more of the DU coins with members of the military as I make my way around the region.
Cont. on Pg. 6
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Indiana PRIDE INDU Social Media
What is Indiana PRIDE? The Ducks Unlimited Indiana PRIDE (Putting Resources Into Ducks Everywhere) program is securing major sponsors to support habitat conservation and our waterfowling heritage in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with special emphasis on the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River ecosystems. For 70 years, with the support of our volunteers, members and donors, Ducks Unlimited has been successful in turning grassroots dollars into habitat throughout North America. Your gift will leave a legacy on the landscape to be enjoyed by future generations and enhance our rich waterfowling heritage. Ducks Unlimited will use your gift in the most efficient manner, focusing on the highest priority areas in Indiana and North America. At least 80 cents of every donated dollar goes directly into habitat programs. For more details on sponsoring, please contact
Tom Quarandillo – (574) 264‐5567 Or
Doug Gorby – (734) 623‐2000
Get connected with Ducks Unlimited today and get exclusive updates, tips and tricks and other insider info online now. You can find DU on
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Myspace and more.
Facebook Check out DU's official Facebook page for the latest updates on conservation, hunting and more. "Like" Ducks Unlimited today and you
can join the conversation on our Facebook wall, upload fan photos and more! While you're there, show your support by joining DU's official Cause. More than 100,000 fans and
growing!
Twitter If you're looking for quick tips on the go, follow DU on Twitter! You'll get updates from DU's national headquarters and across the country about the latest DU news, conservation projects, hunting and migration information and more. You can even subscribe to receive DU tweets on
your mobile phone.
YouTube Ducks Unlimited's official YouTube channel has a great collection of videos to help improve your shooting, set up your decoys, clean your gear, train your dog and much more. Check out
all these videos and subscribe to DU on YouTube today!
Websites & Social Media for Local Chapters
Check the updated Indiana pages on the Ducks Unlimited website for links to local chapter web sites, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts & more.
Click here to get connected!
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The “OFF” Season (Things to do & read … When we’re not hunting) WF360
www.waterfowl360.com
DUTV
This season's wide range of hunts is sure to get you fired up as you witness rich waterfowling traditions, cupped wings and
amazing retrieves.
View air dates & times »
“At Large” ‐ Continued Happy 75th to: The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration of 1937 is most often referred to as the Pittman‐Robertson Act for its sponsors; Nevada Senator Key Pittman and Virginia Congressman Absalom Willis Robertson. The act was signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 2, 1937 and became effective on July 1 of the following year. It has been amended many times with several of the major changes taking place during the 1970s and the most recent taking place in 2000. The money for this act come from you the sportsman as it is a tax on firearms & ammunition. So once again the Sportsman or Sportswoman have done their fair share to help wildlife in America! Prior to the creation of the Pittman‐Robertson Act, many species of wildlife were driven to or near extinction by hunting pressure and/or habitat degradation from humans. The Act created an excise tax that provides funds to each state to manage such animals and their habitats. Notable species that have come back from the brink since the implementation of this act include white‐tailed deer, wild turkey, and wood ducks. Easement Refresher: During the board meeting, we had a refresher on what is a conservation easement and I learned several things. So, I thought I would share with you DU’s definition of a conservation easement: A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a property owner, the donor and a qualified conservation organization or agency, or the holder, in which the owner voluntarily agrees to restrict the type and amount of development that may take place on his or her property. A conservation easement is a way to preserve property that has a conservation or historic value while keeping the property in its natural and undeveloped state and still maintaining ownership of the property. The owner also keeps the right to use property for economic gain or recreation and the right to sell or deed the property to another. A donation of a conservation easement also may reduce estate, income and property taxes. National Convention: It is time for Indiana DU to head south to Nashville for our 75th celebration and the National convention! I want to tell you that national convention, is not just for state leaders or area chairman, it is for anyone who wants to know more and celebrate with like minded individuals from across the country. Do not think ‐‐ I won’t know anyone or will I feel out of place? There will be plenty of opportunity to meet new DU friends and there is a place for everyone young and old! Jean and I have been attending National Convention over 5 or more years and have met folks from Alaska to Florida. Of course, Jean knows them all by name. Please consider coming and be part of the Indiana delegation to OUR national convention. I am working on shirts for all those who attend, or maybe you just want a shirt that says I am INDIANA DU! I will have details in upcoming newsletter. Please do not hesitate to call or email, with questions or concerns about national or regional issues. Be safe and invite a friend to a DU event. Jim Prough
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Award Winning Chapters not pictured:
Teal Top Flight Award – Crystal Valley Chapter – Chairman Brian Mueller
Mallard Top Flight Award – Posey Co. Chapter – Chairman Dennis Blackburn
Mallard Top Flight Award – White Rivers West Fork – Co Chairs Julie & Brandon Chapman
Pintail Top Flight Award – DeMotte Chapter – Chairman Carl Meyers
Pintail Top Flight Award – Crawfordsville Chapter – Chairman Lyle Schmidt
District Chairman Mallard Top Flight Award – David Nienaber
Chapter of the year – Elkhart Chapter – Chairman Charlie Books
Chapter of the Year – White Rivers West Fork – Co Chairs Julie & Brandon Chapman
Congratulations to all our 2011 award winning chapters!!!
2011 Bronze Presidential Citation Winners Tipton County Adams County
DeMotte Crawfordsville
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What are we DUing?
CONGRATS!!!
Purdue University finished 5th in the Country in the Sweet 16 – their best ranking yet!
Read more on pg. 19
DU License Plates!
500 plates must be ordered in 2012 to recover the bond we’ve secured to put the INDU plate into production… Find out more!
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What are we DUing?
Northwest Indiana’s “Big 5” Event Some of you may be aware of Northwest Indiana’s longstanding “Big 5” Event and some of you may
not. The “Big 5” Event is a vehicle that ties a significant portion of northwestern Indiana DU chapters together for our common goal of raising bucks for the ducks. The “Big 5” refers to the 5 sponsors who back the funding for the events “gun vault” full of firearm prizes!
Here is how it works. Each year the “Big 5” committee starts by selecting a featured decoy for that
year’s event. These decoys are offered to Indiana chapters in the NW quarter of the state for use in their fundraising events however they see fit. The catch to the whole “Big 5 Decoy” resides in the prize! The winner of each decoy receives two tickets to the “Big 5” Event, the decoy itself and is guaranteed to walk home with one of the events firearms. This year’s event consisted of 24 decoys and the list of firearms included everything from pistols and shotguns to a military commemorative Henry that had everyone hoping they held the lucky number!
Each chapter utilizes their decoy in their own manner. Using the allure of a guaranteed firearm and
two free tickets to a very nice event, it’s not difficult to raise $500 to $2,000 or better on this single item. The event is held in December after all the individual chapters have utilized their decoys. The decoy winners and chapter members along with a hall full of event attendees come together for a chance at the last remaining decoys and to see who walks home with the top guns not to mention the live auction, silent auction, tier raffle and walk‐arounds.
This event will see big changes for the 75th anniversary of DU that will continue to expand it’s ability
to bring chapters together and added bucks for the ducks. First and foremost are plans to expand the number of sponsors to, well, as many as we can get. More sponsors means more prizes and this will warrant the name change to the “Big Ducks ” event. The “Big Ducks” referring to the generous sponsors. The next big change will be moving the event to a Friday or possibly a Saturday night instead of the traditional Wednesday night. This will make it easier for winners from distant chapters such as Purdue to attend the event historically held near Merrillville Indiana (event attendance is not required to receive your prize as a decoy winner).
Participation is a key to this event. We would love to see two or more committee members from
each of our participating chapters attending this event to show their decoy winners that they support this event. Some chapters, like the Big Lake chapter, went above and beyond filling tables this year! Seeing faces from all over NW INDU chapters renews faith in our successful DU fundraising system!
This year’s event was a huge success, better than doubling last year’s event, and plans for 2012 are
to have a complete blowout! For more information on the “Big Ducks” event, acquiring a decoy for your event or the opportunity to become a “Big Duck” sponsor and enjoy the benefits of sponsorship, please contact Jason, Pete or Randy at:
Jason Kleine
Pete Beischer
Randy Armstrong
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Success in the Field
Member photos of the Who, What, When and Where DUer’s are getting it done!
John Jackson Hendricks County Chapter
Good Dog Tilly!
John’s pup “Tilly” with the first band of the 2011 season.
Hoosier Upland Wings Crystal Valley Chapter
Bob Roth, Wayne Andrews and
Dave Neal with the best lookin’ of the bunch ………. Kaiah.
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Wa-Nee Chapter Member Headed To World’s Duck Calling Championship!
ELKHART — What Thomas Kreuter likes most about hunting waterfowl is the interaction between himself and the birds. Using a wooden duck call that he keeps on a lanyard draped around his neck, he lures the birds closer to his hunting spot, a talent that he has mastered over the past several years. This skill recently helped the Elkhart sportsman snag first place at the Indiana State Duck Calling Contest. The win has qualified him to compete Nov. 24 at the World's Duck Calling Championship where he will face off against about 70 contestants.
Kreuter, 29, entered his first duck calling contest in 2007 as a way to keep his skills in check when hunting season was over. He didn't make it past the first round, a disappointing defeat that pushed him to work harder. “It was all new, and I didn't know what was going on,” he said. “It took me quite a while to get to where I am now.” Since then, Kreuter has competed at least 15 times in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. But his most recent victory in Indianapolis was the greatest of them all, he said. A single point separated him from the second place contestant. “The feeling was right up there with having the kids and having a wife,” said Kreuter, whose American Kennel Club‐registered black Labrador retriever, Drake, accompanies him on hunting trips. Kreuter has two children, 2‐year‐old Camden and 6‐year‐old Kailyn. Kailyn will enter her first duck calling contest next month in Grand Rapids, Mich. “I'm his biggest fan,” said his wife, Jocelyn Kreuter. “I think I was shaking more than he was when he won [in Indianapolis.]” Tony Workman, chairman of the Indiana competition, said he thinks Kreuter will do well at the championship. “He's a very, very good caller,” Workman said. “He's got good power. He is a consistent caller.” Kreuter and his family will travel this fall to Stuttgart, Ark., a small city known as the “Rice and Duck Capital of the World.” The championship, organized by the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, is part of the Wings Over the Prairie Festival. The week long celebration draws close to 30,000 people each year, Stuttgart chamber executive director Stephen Bell estimated. The championship is held around Thanksgiving to help kick off duck hunting season. If Kreuter wins the championship, he will be the first person from Indiana to do so in the contest's 77‐
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year history. Most of the participants, Bell said, flock from states along the Mississippi River, which follows the natural migration of ducks to their breeding areas in Canada. Each contestant performs a 90‐second routine demonstrating four types of duck calls. Contestants are scored by a panel of five judges, including former world champs and local hunters. “It's blind judging, so the judges don't actually see [the contestants],” Bell said. “It's a lot like a musical instrument. They listen for the right notes, the right tone and what we call a really clean routine where everything all flows together.” Kreuter said his routine paints a picture of what it's like to go hunting. “You have the birds a long distance away, so you have to blow some hail calls to try to get their attention,” he said. “When the birds come closer, you do some intermediate calling. And if the birds are circling, you do a feed call. If the birds see something they like and they take off, you can do a come back call.” The championship usually attracts an audience of close to 300 people while others tune into local radio stations or watch a live Internet feed of the contest, Bell noted. “People who are into duck hunting are pretty rabid about it,” he said. The top winner will take home $8,000, a new boat, a championship ring and a large trophy in the shape of a duck call. Surrounded by competition memorabilia, Kreuter said he practices duck calls in his den a few times a week. As the championship nears, he said he'll be practicing more often using an acrylic duck call.
“The sound is really crisp and loud,” he said, comparing the instrument's tone to the softer sound of the wooden call he uses for hunting. Kreuter said he feels confident about the upcoming championship, but he's keeping a level head. “I know there is going to be a lot of tough competition,” he said. “But I just have to basically treat it as if I was just going to another state contest, kind of tune everything out and do your best.”
Congratulations Thomas!
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Media Contact: Kristin Schrader (734) 623-2000 [email protected]
Governor signs gaming legislation INDIANAPOLIS – March 22, 2012 – Waterfowl and other wildlife will be the ultimate beneficiaries of legislation signed by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels last Friday. Senate Enrolled Act 315, authored by state Sen. Randy Head and sponsored in the house by state Rep. Mark Messmer, streamlines the licensing and reporting process for charity auctions, such as Ducks Unlimited fundraising banquets. “This legislation is really common sense,” said Gildo Tori, Ducks Unlimited director of public policy. “It allows national organizations like DU to acquire one license to be used by local affiliates. It replaces a lengthy process with a 21‐day application period, for example—just one of the things that make it easier for philanthropic organizations like DU to raise money for worthy causes.” Indiana’s 11,561 DU members raised more than $600,000 through 87 events run by 52 individual volunteer committees in 2011. That money goes into habitat that benefits waterfowl, primarily wetlands and associated grasslands. “It’s great to see positive things happening in fundraising,” said Curt Lee, Indiana DU state chairman. “Between this and the new DU license plate, we’re really encouraged about the future of wetlands and waterfowl conservation in our state and across the country.” Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, with special events, projects and promotions across the continent. Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/ducksunlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/ducksunlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/ducksunlimitedinc.
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Media Contact: Emily Havens (901) 758-3851 [email protected]
Ducks Unlimited Sweet 16 university chapters recognized for outstanding volunteer, fundraising efforts
Collegiate volunteers play vital role in supporting conservation MEMPHIS, Tenn. – March 23, 2012 – Each spring, Ducks Unlimited announces its Sweet 16 list of top‐producing volunteer university chapters throughout the nation. This elite group is considered the best of the best when it comes to fundraising and overall chapter strength. To qualify for this year’s Sweet 16, chapters must have raised more than $14,000 during the 2011 calendar year. Collegiate chapters throughout the country raised more than $600,000 in 2011, more than $300,000 of which was from the Sweet 16 chapters. "Ducks Unlimited's university program continues to be a vital part of our organization’s mission. It is a valued revenue generator for our conservation efforts, as well as an important source of organizational awareness and leadership," said David Schuessler, DU's national director of grassroots fundraising. "I congratulate not only the Sweet 16 chapter volunteers but all college students who have chosen to support DU through university chapters, and I encourage those who have not attended an event to come share in the excitement and fun!"
This year’s Sweet 16 college chapters are: 1. North Carolina State University 2. East Carolina University 3. Milwaukee School of Engineering 4. Texas A&M University 5. Purdue University 6. Mississippi State University 7. University of Alabama 8. University of South Carolina
9. Bemidji State University 10. Western Kentucky University 11. The Citadel 12. Lamar University 13. Kansas State University 14. Stephen F. Austin State University 15. Boise State University 16. Louisiana Tech University
Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, DU is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, with special events, projects and promotions across the continent. Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent.
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Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 1
NORTHEAST POTHOLES PROGRAM A TREMENDOUS SUCCESSFor more than a decade, the Northeast Potholes Program has been one of Ducks Unlimited’s most successful conservation programs in the state of Indiana. In partnership with many other conservation entities, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Pheasants Forever, DU has successfully restored more than 1,210 acres of native prairie grasslands and 288 acres of emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetlands through 170 individual projects. The overwhelming majority of these restorations have occurred in Elkhart, LaGrange, Steuben, Kosciusko, Noble, DeKalb, Whitley and Allen counties in northeast Indiana. Due to the widespread success of the Northeast Potholes Program, in 2012 DU and its conservation partners will be expanding the focus area to include St. Joseph, Marshall and Fulton counties. The new 11-county focus area will allow DU and its partners to restore and enhance even more high-quality wetlands and grasslands across northern Indiana.
Funding for the Northeast Potholes Program has been provided by DU major sponsors, two North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants, the NiSource Environmental Challenge Fund, the SportDOG Brand Conservation Fund and conservation partner funds. Upon completion of the most recent NAWCA grant, DU and its partners will apply for a third grant to continue the successful conservation of wetlands and grasslands important to nesting and migrating waterfowl. If the grant is secured, DU and its partners will begin the next phase of Northeast Potholes projects in spring 2013.
Northeast Indiana was historically dotted with countless small wetlands surrounded by large expanses of native grasses, combining to offer high-quality nesting and brooding habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Much of this habitat has been cleared and drained to facilitate agriculture and other developments but remains available for restoration. In cooperation with conservation-minded private landowners, DU and its partners have been able to return productive wildlife habitat to the landscape.
Emergent wetlands and native prairie grasslands restored through the Northeast Potholes Program
2012 Conservation report • Celebrating DuCks unlimiteD’s 75th anniversary
IndianaGreat Lakes / atLantic reGion
www.ducks.org2
DU SUPPORTS PATOKA RIVER NWR EXPANSIONDucks Unlimited has been a proud supporter of the Patoka river national Wildlife refuge (nWr) for nearly two decades and in that time has partnered on numerous occasions with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to protect and restore wetland and upland habitats located within Patoka River NWR. Over the years, DU and the USFWS have acquired thousands of acres of wetlands and uplands and restored and reforested thousands more.
In 2011, with funding provided by other conservation partners, DU combined its resources with the USFWS to acquire three additional properties for inclusion in Patoka River NWR. The largest of these acquisitions was the 93-acre Howe Tract, a large
forested wetland bordering the Patoka River and containing many of its remnant oxbows. This large complex of emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetlands provides quality migration and wintering habitat for numerous species of waterfowl and other migratory birds. The other two acquisitions include the 80.5-acre Bryant Tract and 30-acre Loveless Tract. Each of these tracts is composed of a mixture of forested, emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands and former agricultural fields. Following the reforestation of the agricultural fields to bottomland hardwoods, these tracts will provide additional breeding and migration habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. As part of Patoka River NWR, each of these new acquisition properties is open to public recreation.
A bottomland hardwood forested wetland permanently protected at Patoka River NWR
PRAIRIE CREEK RESERVOIR ENHANCEMENT COMPLETEDLocated in Delaware county, Prairie creek reservoir provides excellent habitat for a variety of wildlife and fish. However, a 20-acre wetland located southwest of the reservoir had become degraded due to high turbidity and a lack of wetland vegetation. In 2011, a carp-exclusion grate was installed along County Road 461 to prevent invasive common carp from entering the wetland. During spawning season, the carp increase the turbidity of the wetland and uproot plants important to other wildlife and fish species. The carp-exclusion grate was designed to allow other less-destructive fish species to pass through the grate while still maintaining a productive wetland for other wildlife species, including migrating waterfowl. Ducks Unlimited completed this enhancement project in partnership with several conservation entities, including Indiana American Water, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Delaware County Highway Department, Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District, Muncie Parks and Recreation Department, White River Watershed Project, FlatLand Resources, Ball State University and Robert Cooper Audubon Society.
A shallow wetland enhanced at Prairie Creek Reservoir by the installation of a carp exclusion grate.
H a b i t a t H a P P e n i n G s
Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 3
DU AND PARTNERS CONTINUE BOTTOMLAND CONSERVATIONas part of an ongoing conservation partnership between the U.s. Fish & Wildlife service, Duke energy and Ducks Unlimited, 30 acres of bottomland forest were restored and 8 acres of emergent wetlands were enhanced on the Cousert Tract at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Following the purchase of the 32-acre tract in 2010, Duke, USFWS and DU planted 12,500 hardwood seedlings to begin reforestation. Through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, the USFWS enhanced an additional 8 acres of wetlands by removing field drain tile and installing small earthen levees. These enhancements will provide new seasonal wetlands on the property for waterfowl and other wildlife. In 2012, DU will transfer ownership of the Cousert Tract to the USFWS for inclusion in Patoka River NWR and re-invest those funds in other land-protection efforts in the area.
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AT DEEP RIVER HEADWATERSin fall 2011, after nearly a decade of planning due to delays in securing state-level clearances and project funding, construction began on the Deep River Headwaters wetlands restoration project. Located at the Lake County Parks Department’s (LCP) 260-acre
Beaver Dam Wetland Conservation Area, this 90-acre project involves the restoration of three individual wetland units through the creation of earthen levees, removal of field drain tile and installation of a water control structure. Ducks Unlimited provided the engineering design and construction management services for the project, with funding provided by LCP and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. An additional 100 acres of native warm-season prairie grasslands and oak savannah interspersed among the three wetlands will also be restored by LCP. Upon completion, this project area will contain a splendid 190-acre complex of emergent, scrub-shrub and forested wetlands and native prairie. The benefits for breeding and migrating waterfowl and other wildlife, including federal and state endangered species, are expected to be immediate and widespread.
FIELD B RESTORATION COMPLETEin spring 2009, Ducks Unlimited and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources identified a new wetlands restoration opportunity at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area. Referred to as Field B, this wetland basin was drained with ditches, field tiles and culverts to facilitate row-crop agriculture. DU, in partnership with the IDNR, National Wild Turkey Federation and Duke Energy, removed the culverts and installed a water control structure at the site. The IDNR will utilize the restored wetland as a managed waterfowl impoundment, with a mixture of moist-soil vegetation, emergent wetland and some flooded grain for the benefit of migrating and wintering waterfowl and other wildlife. To assist in the completion of this project, DU and its partners were awarded a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant to augment partner funds. Utilizing these funds, the IDNR finished the construction on this project in summer 2011. The newly completed project will provide an additional 200 acres of wetland habitat and increased waterfowl hunting opportunities at Goose Pond.
H a b i t a t H a P P e n i n G s
A drained wetland basin which is being restored at Beaver Dam Wetland Conservation Area
Ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes using the Field B wetland the first year following its restoration.
www.ducks.org4
H a b i t a t H a P P e n i n G s
CROPLIFE AMERICA ENHANCEMENTS UNDERWAYthrough Ducks Unlimited’s former cropLife america Program, DU partnered with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on a multi-year project to enhance approximately 250 acres of waterfowl habitat at Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area (FWA), and with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to enhance approximately 120 acres of waterfowl habitat at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge
(NWR). Thanks to two separate gifts from Dow AgroSciences through the CropLife America Program, 300 gallons of Rodeo herbicide were donated to the IDNR and 75 gallons of Crossbow herbicide were donated to the USFWS for woody invasive and herbaceous weed control in the two management areas. To date, the IDNR has enhanced 75 acres of emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands at Kankakee FWA and the USFWS has enhanced 30 acres of forested wetlands and upland nesting habitat. Both agencies plan to treat the remaining acres in 2012. The enhanced wetland and upland habitats will provide increased benefit to breeding and migrating waterfowl and other migratory birds at both ends of the state.
A portion of the Kankakee FWA which has been treated and enhanced with donated CropLife America herbicide
INAUGURAL VOLUNTEER TOUR A SUCCESSas Ducks Unlimited continues to evolve as the world’s leading wetlands conservation organization, new outreach efforts are being made to further educate and involve DU’s volunteers and supporters in our on-the-ground conservation efforts. The first of these outreach efforts in Indiana was held in November 2011. DU volunteer leaders and major sponsors from throughout southwest Indiana were invited to join DU and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff on a half-day tour of DU’s completed, current and future projects at Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Highlights included site visits to DU engineering projects, major-sponsor-funded acquisitions and projects funded by North American Wetlands Conservation Act grants. Featured stops included the Dillin Moist Soil Units, Clements Tract and Evans Tract. During the interactive tour, participants learned about DU’s longstanding conservation partnerships at the Patoka River NWR, and what DU is doing on the ground to conserve waterfowl breeding, migration and wintering habitat in southwest Indiana. DU hopes to build upon the success of this inaugural tour with similar tours in other areas of the state.
DU volunteers and supporters touring the Clements Tract at Patoka River NWR
Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 55
MEET YOUR INDIANA BIOLOGIST
20 completed projects
569.5 acres conserved
5,911 acres of technical assistance
$479,741 invested
2011AccompLishments
c o n s e r v a t i o n s U m m a r y
michael sertle has directed Ducks Unlimited’s conservation programs in Indiana and southwest Michigan since May 2007. Michael previously worked for the U.S. Geological Survey in North Dakota where he conducted waterfowl,
wetland, and endangered species research. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Western Illinois University, and a master’s degree in Wildlife Management from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. Michael is an avid waterfowl
and deer hunter, and enjoys
fishing and playing rugby.
Contact Information:
michael sertle Regional Biologist [email protected] 734-623-2000.
DUcks UnLimiteDp R o j e c t s
completed featured
note: project points may represent more than one project.
expanded ne Potholes region
Patoka river nWr expansion
Field b restoration
www.ducks.org6
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT IN 2012Ducks Unlimited has contributed a strong voice for wetlands conservation across North America for 75 years, and works as a voice for waterfowl protections in national and state public policy.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act is the most significant federal program that DU partners with to protect and conserve habitat for North America’s migratory bird populations. This program provides grants to partner groups—private landowners, local companies, conservation organizations, and more—who have matched the grant funds by raising money from non-federal sources. These funds are then used to impact wetlands that are in need of protection, and competition for these funds means the match is typically 2-3 times the grant amount.
2012 will be critical for NAWCA in two ways. First, NAWCA requires reauthorization every five years, with the current bill expiring in 2012. DU is seeking congressional support for bills in the Senate and the House that would reauthorize the program until 2017. This would allow the Congress to fund these wetland grants.
Second, federal budgets are lean this year and funding for programs such as NAWCA are at risk. NAWCA brings in more money to the federal treasury than it cost. It also creates thousands of jobs each year, and creates business for hotels, restaurants, plant nurseries, construction companies, and many others. This program is an incredibly valuable tool for natural resource protection in this country. It deserves strong, active support from DU supporters.
please help by visiting www.ducks.org/nawca or by calling your senators and house member to express your support for nAWcA.
A gift of real estate is an excellent way to support Ducks Unlimited and take advantage of significant tax deductions. You have several options when donating real estate, each with unique benefits for both you and DU.
GIvInG optIons:Outright gift of real estate. Real estate that you no• longer use or wish to own, but is owned outright and readily marketable can be gifted to DU. Gifts of habitat lands are especially important to our mission.
Gift of real estate with retained life use.• You may gift your principle residence to DU and retain the right to continue to live and use the property for the rest of your life. Such a gift is deductible in the year the gift is made, not at the end of the retained life interest.
Gift of real estate through CRT.• For landowners who wish to continue to gain income from their property, there is an option called a Charitable Remainder trust, or CRT. The owner transfers the property to the trust, the trust sells the property, usually avoiding capital gains taxes (check with your tax advisor) and then the proceeds of the sale are invested to provide income to the owner for their life. The owner should receive a tax deduction for the gift and DU receives the balance of the trust after their death. There are a number of options available, please visit DU’s gift planning website at: http://www.ducks.org/conservation/land-protection/donations-or-gifts-of-land
sUppoRtinG the vision
Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 7
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF CONSERVATION SUCCESSby Dale HallDucks Unlimited CEO
this year marks a very special time for Ducks Unlimited. On Jan. 29, 1937, the More Game Birds in America organization transitioned into what would become the greatest wetland and waterfowl habitat conservation organization in the world! Throughout this year, we will be celebrating our 75th anniversary, and we have a great deal to celebrate.
From our beginnings in Manitoba at Big Grass Marsh with a project that impacted 100,000 acres, to our current partnership with the Pew Charitable Trusts to conserve 1 billion acres in the vast boreal forests, our work has been based on the simple principle of cooperation with others. During DU’s first years, struggling farmers were DU’s best partners; the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression were in full swing
and significant acres of wetlands were being converted to farmland. The partnership with farmers was based on “water on the ground, ducks in the air,” and immediately elevated DU’s status as a group of people who wanted to roll up their sleeves and solve problems.
The very first volunteers to answer the call were hunters. Hunters seemed to intuitively know that in order to have enough ducks to enjoy our passionate and recuperative pursuit, there had to be healthy habitats. In 1934, when the depression had more people in bread lines and westward caravans than were gainfully employed, duck hunters lobbied Congress to require them to pay to go hunting! This was followed in 1937 by another tax lobbied for by hunters, as well as the firearm and ammunition industries, to place a tax on these items to be used only for conservation. This law is still in place today and supports state fish and wildlife agencies. Also in 1937, Ducks Unlimited Incorporated and Ducks Unlimited Canada were born.
With DUC as the original mechanism to deliver projects on the ground in Canada, our partnership has been long and rich with science-based decisions and volunteer-driven passion. Until the 1980s, all work done by DU was in Canada. Then science began to unveil the importance of migratory and wintering habitat. DUI has continued its partnership with DUC to conserve valuable nesting grounds, but has expanded to include projects in all 50 states. We are rapidly closing in on 13 million acres conserved in Canada and the United States, with a target of 750 million to 1 billion more acres conserved in the boreal forests of Canada. What an accomplishment to celebrate!
But as we celebrate these great successes along with our numerous partners, we must not become complacent and think the job is done. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we are still losing more acres than we are able to conserve each year in the United States, and the pressures to convert valuable waterfowl habitat to other uses is greater than ever. In Canada and Mexico, those pressures are equally formidable.
Our challenges are great, but with the continued dedication of our volunteers, members and professional staff, Ducks Unlimited WILL NOT FAIL! I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible over the next 12 months as we celebrate 75 years of phenomenal accomplishment. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, DUCKS UNLIMITED!
sUppoRtinG the vision
8
KANKAKEE FWA PRIDE DEDICATIONin september 2011, Ducks Unlimited recognized 21 major sponsors and their families with a site dedication and bronze cairn unveiling at Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area’s (FWA) Kiwani Marsh. In attendance at the event were numerous DU volunteers, conservation partners and members of the media. Indiana DU Major Gifts Chairman Tom Quarandillo gave remarks recognizing the value of conservation partners and DU major sponsors in effectively delivering valuable habitat. He also discussed the Indiana PRIDE program (Putting Resources Into Ducks Everywhere) and the potential for local protection and restoration efforts.
Kiwani Marsh had been drained and ditched for agricultural use at the beginning of the last century. Recent efforts focused on restoring the once-thriving wetland to high-quality habitat. The area has become a destination for birders who enjoy viewing a diverse list of species.
“The nice thing about working at Kankakee is that we’re continuing to add productive acres for wildlife and people to enjoy,” DU Regional Biologist Mike Sertle said. “We’ve been working here for years, slowly restoring the area to what the Grand Kankakee Marsh once was.”
DU partnered with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Waterfowl USA, Indiana Grand Kankakee Marsh Restoration Project (IGKMRP) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) to restore Kiwani Marsh, the last three of which provided additional funding for the project. DU completed the engineering design for the IDNR construction of the wetland.
GET INDIANA PRIDEindiana PriDe (Putting resources into Ducks everywhere) is a major gift campaign developed by Ducks Unlimited to secure major sponsors in support of habitat conservation and our waterfowling heritage. Indiana PRIDE offers DU major sponsors the option of directing their gift toward the statewide Indiana Conservation Program, a specific Indiana Conservation Priority Area or other continental DU priorities. Donors also have the option to fulfill their pledge over a five-year period and receive cumulative credit for past DU contributions. In turn, PRIDE donors are recognized at a DU project in Indiana.
PRIDE dollars are leveraged by DU conservation staff against other funding sources, such as federal grants and conservation partner funds, to effectively turn each PRIDE dollar into four or more for conservation in Indiana! To learn more about Indiana PRIDE, contact your local DU regional director, Indiana’s major gift chairman, the Indiana director of development or the Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Office.
DU INDIANA LICENSE PLATEWhat is it? A specialty plate for passenger cars, trucks up to 11,000 pounds, motorcycles and recreational vehicles, which features the Indiana Ducks Unlimited logo
What is it for? All proceeds generated from the sale of Indiana Ducks Unlimited license plates support wetland habitat conservation in Indiana.
How much does it cost? The cost of the Ducks Unlimited license plate includes vehicle registration fees and taxes, a group fee of $25 and an administrative fee of $15. That means for every plate purchased, $25 goes to Indiana projects.
can i get one now? Yes. Indiana DU license plates are available through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles website or at BMV offices. You don’t even have to wait until your plate renewal date: you can renew at any time.
What is the bmv website address? http://www.in.gov/bmv/3030.htm
Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 23,000 acres in Indiana with the support of the state’s more than 10,000 members. The Indiana Ducks Unlimited license plate is another great way to support local conservation.
F r i e n D s o F D U c k s U n L i m i t e D
Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores
and manages wetlands and associated habitats for
north america’s waterfowl. these habitats also
benefit other wildlife and people.1220 Eisenhower Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734.623.2000 • 734.623.2035 (Fax)
DX 75
Ducks Unlimited: Great Lakes / Atlantic Regional Office • 1220 Eisenhower Place Ann Arbor, MI 48108
InDIAnA ACRES COnSERVED BY COUnTY
Indiana Conservation Totals
25,763 acres conserved
$ 11,258,468 invested
lake1,087 acres
porter80 acres
laporte441 acres
st. joseph566 acres
elkhart104 acres
lagrange79 acres
steuben913 acres
dekalb391 acres
noble142 acres
kosciusko122 acres
marshall87 acresstarke
242 acresallen
243 acres
whitley468 acresfulton
62 acrespulaski20 acres
jasper166 acresnewton
409 acres
benton400 acres
whitecass
36 acres
carroll37 acres
miami7 acres
wabash34 acres huntington
335 acres
wells
adams2 acres
jay26 acres
blackfordgranthoward
5 acrestippecanoe
21 acres clinton42 acres
warren24 acres
fountain269 acres
tipton
madison1 acre
delaware48 acres randolph
93 acreshamilton
16 acresboone9 acresmontgomery
5 acres wayne2 acres
henry84 acres
hancockmarion21 acres
hendricks3 acres
putnam
parkevermillion
33 acres
vigo672 acres
clay22 acres
owen2 acres
morganjohnson15 acres
shelby
rushfayette3 acres
union
franklin
decatur
bartholomewbrown52 acresmonroe
greene11,464 acres
dearborn26 acres
ripley62 acres
jennings46 acres
jackson103 acreslawrence
10 acres
martin28 acres
daviess22 acres
sullivan116 acres
knox150 acres
ohio
jefferson5 acres
switzerland
scottwashington
191 acresorange372 acres clark
floyd
harrison
crawford102 acres
dubois38 acres
pike2,035 acres
gibson2,045 acres
perryspencer235 acres
warrick280 acresvander-
burghposey
1,071 acres
29
Messages from the Editor
The Indiana newsletter belongs to all of us! I would hope that everyone can realize the value in chapter participation and consider asking a committee member to volunteer as a newsletter chairman, so to speak, to send in material to be included in future issues. The more we get to know each other the more we (and the ducks) will benefit.
In order to make this happen I will need your help. I encourage ANYONE & EVERYONE on your
chapters to submit news, stories, photos, accomplishments and recognitions no matter how big/small to share with the rest of your DU family. I promise to make every effort to include everything you send me and space is not an issue ... I guarantee you can't send too much (that is a direct challenge).
Thanks, Randy Armstrong INDU Newsletter Editor/Webmaster CPDU Secretary/Webmaster
Send questions, comments and article submissions to:
Your headlines should be in here!
Volunteering takes special efforts from special people and Ducks Unlimited is full of both! Highlight what your chapter is doing and be proud of the difference you make every day.
What we have today wouldn’t be much without what you’ve
done yesterday.
