NEWS & INFORMATION FOR DUCKS UNLIMITED MEMBERS Content/_documents... · list of events, dates and contacts. ***** We are planning our State Convention for next spring. I encourage

Alabama Ducks Unlimited Fall 20091

INSIDE:2................State Chairman’s Message3................Regional Director Report4-7.............State Youth Event8................2009 Convention Awards9................Bill Ireland Tribute10..............2010 State Convention12-15........Conservation, Habitat & Policy17-19........The Outdoors Corner

ALABAMADUCKS UNLIMITED

NEWSLETTER

NEWS & INFORMATION FOR DUCKS UNLIMITED

MEMBERS

Fall 2009


My motto:DREAM-PLAN-ACT 4 DU

ONGRATULATIONS FELLOW DU MEMBERS. If you are

reading this, then you are a member of our great DU Team!!! I hope this finds all of you rested from your summer vacations and ready to “Work for the Ducks”!

Alabama DU welcomes John Pope, of Jacksonville FL to the role of DU’s President for the next two years! John, the TOP volunteer of DU, officially “took the baton” from immediate past president Bruce Lewis at DU’s National Convention in Denver late May. John assures a smooth transition will insure DU’s continued leadership in restoring, managing and conserving waterfowl habitats for future generations.

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As fall approaches, our volunteers are working diligently with Shawn putting together their Dinners, WHP’s and Sponsor events. The calendar is filling up and that is so great to see.

Your attendance at the upcoming events in your area is crucial for DU’s mission of conservation and protection of key waterfowl habitats. Each of you are vitally important to the welfare of our Ducks. Go to the website www.ducks.org to find out what is happening in your area. You’ll see a list of events, dates and contacts.

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We are planning our State Convention for next spring. I encourage each of you who have never attended before, to please put this date on your calendar and join in the fun, fellowship and recognition. We’ll return to 5-Star Plantation near Alex City on April 23-25. We welcome ALL of you to come and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Awards are given to outstanding DCs, AC’s State leaders and chapters in acknowledgment of their years’ work. Long-time volunteer and current ALDU Recruitment Chairman, Wayne Keith, will succeed me at the 5 Star Convention. I know he will continue with the passion for DU as I have and as all previous State Chairmen have had before me. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

I would also like to remind each of you about one of my passions for the Ducks, the Alabama License Tag program. It not only raises

$$$$$$$$ for our Ducks, it also keeps us aware of our fellow DU members on the road. We own 3 DU Tags-“HONK”, we will buy you a cup of coffee!!

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The next several months are our busiest months for events. DU members reading this, contact me, Shawn Battison or Wayne Keith, my recruitment Chairman. If you only have time to sell some tickets for the events, it will be appreciated. We have to “Fill the Halls to Fill the Skies “and that means selling tickets to the events. Step up and show your DU colors-lend us a hand in making these events successful. The Ducks in the fields and sky are not aware of our economy so we must continue to make sure they survive and multiply. As you read this, pick up the phone, call a friend and invite them to be a DUCKS UNLIMITED MEMBER as we are!!!

All Ducks Unlimited members share a special bond. I am grateful to be a part of such an outstanding organization. I am confident in our ability because I have seen the good work that so many of you have done in the past and I know that each of you are capable team members, able to work efficiently side by side with me and our great staff to do whatever we set our minds to do. I look forward to seeing many of you at the fall and spring events. Stand tall in the knowledge that we believe in the DU Mission and do all we can to see that wetlands are conserved for today, tomorrow and forever.

DREAM-PLAN-ACT 4DUCKS UNLIMITED

Karen WoodAlabama State Chairman

Home: [email protected]: [email protected]

Home: 256-732-4695Business: 256-230-0339

Alabama DU Major Donors

New Life Sponsors:Clyde & Cindy Butler

(Jackson County)Robert & Elizabeth Word

(Jackson County)

Major Donor upgrades:

Heritage Sponsor:Gus & Kathi King

(Pike County)Benefactor:

Steve & Lucy Whatley(Anniston)

Karen Wood - Athens

ALDU StateVolunteer Leaders

State Chairman Karen Wood Athens AL - (256) 230-0339 [email protected]

State Volunteer Recruitment Chairman& State Chairman-ElectWayne Keith Mobile AL - (251) 476-3610 [email protected]

State SecretaryCarol Sutfin Birmingham AL - (205) [email protected]

State TreasurerGreg Hodges Huntsville AL - (256) 722-8181 [email protected]

State Council Chairman Greg Gregerson Gadsden AL - (256) 490-1139 [email protected]

Regional VP & State MajorDonor ChairmanStephen Whatley Anniston AL - (256) 405-8013 [email protected]

State Greenwing Chairman Colin McRaeEutaw AL - (205) [email protected]

State Convention ChairsBob & Sharon Suellentrop Birmingham AL - (205) 913-6710 [email protected]

State WebmasterGrady Gunnels Chelsea AL - (205) 297-5813 [email protected]

State Newsletter EditorA. H. “Gus” King Troy AL - (334) 372-7252 [email protected]

AL Department ofNatural Resources LiaisonChuck Sharp Silverhill AL - (251) 626-5474 [email protected]

Sr. Vice-PresidentMonty Lewis Thomasville GA - (229) 228-4427 [email protected]

Alabama District Chairmen

District #1 Chair Hughey, Chad (256)565-4747 [email protected] #2 Chair Stone, Russell (256)990-1718 [email protected] #3 Chair Farrar, Scott (256)490-9322 [email protected] #4 Chair Gaulden, Henry (205)790-5208 [email protected] #5 Chair Stallings, Ryan (205)339-4577 [email protected] #6 Chair Holmes, William (334)624-4001 [email protected] #7 Chair Hart, Taylor (334)451-5051 [email protected] #8 Chair Sides, Kim (334)319-1512 [email protected] #9 Chair VacantDistrict #10 VacantDistrict #11 Chair VacantDistrict #12 Chair Brantley, Craig (251)423-2020 [email protected]

Alabama Ducks Unlimited Staff

Regional DirectorShawn Battison P.O. Box 230548 Montgomery AL 36123(334) 430-8622 - [email protected]

Volunteer Service CoordinatorWalter Brooks Memphis TN Headquarters(800) 496-7640 - [email protected]

Manager of Fundraising & Development Doug Lasher Decatur AL(256) 751-5930 - [email protected]

Director of DevelopmentSouthern RegionChris Cole Tennessee - (601) [email protected]

C

State Chair-Hens Message


reetings. I hope that everyone has had an opportunity to enjoy

their summer, and spend some much needed time off doing whatever it is that you do. Or if you are like me, you have been running wide open so that you can take some time off during this coming hunting season. And WOW, is this year

shaping up to be a good year for the duck hunter. This spring’s survey results are awesome to say the least (see Fall Forecast article), and if the moon, stars and whatever else can get aligned fall into place it should really be a season to remember. I know I am excited by the prospects anyways.

As you can see by our Upcoming Events section, our dedicated volunteers are in full swing planning this fall’s events. We actually have not taken a break this summer. We have been holding Waterfowl Hunters Parties (WHP) all over the State in an attempt to bring duck hunters together, and enjoy some good ol’ fashioned fellowship. We have added a number of volunteers to our local chapters through our WHP’s, and they have actually spawned a couple new chapters as well. If you have not attended one yet, you should really think about attending the next one in your area. They are a lot of fun, and a great way to meet other duck hunters in your area. Not to mention, who couldn’t use a few more decoys?

This summer also marked the beginning of a fantastic

one of a kind youth event (see Page 4). Our new State Greenwing Chair, Colin McRae, hit an absolute homerun with the event. It brought both kids and their parents together to participate in the outdoors, for a hands-on outdoor skills weekend. Colin and his crew were able to gain the support of outdoor industry leaders (Avery, Mossy Oak, Primos), organizations (DU, NWTF, AWF, AL Bowhunters Association, & B.A.S.S.) and governmental agencies (US Army Corp of Engineers and AL Dept. of Game and Fish) not to mention countless individuals and local businesses to ensure that they were able to put on a first class event. From the comments that I have heard, they not only hit a homerun, they knocked the cover off the ball! I would like to say thanks to all of the volunteers, sponsors, and supporters that donated their time and money to make it all happen. I would also like to say thanks to the parents that got their kids away from the TV and video games long enough so that we could show them what the great outdoors has to offer. Colin and company are already planning on making next year’s event bigger and better, and they are working on a surprise for next year’s attendees (huge surprise).

Well, I am off to another committee meeting. Thanks for all that you do for the Ducks, and I hope to see you at an event soon. If I don’t see you, I hope that you have a great season, and thanks for all of your support.

Respectfully,Shawn BattisonAlabama DU Regional Director

Stephen Whatley, of Anniston AL. was selected as DU National’s most recent Regional Vice-President at the national convention in Denver in late May.

Stephen has served as a committee volunteer, area co-chairman, area chairman, Alabama state major gifts chairman, State Chairman, at large member of DU National board of directors, and state trustee and national delegate. As RVP, Steve continues to serve on the DU Board for his two-year term.

Stephen and his wife Lucy are DU Benefactor level Major Donors.

Regional DiRectoR RepoRt

G

DU announces Alabama’s

own as newest

Regional VP

Steve Whatley, Anniston AL.Ducks Unlimited Regional Vice-President

Chris Cole is now the Director of Development for Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, partnering with Kathy McCollum in this three-state region. Chris joined DU in 2002, most recently serving as a Manager of Conservation Programs in the SRO. Prior to DU, Chris worked as a biologist and regional supervisor for the Missouri Department of Conservation. As a Manager

of Conservation Programs, Chris worked closely with volunteers and fundraising staff to secure private funding in support of conservation priorities in the South. Chris and his wife Monica will be relocating to Tennessee. Chris can be reached at [email protected] or 601.206.5446.

DU AnnoUnces stAff chAnge


’ll never forget the afternoon I heard my Regional Director, Shawn Battison, say those words, “What would you think about taking the State Greenwing

Chair?” Words that at the time I thought I would regret hearing, but seven months later I sit with pen in hand overwhelmed with a feeling of blessing and purpose within my little niche of this organization. I’m sure every volunteer remembers the day they were approached with the latest need for the Ducks. A need that, as it seemed to the higher ups, could only be satisfied by you, the volunteer. With me,

my motivation was simple for accepting the offer, a five-month old son and a bleak and unstable future on the horizon for an honor and privilege I have cherished with my own dad, duck hunting.

My neighboring N.W.T.F. counterpart, Brandon Smith, had been holding JAKES events in Demopolis, Alabama for some time, so I approached him about having a bigger multi-organizational event. He is a biologist who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and had talked about using the C.O.E.’s amazing Foscue Park for a much bigger youth event. Immediately we saw the potential to have a really huge event. Within two days of the decision to hold a statewide youth event, it was evident that we were on to something pretty special. Ducks Unlimited, The National Wild Turkey Federation, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Avery, and Mossy Oak all expressed their desire to take part in or even be a major player in the event. Over the next several months, the commitments from a host of other organizations and people I’ll mention later fueled a momentum that was a pretty fun wave to ride. Just like that, F3 was born.

On Friday morning, July 31st, 2009, our wait and preparation were over and with nervous anticipation we began to set up camp for Feathers, Fins, and Fur. At one o’clock the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Area Biologist Justin Brock, Conservation Enforcement Officer Joe Little, and two Volunteer Hunter Education Instructors kicked off the event with a voluntary Hunter Education Field Day. After the event, both Justin and Joe noted how it was the biggest Hunter Education class ever held in Demopolis. Later, the next week, Brock received an email from a satisfied participant stating that the class was informative and well worth their time. Check one. That evening after everyone had

STATE YOUTH OUTDOOR EVENTBy Colin McRae,

ALDU State Greenwing Chairman, Demopolis

I


registered for the regular event and had received their duck calls and lanyards, we realized that perhaps fifty kids with duck calls on the first night was not the best idea. To our relief, Lamar Boyd of Beaver Dam Hunting Club, an Avery Pro Staffer, somewhat soothed our pain by giving a short and sweet duck calling lesson which at least turned the trumpet charge tunes into the somewhat recognizable cadence and sounds of a Mallard. After a fine dinner of Foster Farm’s dogs and chips, D.U.’s Shawn Battison and N.W.T.F.’s Abby Coffman presented their cases to the participants and just like that, day one was over. Check two.

“Nothing like waking up to the sound of fifty duck calls in the hands of little or no experienced youth event participants”, I heard one staff member say. Shortly after a Jack’s biscuit breakfast on Saturday, ooo’s and ahs could be heard coming from the crowd as the 2007 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Boyd Duckett pulled up in his impressive tournament set-up and proceeded to do a hands on, in depth seminar for the kids and parents. When he was finished, the kids went over to the catfish rodeo to try their hands at the rod and reel with their newfound knowledge of angling. A nervous moment for the staff until the

first bobber dunked under water and then like a domino reaction, the words “Fish on!” never seemed to stop being screamed into the air. Check three. When the pizza showed up for lunch, the staff really started setting up for the afternoon with a frenzied pace. We noticed that the number of kids jumped up by at least ten. We didn’t know how or why, we were just glad to have more company on the ride. The first activity station was manned by Westervelt Wildlife Services’ Kevin McKinstry and Jason Burke who demonstrated how, when, and where to use game cameras for management and capture your deer herd for study. Station two was manned by The Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Tim Gothard, Frank Boyd, and Wes Gaston who had a large display of wildlife traps as well as two squirrel dogs that worked squirrels for each group in the woods around the event. Those dogs were pretty serious as I caught them on film jumping six feet off the ground, chewing on the bark, and baying all at the same time. I’m sure those squirrels were rethinking foraging habits by the end of the day.

The third station was hosted by the C.O.E.’s Justin Sexton, who, with the aid of his robot sidekick Buddy the Beaver, talked about boating safety and then promptly blew all of the kids over with an airboat power demonstration; a great way for everyone to dry off after the scattered showers that kept popping up. Also with that group were Wesley Jones and Jordan Daily from

STATE YOUTH OUTDOOR EVENT

Ooo’s & ahs could be heard coming from the crowd as the 2007 Bassmaster Classic Champion, Boyd Duckett pulled up in his impressive tournament set-up & proceeded to do a hands on, in depth seminar for the kids & parents.


Alabama Waterfowl Outfitters sporting their Gator Trax /Mud Buddy Boats and offering a different slant on boating. Station number four was manned by the custom duck call maker Mr. David Gaston who quickly became some of the participant’s favorite with his animated and thorough duck calling presentation. At station five was Primos Pro Staffer Shane Smith who added fuel to the fire when he distributed mouth calls to every kid and three box calls per group. Like Lamar from the day before, he got them off on the right foot with a solid turkey calling workshop. Station six was complete with a decoy spread, lay out blinds, and a wire guided mallard mount that swooped down into the decoys for the kids to get a feel for the hunt. O.K., maybe it didn’t swoop, but it did glinch down the string (glide + inch = glinch). Manning this station were Avery Pro Staffers, Randy Ryals and Lamar Boyd, who displayed gear and decoys as well as the many uses to the participants. I should also mention the ground crew who kept the “stuffed” mallard flying through many rain storms and severe mockery from the other staff.

Station seven, the concealment station, was run by two Mossy Oak Pro Staffers, who got into the nitty-gritty of hiding from your prey. They used simple and really effective methods to demonstrate what you need to look for and look like to blend into the natural environment. Station eight, again manned by two more Mossy Oak Pro Staffers sported a full body turkey mount in full strut mounted on casters to roll through the woods. The participants were able to partner their new knowledge on camouflage with turkey hunting

techniques and see how to effectively hunt the birds. Station nine was a special rotation in that it presented the local taxidermist Don Capps, and an award-winning decoy carver Jason Russell. Here the kids could see how the artistic side of wildlife could be captured and expressed through the talent of Mr. Capps and Mr. Russell. And finally that brings us to station ten. What event would be complete without having a hunting retriever rotation where the dogs are so good that even the kids can be taught the commands, and then actually work the dogs. Mark Bedsole from Black Belt Retrievers and his lab Heidi knocked it out of the park with their stellar presentation. Check four.

It’s funny how people see things going differently in their mind. Well, we thought that if the participants had any free time, then we would lose their attention so right after they were finished with whatever station they ended on, we corralled them over to the water and let them watch the state and federal boys shoot the cannon net off. When the charges went BOOM so did the thunder from the impending rain storm, so with a quick lesson on why biologists trap and band birds, we were off to the main pavilion to start yet another whole group station, wild game cooking. Chris Hastings from the Hot and Hot Fish Club restaurant in Birmingham procured one hundred duck breasts from a very gracious donor, thank you whoever you are, and served them on grits with a fig sauce that my meager writing skills could never attempt to describe. During the process, he explained how to bring this phenom-meal to life. Do you want to hear something funny? One of my many jobs was to get forks for this meal. To my horror, no one had my back on that one. So, I had to break the news to

State Youth Outdoor Event


the group that, well, when you’re in the woods, you have to eat like a bear. I soon realized that no one heard me; they were already too busy licking the once duck and grits loaded paper plates clean. “Narrow miss”, you might say, “solid planning”, I would rebut. Check five.

The rain was really starting to come down, which was good because it kind of soothed everyone, except Brandon and me who seemed to be looking for a break in the clouds every thirty seconds or so. After a fine dinner of Smokin’ Jack’s Barbeque, we shuffled around the pavilion and set up the stage for the evening’s entertainment, Dogwood Outdoors from Mississippi. These guys had everyone rolling with laughter at their skits and videos of humbling moments when hunting afield. After their presentation, they talked about the spirituality of a creation that God has blessed us with and how we should enjoy it through a personal relationship with him. And so, day two came to a close. Check six.

Sunday morning began with a voluntary devotion given by a participant’s dad and also participant, Ronnie Hall, a God send, who gave a great and impactful devotion highlighting creation and stewardship. Even though it was voluntary, most everyone was on time for that morning. Bam! Snap out of it, it’s time to get moving again. Half the group headed to Cadwallader Place (local landowner’s) to shoot skeet and .22s under the supervision of Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Justin Brock and Tommy Atkins, and also archery under the supervision of Barry Estes from the Bow Hunter’s of Alabama. The other half traded between three different boat rides out in the Tombigbee River and its sloughs. The boat rides were: a Gator Trax/Mud Buddy, Giant C.O.E. “Wet Boat”, and an in your face C.O.E. air boat. Nothing but grins were coming off that river at the end. Once everyone made the rotation, the staff cranked up the grill and cooked the last meal in preparation for the closing ceremonies. Check seven.

When everyone was sufficiently stuffed with beef patties donated from the local Rock-Tenn plant, we initiated the onslaught of give-a-ways donated by numerous companies and organizations. During the inception of the event, we

came up with an idea to “inspire” the participants to pay attention and to be punctual at the different rotations during the event. Leg bands are the name of the game, my friend. Visions of kids with tons of “jewelry” on their lanyards filled our minds and diverted our thoughts from the feeding frenzy that would apparently ensue at each rotation. I will say this, they paid attention and answered questions not even I would be able too. Well, the kid with the most leg bands at the end of the event won a .22 rifle from D.U., second place won a ground blind from Avery, and third place won a custom duck call from D.U. Once we issued those prizes, we just started handing out donations from D.U., Avery, Mossy Oak, N.W.T.F., C.O.E., and Remington. One dad even said, “Seriously, I don’t have any room in my car for more stuff.” Lots of whoops and hollers occurred and just like that F3 was over. Check eight.

I guess Brandon and I went through some sort of empty nest syndrome deal after Sunday because there were no stations to set up, food to cook, etc. We sent out an email survey to all of the participants and staff to try to get the temperature of the event. Since then, we continue to receive replies which have been fantastic. “I just got through listening to my husband and child talk about their great weekend...for 1 1/2 hours! That was mostly from Rod, who I wasn’t sure would enjoy it since he’s not a hunter. So, ‘thank you’, for planning such an informative, fun, and affordable event. We appreciate it so much!” was one, and then from a staff member report, “He thought the event was phenomenal and the information was absolutely tremendous. Those were his actual words. You could tell he was still excited about it. He said that his boys really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. He advised that he will be back and

will encourage others to attend.” was another. Those are just a couple. It was a hit! Check nine.

Long ago, I read some words by Frank Forester who wrote the Manual for Young Sportsmen in 1871. This is what he wrote about waterfowling, “It is hard, earnest, downright work. It requires a man, who not only can rough it, but who loves to rough it, for its own sake-who can endure cold, wet, fatigue, and the weariness of long waiting, not only with patience but with pleasure, and at last feel himself well rewarded if he make a good bag, and not altogether unrewarded, if he make a bad one. If he cannot bring himself to do this, he would far better stay at home by his cozy fireside, and pretty wife or pleasant friend; and if he be past forty-five years old, I do not know but he were wiser to do so, whether or no.” Those words, to me, embody the world of waterfowling and especially who waterfowlers are. A special group of people. To my surprise, the staff and supporters of Feathers, Fins, and Fur, in an instant, created the same sacred bond. Selfless, giving, and hard working people who were digging in long before daybreak, and striking camp long after midnight. Bless all of the staff for who they are and what they did. Thanks to the staff and donors for without them, there are no aspiring outdoorsmen and women. Chickity Check ten.

I, for one, will have a restful hibernation until the next youth event, where ever it may be.

Colin McRae

State Youth Outdoor Event


State Convention

Area Chairman of the Year (Co-Chairs)Jim Ellis - Blount County

Paul Wilson - Blount County

District Chairman of the YearHenry Gaulden

Largest Event DollarsLargest Dollar Increase

Largest Event AttendanceMatthew Stiles – Birmingham Downtown

Joe Freeman – Birmingham Downtown

Largest % Increase in $’sLargest % Increase in Attendance

Jim Ellis – Blount Co.Paul Wilson – Blount Co.

Largest Misc. EventJeffrey Alverson – Tobacco Shop

Ralph Welch – Tobacco ShopLargest Sponsor Event

Largest Sponsor Event $’sBest Event Efficiency

Bob Word – Jackson Co. SponsorDon Word – Jackson Co. Sponsor

Largest WHPCraig Brantley – Mobile

DU National Presidents Top 100 ClubMatthew Stiles – Birmingham Downtown

Joe Freeman – Birmingham Downtown

National DU Sweet 16 College ChapterAuburn University- Bryant Minor

2009 Alabama State Convention Awards


William R. iReland,SpoRtSman, ConSeRvationiSt,

BuSineSSman & philanthRopiSt.“a fine fRiend of the duCkS!”

William R. Ireland, Sr., who was called one of the best friends of Alabama’s environment, died after a lengthy illness March 5, 2009 at the age of 85.

Ireland helped create and pass Alabama’s Forever Wild constitutional amendment, which in 1992 set up a state-funded program to buy public recreation lands. He was also an avid hunter and contributor to the Alabama Wildlife Federation. He was honored for his efforts on behalf of wildlife with the 1994 Walter L. Mims Lifetime Achievement Award in Wildlife Conservation and the 1995 Ducks Unlimited Marsh Project Award.

He also supported the Alabama Cancer Society, the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Boy Scouts of America and the Big Brothers of Greater Birmingham, among other organizations.

Bill hosted Alabama Ducks Unlimited’s 2008 State Convention and many DU leadership meetings at Five Star Plantation, his private outdoor sports preserve near Alex City.

Ireland worked for 39 years at Vulcan Materials, his family’s business. He attended Auburn University and Marion Military Institute and served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Happy hunting Mr. Bill!

Bill Ireland with Former ALDU State Chairman Forrest Fitts at 2008 Convention

State Convention

TAGGED YET?TAGGED YET?


State Convention

or DU’ers, the annual State Convention is a time to see those familiar faces that you have not seen since last year, a time to visit with like minded folks,

hear from State and National staff exactly what is going on in the world of DUcks, and of course have a great time. In an attempt to make it even more enjoyable, Alabama DU has decided to take the 2010 State Convention to the beautiful Five Star Plantation (www.fivestarplantation.com) in Kellyton, AL the weekend of April 23rd – 24th, 2010.

The Convention will kick off Friday afternoon with a State Council meeting, which ends just in time for the cocktail reception at the lakeside cabin. There will be heavy hors d’houvres, games, and of course plenty of spirits.

Saturday’s activities will consist of a youth fishing rodeo, a team competition (bring your own team, or join one), horseback riding, trophy bass fishing, clay target shooting, and hefty doses of good ol’ fashioned fun. The team competition will be a new twist this year. We are thinking along the lines of combining clay target & small bore rifle shooting, longest ball golf driving, and whatever else we can come up with to make it interesting. Will the Auburn University boys beat the University of Alabama? Will Birmingham Southern beat both? Will the ‘Over the Mountain’ chapter beat the Downtown gang? Or maybe

the Grey Beards will beat down all of them.For the ladies, we have arranged for spa treatments to be

made available on site at Five Star. That’s right, massages, pedicures and manicures. Or course they will also be made available to those gentlemen who do not wish to participate in the manly activities.

“We’ll wrap up with a Saturday evening Reception and Bar-B-Que on the Lodge Terrace where we’ll enjoy raffles and auctions. After dinner we’ll announce the 2010 individual and chapter performance awards before welcoming Wayne Keith, our incoming State Chairman. As in the past, we’ll provide a fitting farewell to our retiring Chair-hen Karen Wood!

Since this year’s event will fall during the end of the Alabama’s turkey season, 4 guided morning turkey hunts will be made available on a first come basis (additional charges will apply) on both the 24th and the 25th. If you are interested in one of those spots, you had better pick up the phone now! I know I can not think of a better way to start a spring morning, than listening to a gobbler sound off. It is getting me excited just thinking about it.

Registration will begin in January 2010, and more details will follow. If you would like more information on how to be a part of this year’s convention, please contact Bob Suellentrop at 205-913-6710 or [email protected].

2010 State Convention Announcedat Five Star Plantation

Annual Conclave full of fun, fellowship,

food & outdoor events for the family.

By Shawn Battison, ALDU Regional Director

F


Late year event. Economy bad. Committee stale. Sound familiar? Just a lemon in the making, right? NOT!

Facing economic and manpower challenges Troy/Pike DU Chairman Jeff Bentley and Community Organizer Gus King met over lunch in mid-April to contemplate how to organize the Troy/Pike late year annual event. Even the restaurant was slower than years past where ribs and chicken usually made their way to a full house of hungry diners. Not this year, barely 5 tables were occupied for the lunch hour, indicative of the challenges facing Pike County’s annual fundraiser in late June.· A list was made; former committee, Sponsor Members,

hunting contacts, associated retailers. Even bubbas who’ve talked about being “BIG” DU supporters. You know the type. Time to quit cuttin’ bait and fish for DUck bucks! · A post card was mailed, follow-up phone calls followed

then a meeting scheduled. Wings & Beer provided. Ten folks showed! · The “History of DU” video was shown, DU volunteer

duties defined, roles discussed. 10 signed up and DU Committee decals and caps were awarded!

Next meeting, 14 showed up! More wings & beer and DU volunteer roles reviewed, date set, ticket prices and venue discussed and voted on. We’re off and flying! Within three weeks posters were up, billboards flashed and corporate tables were reserved and prepaid. The ticket chair, Kathryn Faircloth reported over $3,000 prepaid in the bank by the end of May. The week before the banquet, it was apparent that we were approaching 200 members where we’d averaged 85 three prior years. The dinner commitment was set, 200 meals. 192 were served for ticket sales of over 200! All in all 210+ members, many newcomers to DU and “The best party we’ve been to out here”, expressed by many. “We’re comin’ back next year and getting a table!” said others. The DUcks net/netted over a 25% increase in badly needed funds for habitat projects.

Almost a textbook committee growth scenario; Recruit new volunteers, Retain old volunteers, Pre-sell tickets, Publicize the event, Throw a good party and have Fun DUing it! Many thanks to Horn Beverage, Cabin-by-the-Lake-Outfitters, Charles and Kathryn Faircloth, James Bruce,

Matt Vaughan, Brett Stallworth, Keith Roling, Nick Helms, Jason Baron, Danny Hughes, Page Langford, Gus King and Blake Adams for making this year very special for DU in Pike County! And oh yes, the Area Chairman, Jeff Bentley and his wife Tonita hosted a tremendous feed at their home for the committee after the numbers were tabulated and all reports were submitted. Enjoy that Big Knife Jeff, limited-edition DU and the only one like it in Pike County!

Economy got you down? Volunteers stale? Lemons everywhere? Make lemonade ala Pike County DU!

Troy/Pike DU ChaPTer adds Volunteers;

Doubles Membership!(or, how to make DUcks out of lemons!)

By Gus King, ALDU Editor

Hospitality Hosts Keith & Kimberly Matt gets hustled for Raffle tickets!


Conservation Programs Annual Report

Fiscal Year - 2009The following is an overview of activities in Alabama by

Conservation field staff from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. Should you have questions or comments concerning the information provided or would like to learn more about a particular activity please call the Southern Regional Office, (601) 956-1936.

Nearly $43,318 was spent by DU on wetlands projects in Alabama over the course of the reporting period. Funding was used to cover direct project costs including materials and contractor charges; expenditures not included in the aforementioned amount were staff time and travel spent in support of private landowners.

Public Land Projects

Eufaula National Wildlife RefugeWetland enhancement work was completed on the Houston

Bottom Unit at Eufaula NWR. The USFWS installed two water control structures and enhanced the levee system which allowed for proper water level management, resulting in 117 surface-acres of water. DU contributed $22,000 towards this enhancement effort.

DU-assisted project monitoring Bob Harris, DU Regional Biologist, met with state land

managers at Sipsey River to monitor DU-assisted public wetland projects and assess habitat conditions. Bob offered technical assistance advice regarding waterfowl management techniques and how to maximize their efforts to make the area the best it can be for waterfowl.

Information requests on public land projects should be directed to Regional Engineer Billy Hill at (601)956-1936, Regional Biologist Tim Willis at (731) 668-0700 or Manager of Conservation Programs Craig Hilburn at (501) 837-1524.

Private Land Projects

Conservation for Hire An increasing number of Alabama landowners and

hunting clubs are inquiring into our Conservation for Hire services. Typically, these are landowners who are interested in enhancing the value of their property for waterfowl, but aren’t interested in doing so via government programs or through support from sources that inhibit or overly regulate use. Should you know of someone who could benefit from professional engineering and/or biological services, please have them call into the SRO and inquire about our Conservation for Hire program.

Private land inquiries should be directed to Regional Biologist Bob Harris (662) 226-6880 or Manager of Conservation Programs Craig Hilburn (501) 837-1524).

Wetland Acres Protected, Enhanced, or Restored in FY 2009

Public Lands – 117 acresTotal = 117 acres

FY 2010 PROJECTSDucks Unlimited will continue its strong partnership with the

FWS and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by providing assistance as requested. Bob Harris, DU Regional Biologist, will continue visiting DU-assisted wetland projects to assess overall condition and performance, as well as providing technical assistance to private landowners.

2009 State Conservation Report

Quick “Quack”

Facts

Faster than a speeding locomotive…

CRUISE CONTROL: Most waterfowl fly at speeds of 40 to 60 mph, with many species averaging roughly 50 mph. With a 50 mph tail wind, migrating mallards are capable of traveling 800 miles during an eight-hour flight. Studies of duck energetics have shown that a mallard would have to feed and rest for three to seven days to replenish the energy expended during this eight-hour journey.

SPEED RECORD: The fastest duck

ever recorded was a red-breasted merganser that attained a top airspeed of 100 mph while being pursued by an airplane. This eclipsed the previous speed record held by a canvasback clocked at 72 mph. Blue-winged and green-winged teal, thought by many hunters to be the fastest ducks, are actually among the slowest, having a typical flight speed of only 30 mph.

Ducks of a feather don’t always flock together!

FOWL INFIDELITY: Genetic analysis of mallard broods has shown that

many clutches include eggs that were fertilized by different drakes. Biologists speculate that hens may actually seek multiple mates to ensure their clutches will be successfully fertilized. This behavior also produces greater genetic variation among broods.

THREE’S COMPANY: African magpie geese form trios consisting of a male and two females that lay eggs in a single nest, and all three birds share incubation responsibilities.


ConSeRvation’SBeSt kept SeCRet

DU’s public policy efforts are more important than ever for wetlands & waterfowl

By Scott Sutherland

Recently, a friend who is a longtime DU staff member and volunteer saw an advertisement for a job vacancy in DU’s Washington, D.C., office and called me in alarm. He was concerned that we were doing something wrong. The position description contained the words “full-time lobbyist.” He insisted that DU could get into trouble if we lobbied and that it could jeopardize the organization’s nonprofit status.

Sometimes we joke that DU is the conservation world’s best kept secret. My friend’s call gave me the chance to share what sometimes seems like a secret, but shouldn’t be. Okay, are you ready for the secret, because here it comes: Ducks Unlimited has been “lobbying” almost since the organization was founded 70 years ago. Within limits, it’s perfectly legal for nonprofits to lobby, and today DU expends extensive effort to work with our government to foster and fund programs that help safeguard the present and future for waterfowl.

Now let me clarify this a bit. By “lobbying,” I don’t mean that DU staff members are using conservation money to write $500 checks to attend political fundraisers. That’s only one aspect of lobbying, and as a nonprofit, we’re not allowed to do that. When we lobby, much of what we’re doing is helping to educate members of congress, state legislators, and their key staffs. This has been done (although less formally) for many decades when issues important to the waterfowl resource have arisen.

A little history is in order. In the late 1980s, DU’s board of directors realized how important the North American Waterfowl Management Plan was to the future of waterfowl. They wanted to encourage important decision makers to actively support it, so DU opened a Washington, D.C., office to educate Congress and others about the plan’s importance and hence obtain funding for the conservation activities that would be required to reach the plan’s goals. Many battles and many victories later, the governmental affairs office has become an integral part of DU, delivering opportunities to significantly fund waterfowl programs, promoting duck-friendly policies, and discouraging harmful ones.

Today, DU has a professional staff working in Washington, D.C., in the regional offices, and at headquarters that combines well over a century of experience working on Capitol Hill, on the White House staff, within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Interior, and within state agencies and legislatures.

Right now, we’re involved in over 30 issues that include helping to combat the most extensive wetland loss on the planet (the disappearing Louisiana coast), working to ease taxation of conservation easements, and obtaining funding that allows hunting and other active management on national wildlife refuges. And, of course, the governmental affairs office works on the critically important public policy issues with which DU members are most familiar, like the Farm Bill and North American Wetlands Conservation

Act (NAWCA).So what does this mean for the future? DU’s top scientists, our

conservation planners, recently looked into their biological crystal ball to see what will work best for waterfowl over the next 25 years. They have created a “vision document” that explores the question: “What will it take to keep waterfowl populations at sustainable levels into the foreseeable future and beyond?”

Their first question was, “Is current conservation work getting the job done?” We all know that DU and our partners are doing lots of good work. Together we’re completing many projects, conducting significant scientific research, and achieving many important conservation accomplishments. But unfortunately, we also know that vital waterfowl habitat continues to be lost each year. So, is the conservation community just “buying time” for North America’s waterfowl by slowing their eventual demise? Where will that leave us in 25 years?

One of the primary conclusions DU’s planners reached is that we need to increase the energy and effort we’re putting into public policy. Wonderful things get accomplished for ducks on a project-by-project basis, but by fielding a team of waterfowl activists that can help save the Conservation Reserve Program, for example, we can help maintain 8 million acres in the heart of the most important duck breeding area in the United States. Every waterfowl enthusiast must be a part of this team so that our representatives in Congress will hear a loud and unified voice on behalf of our waterfowl resource.

It’s this simple: If we aren’t out on that governmental advocacy “playing field” advocating for waterfowl needs, we won’t be successful in securing the birds’ future. All the other special-interest groups in this country are out on that governmental playing field, and if we aren’t, the ducks will assuredly lose.

Now, we need to realize that a public policy effort requires some new thinking and new understanding. While we celebrate many victories in our partnership with government, we must also realize that the government is a many-headed dragon that sometimes works against itself. That may not make sense to taxpayers, but it happens every day. For example, DU works successfully to obtain federal government funds that perpetually conserve precious acres in the Prairie Pothole Region. Yet, at the same time, by dramatically raising the production goal for bio fuels, the government fosters the plowing of more grassland in the same region and hence provides more competition for conservation efforts. Also, increased competition for land drives up the cost of protecting each acre.

So that’s it; now you know “the secret.” DU is doing lots of important work on public policy issues, and as was made clear by our senior scientists, we must do more if we are to win for the ducks.

For most of us, 25 years in the future seems a long way off. But oddly, when we think of 25 years in the past, 1982 seems like a short time ago. Think about this; We owe it to ourselves, but more importantly to our children, grandchildren, and future generations, to join together and fight to fix things. After all, the future we argue for now will be the one they will have to live within 30 or 40 years. It’s not far off. Our work now will determine the duck seasons they will have. Our work now will determine their future.

Scott Sutherland is the director of DU’s governmentalaffairs office in Washington, D.C.

Alabama State Conservation

Alabama State Conservation


duCk numBeRSup oveRall

Greatly Improved Habitat ConditionsIncrease Ducks for 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. − July 2, 2009 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released its preliminary report today on mid-continent breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May and early June. Total duck populations were estimated at 42 million breeding ducks on the surveyed area. This estimate represents a 13% increase over last year’s estimate of 37.3 million birds and is 25 percent above the 1955-2008 long-term average.

“The increase in duck numbers in relation to the increase in habitat conditions is consistent with what we would expect to see in U.S. and Canadian breeding grounds this spring,” said Ducks Unlimited’s Executive Vice President Don Young. “History has repeatedly shown that when water returns to the breeding grounds ducks respond with a strong breeding effort.”

In addition to extensive grassland cover, one of the most important elements in duck breeding success is the amount of water present in portions of prairie and parkland Canada and north-central United States. Total pond counts for the United States and Canada combined showed 6.4 million ponds, a 45 percent increase from last year’s estimate, and 31 percent above the long-term average. Habitat conditions in 2009 were mostly a good news scenario. Conditions across the southern portions of the Canadian and U.S prairies improved considerably from 2008.

However, drought remained in some parts of the traditional survey area, including western portions of the Prairie Pothole Region. Southern Alberta saw a decrease in ponds of 19 percent. This area contrasted sharply with record amounts of snow and rainfall in the Dakotas. The north-central U.S., which includes the Dakotas, saw a 108 percent increase in total ponds. Above average snowfall this winter and considerable precipitation in late spring recharged wetlands across the Dakotas and eastern Montana.

The Canadian parklands received below-normal precipitation,

but waterfowl habitat in this area continued to benefit from above-normal precipitation received in 2007. In the Boreal Forest, spring break-up was delayed as much as three weeks and most large lakes across the region remained frozen in early June. Overall habitat conditions in this important region were considered good.

The FWS spring surveys provide the scientific basis for many management programs across the continent including the setting of hunting regulations. The four Flyway Councils met in late July to recommend and adopt the season structure and bag limits for 2009-10. Individual states will make their specific selections within a federal framework of season length, bag limit, and outside dates. Hunters should check their state’s rules for final dates.

The 2009 report is filled with positive news for all duck species. As might be expected, most breeding populations increased as habitat conditions significantly improved from 2008 to 2009. Of the commonly surveyed species four of the 10 showed a significant increase, and six of 10 were significantly above their long-term averages.

The mallard population increased 10 percent above last year. An estimated 8.5 million mallards were on traditionally surveyed areas this spring, compared to last year’s estimate of 7.7 million birds and are now 13 percent above the long-term average.

“The increase in breeding mallard populations to numbers above their long-term average could very well be good news for hunters,” said DU’s Chief Biologist Dale Humburg. “Although we also know that migration timing and local conditions will also be important in this fall’s hunting prospects.”

Other notable increases from 2008 include canvasbacks (+35 percent), northern shovelers (+25 percent) and northern pintails (+23 percent). Pintail numbers increased for the first time since 2006, but remain 20 percent below the long-term average.

“The return of water to the north-central U.S. and much of Prairie Canada improved much of the core pintail breeding area,” said Humburg. “The strong wetland conditions likely will lead to increased pintail production and much needed recruitment into the fall flight.”

Scaup numbers were above four million for the first time since 2000. Breeding scaup numbers, however, remain 18 percent

below their long-term average and continue to be a species of concern.

Other species above the long-term averages were gadwall, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, northern shoveler and redheads. Estimated American wigeon abundance was similar to 2008 and the long-term (-1 percent and -5 percent, respectively). Although canvasbacks increased significantly from 2008 they were not significantly different in number from the long-term.

Since 1990, surveys have


been conducted in eastern North America. Good habitat was found across the eastern survey area. Population estimates for the 10 most abundant species surveyed were similar to last year and to the 1990-2008 averages.

Wet and dry cycles, where water levels fluctuate over time, are vital components of maintaining wetland productivity. This is true for all wetlands, but is especially important for the prairie potholes of the northern plains. While hunters and ducks rejoice with the return of water, droughts are important in rejuvenating wetlands. As evident by this year, dedication to conservation, even through dry cycles, can pay off when water returns to the prairies and wetlands again teem with breeding waterfowl and other wildlife.

“Habitat is the core factor driving the health of duck populations and the size of the fall flight,” said Humburg. “Habitat also is a key for waterfowl in migration and for hunters. This year, spring and early summer flooding in the Midwest and South, drought in some portions of the Prairies, and extremely dry conditions in parts of the west, could affect migration and hunting habitat.”

Improvement in water conditions is only part of the story.

Water without nesting cover does little to improve the duck outlook. As good as the news is this week, waterfowl and prairie habitats continue to face greater long-term threats. Grassland habitat is under siege on many fronts and is being lost at alarming rates. The U.S. Prairie Pothole Region lost more than 1.2 million Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres since 2007 (another 3.1 million acres will expire by 2012), and more than 3.3 million acres of native prairie are projected to be lost during the next five years.

“There has never been a time more important than today to maintain our focus on restoring and protecting these habitats, so when wet conditions return, ducks can continue to successfully produce future generations,” said Young.

For details of the Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, 1955-

2009 report visit the FWS Migratory Bird website at: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/

Mike Checkett (901) 758-3793 [email protected] Dale Humburg (901) 758-3786 [email protected]

Forever Wild:pRoteCting WetlandS fRom moBile to muSCle ShoalS

Within Alabama, public land is an important component of our approach to conserving natural resource values, while also supporting our opportunities for outdoor recreation. Alabama’s official government program, the Forever Wild Land Trust, has made great strides in protecting many of our state’s unique habitats, especially wetlands, while also providing a land base that support’s conservation based recreational programs.

In the past 17 years of its existence, the Forever Wild Program has been managed by a diverse Board of Trustees that represents the breadth of Alabama’s citizens and their interests. Through the assistance of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), the program has received outstanding fiscal stewardship, and has served as a model for effective state government administration. Since its initial funding in 1992, Forever Wild has acquired ~209,874 acres in 22 counties. These lands are equitably distributed across Alabama. The acquisitions have been funded through the stipulations of Constitutional Amendment 543- the interest earnings from investments within the Alabama Trust Fund, which are derived from gas royalties from Alabama’s submerged lands in coastal waters. In a fashion, one form of natural resource (Alabama’s natural gas) is being converted and invested into another (land). The present tally of ~255,000 acres acquired by Forever Wild and ADCNR has been achieved through an investment of $146 Million, of which $41 Million have come from federal grant programs. Ducks Unlimited has been a significant partner in this effort, which has protected over 86,000 acres of wetlands within Alabama!

While the conservation of Forever Wild’s land is forever, the funding for acquiring more land will cease in 2012, as stipulated by Constitutional Amendment 543. Despite our successes over the last 17 years, as citizens of Alabama, we must decide if these accomplishments are enough, or if they warrant being continued.

There is no question that these successes have been a huge accomplishment for conservation in Alabama. The only question is will we make sure that these successes continue.

duCkS unlimited SuppoRtS Bill to Benefit hunteRS

Makes hunting opportunityon public lands a top priority

WASHINGTON – June 30, 2009 – Ducks Unlimited applauds the introduction of two bills aimed at ensuring the next generation of waterfowlers has access to the duck blind and protecting America’s rich hunting heritage. The Hunting Heritage Protection Act, introduced by Senators Max Baucus (Mont.) and Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) in the Senate and Representative Denny Rehberg (Mont.) in the House would require federal lands to be better managed for hunting.

“Waterfowl hunting is a proud tradition, and we are pleased to see Congress acknowledging that,” said Barton James, Director of Public Policy for Ducks Unlimited. “Waterfowlers have been supporting federal lands through duck stamp sales for 75 years, and we welcome this effort to ensure that hunting remains a part of America’s conservation legacy.”

“Waterfowlers have had a tremendous impact on conservation, but loss of access is limiting the positive benefits that duck hunters bring,” said Chambliss. “This bill will help protect and expand hunter access, and ensure that waterfowl hunters can continue to be champions of conservation.”

The measure would require federal lands, when possible, to be managed in a way that supports, promotes and enhances hunting opportunities. The bill also calls on federal agencies managing federal lands to submit an annual report to Congress explaining denial of access for hunting on federal lands. Additionally, agencies would be required to submit prior written notification to Congress before limitation affecting access to hunting on 5,000 acres or more becomes effective.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 13 million American’s participate in hunting, and sportsmen contribute more than $76 billion to the US economy each year and support 1.6 million jobs. Hunting is recognized as an environmentally beneficial activity and is an important component of effective wildlife management.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization and has conserved more than 12 million acres. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands − nature’s most productive ecosystem − and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres important to waterfowl each year.


We’ll host the 100 target Prelim on Friday and the 200 Target Main on Saturday and Sunday. We will have 7 different 50 Target events hosted all three days. In addition, the Fun shoots will have some old familiar favorites as well as some new exciting games. There will be loads of fun shoot prizes, including guns, DU merchandise and much more. The Friday and Saturday night events will be “Under the Tent Event”, with a special meal each night.

October is fast approaching so mark your calendars. Bring a sweater and a T-shirt, because you know the weather is always fun this weekend. What better way can you help support Ducks Unlimited than breaking some clays and enjoying some good old southern hospitality, you don’t want to miss this one! Here’s just a taste of what’s in store for you...

• Registration fees include all ammunition, targets & social events (NSCA & State target fees not included)• Huge prize packages, featuring Winchester Ammo, Bass Pro Gift Cards, Benelli, Franchi, & Winchester shotguns• Great Friday & Saturday night parties & meals• Lots of side games throughout the weekend, with valuable daily prize packages• Sub-gauge 5-Stand & FITASC can be shot on Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Please join us. Space is limited, so register early atwww.ducks.org/tunicashoot

See you in October,

Ronal Roberson Shoot Chairman 662-417-8350 [email protected]

Mid-South Continental Shoot:

Over $1,000,000 raised for D.U.at Tunica! Willows SportingClays Harrah’s Tunica MS

October 9-11, 2009


I grew up in Birmingham and started to develop a love for hunting and fishing in 1955 when I was 9 years old. I’ll never forget how excited I was the night before I would be going out fishing or hunting. It was much like a kid that couldn’t sleep before waking up on Christmas Day to see what Santa Claus had left him. The thoughts of catching fish and the sounds and sights of dogs treeing squirrels or running rabbits or pointing quail would fill my dreams and shape my thoughts and life for many years to come. Still, today I go to bed with this same exciting anticipation for the sports I love so much. I am so thankful for every day that I am able to answer the call.

My undying love for the outdoors continues today and includes not only the actual experience of hunting and fishing, but the life experiences with friends and the camaraderie of my fellow sportsmen; with whom I am blessed to share these wonderful times. Most are still with me today, and some have passed on to the Lord to enjoy the greatest outdoors adventures of all. I will always miss those who have passed before me and the great times we enjoyed - the successes and the failures, the teamwork and synergies to be successful and the disagreements and struggles to develop new approaches and techniques. I will never take for granted the great respect that sportsmen gain for one another when sharing special times together. And of course, those wonderful times that we sat back after a successful day in the field or on the lake and shared a good scotch and a cigar.

Since duck season is looming on the horizon my thoughts turn to my favorite time of the year. I served as Alabama Ducks Unlimited (DU) State Chairman in 2002 - 2003 and have been an active volunteer since 1973. I still believe that DU‘s contributions to sportsmen is one of the most important. If you say you are a conservationist, and you

don’t believe in hunting, then you are not a conservationist. Follow the rules and regulations and enjoy the harvest. The annual migration is just around the corner!

Stuttgart, Arkansas - 1982It was late Thanksgiving evening and Alvin Adams and

I rolled into Pine Bluff at the Holiday Inn. Although it was about a 90 minute drive to Stuttgart it was the closest

accommodations we could find because the World Championship Duck Calling

Contest is always held at the Wings Over the Prairie

Festival in Stuttgart on Thanksgiving weekend.

We checked in and got little sleep

before the alarm went off at 3:00AM. We were to meet Buck Gardner and Hamp McInnis

in Turkey Scratch before daylight to

hunt ducks. Hamp was a former Alabama

State Calling Champion from Dothan and a soft

drink distributor. Buck was a former resident of Alabama and a

3-time Alabama State Calling Champion. Several years later Buck, after a record run of 13

consecutive tries, went on to win the World Contest and the Champion of Champions Contest which is open to all World Champions every 5 years. Buck now owns Buck Gardner Calls.

Even though I had hunted ducks regularly for 10 years in Alabama and Louisiana I had never hunted the rice fields and flooded green timber of Arkansas. I was extremely excited especially thinking that come Saturday night I would actually be participating in the World Championship that had been going on for 50 years.

It was wet, cold and windy in Lee County when we arrived that Friday morning at Alfred Brock’s barn at Turkey Scratch. This was 1982 and equipment was much different then.

Shotgun shells and shotguns were very reliable but clothing was not yet high tech and many layers were still

The OuTdOOrs COrnerBy H. Gregory Williams,

Former ALDU State Chairman and 1982 Alabama State Duck Calling Champion


a requirement. Waders were made of old fashioned heavy canvas and did not always fit well around the feet. Today’s waders are made of different thicknesses of neoprene and are so flexible that you don’t even notice them when walking or stepping over a log or fence. In 1982 it was a chore just to step over a small log in flooded timber because of the lack of stretch in the canvas. We took “duck” tape and taped our pants cuffs around our ankles to prevent the cuffs from riding up when we put the waders on for the hunt.

Buck, Hamp, Alvin and I gathered our gear and headed out into the rice field. Each man had a sling in his shotgun hanging on a shoulder, a 5-gallon bucket with a top, a bag of decoys and a bundle of cane for cover. The bucket provided a seat while hunting and provided carrying space for shells, a coffee thermos, snacks, duck calls and other personal items. The rice field was typical with levies all around to grow rice in about 5 inches of water. Our Asian friends typically grow rice in knee deep rice paddies. In the US rice fields are flooded to some 12 to15 inches after the rice is gathered with a combine and the harvest is complete. Many farmers like to roll and flatten out the stubble in the hunting areas to allow free decoy movement in the wind. On that day the rice field was full of smaller sub-levies that were slick, thick gumbo mud. It was a half mile across that field and we were going to walk a quarter mile into the field’s middle area! The sub-levies were like slick humps and every step you took required a balancing act to keep from falling in the muddy water and getting wet. It was miserable! It

reminded me of my Green Beret training at Fort Bragg in 1970 - but back then I could run 10 miles. At any rate the walk in was all I wanted. Every step was like a suction cup pulling your feet out of the boot just enough to create more balancing problems. Even though the temperature was right at freezing, we were all perspiring as if it was summer time. Finally we reached our hunting spot. We all pitched in, setting the decoys in a nice half circle “J” and then we started sticking the cane in the mud all around each individual hunter for a make-shift blind. We loaded our guns and sat down on our buckets with the wind at our backs and began to call ducks. It wasn’t long before groups of mallards, teal and pintails began to appear as the sun started to rise and bring daylight. The whir of wings and the sounds of hen mallards quacking and the whistles of the greenwing teal and pintails created a beautiful symphony as a backdrop to the Grand Prairie. The shotguns began to report as the lead shot began to find its mark and ducks began to fold and fall in the water. The actual taking of the birds was secondary to the magical experience of being there. As I look back the only thing I wish I had back then was a 4-wheeler to get in and out of that rice field! I was hooked forever and have hunted Arkansas from one end to the other almost every year since that fateful day - and Stuttgart and the festival was coming up Saturday night!

The Outdoor Corner


Alligators!I first experienced wild alligators (those not in a zoo!) in the Apalachicola River delta while bass fishing in the late 1970’s, during the springtime. The Apalachicola River is 60 miles long beginning in Chattahoochee, Florida, near the Georgia border and empties into the Gulf of Mexico at the Apalachicola Bay. It is not uncommon to see dozens of the large reptiles sunning along the shore in the 10 to 14-foot range. I learned that an alligator’s size can be approximated when swimming with only its head above water. If you ap-proximate the distance from the tip of the snout to the eyes the ratio is one inch equals a foot in length. So if there is a 10 inch spread between the tip of the snout and the eyes, the gator would be a 10-footer. American alligators range throughout the southern part of the United States (see map).

The tail, which accounts for half of the alligator’s total length, is primarily used for aquatic propulsion. The tail can also be used as a weapon of defense when an alligator feels threatened. Alligators are cold blooded reptiles that are mostly dormant during cold winter weather. There are many stories among guides and hunters along the Gulf Coast, in warmer winter climates, of alligators being more active.

More than one waterfowler has lost a good retriever to alligators; although it is an uncommon occurrence. Ameri-can Alligators have the strongest bite of any living animal, measured at up to 9,452 newtons in laboratory conditions (Wikipedia)!During the summer when our club members would spray the hyacinth from airboats in the Louisiana bayous for hunt-ing, we would see some 25-30 alligators averaging one to two feet long. In the fall we witnessed 10-12-footers sunning on logs - but never saw any while duck hunting in the win-ter! We waded in the water frequently putting out decoys, retrieving ducks and hunting…….….Which brings me to my one of the most unusual experiences I have ever had in the outdoors! In mid January of this year, hunting at the “Molly Brake” outside of Belzoni, Mississippi, Zan Hall and his son Brandon were hunting with Eric Andrews and his son Landon. Both boys are 14 years old and experienced waterfowl hunters, as taught by their fathers. Around 8:00 AM that day Brandon was wading in some 16 inches of water changing up the de-coy spread. Suddenly Brandon felt something tighten pres-sure around his right wader boot. As he looked down and pulled up with his leg Brandon saw that an alligator was bit-ing his foot! Naturally he panicked and started trying to run falling down in the water, standing up again trying to run and falling a second time! At some point during the melee the gator let go and Brandon’s father, Zan, had arrived with his 12 gauge. Zan fired 3 shots into the back of the gator’s neck effectively neutralizing him. What a bizarre experience! Brandon was the talk of the school the next week and Zan is mounting the alligator for a lifetime remembrance. Brandon really had to convince his mother that duck hunting was re-ally not as dangerous as it seemed!

Always be ready in the wild for anything unusual and re-member, the good Lord does not count hunting and fishing days against your time here on Earth…….

An UnusualOutdoor Experience!

By Greg Williams, Former ALDU State Chairman

During the “off” season I have a tendency to think back on the past season’s

experiences & the many seasons before that. I think about many unusual outdoor

experiences that I have shared with friends. Brandon Hall & Landon Andrews


In February of 2008 Craig Brantley, District Chairman for the Mobile and Baldwin county area, decided to try a concept event called a Waterfowl Hunters Party (WHP) at Five River’s Delta Resource Center. The idea is simple; get a bunch of duck hunters together and give away all the gear that duck hunters drool over every fall. You know, the latest Avery brand decoys, ground blinds, hunting accessories, and of course a couple DU shotguns. The event was a complete success. It attracted almost 300 people, and from that crowd, Craig and the local chapters were able to recruit nearly 60 volunteers to help run the local DU events. The light bulb came on.

Last fall the Alabama DU State Council got together and decided that it would run with Craig’s success, and take the WHP concept statewide. From that meeting, Alabama DU’s Volunteer Recruitment Initiative was born. The goal was to put at least one WHP per District, and recruit 10 new volunteers per event. The events would take place during the opposite season as the normal dinner events, so that there

would be no conflicts. Great idea!We kicked the Initiative off this spring starting in Eutaw, and

have worked our way around the State. Eutaw, Monroeville, Mobile, Birmingham, Guntersville, Stevenson, Scottsboro,

Decatur, Montgomery, and Tuscumbia all would host WHP’s in an attempt to grow our volunteer lifeline.

I am pleased to announce that it has been an overwhelming success. We have been able

to successfully add fresh new faces to our volunteer ranks, and even start a couple new chapters. We were not able to put one in every District (we will next year), but one thing is for certain; putting duck hunters in a candy store environment with tons of

great hunting gear is a recipe for success. The WHP’s are a great place for area hunters to get

together, share stories (tell lies), support a great cause, and a way to get involve.

If you have not attended one yet, be on the lookout for when near you. Grab your buddies, and come win some gear. Make sure you bring a truck or a trailer, you might need it to carry home all your new gear.

Alabama’s Volunteer Recruitment Initiative

Documents

NEWS & INFORMATION FOR DUCKS UNLIMITED MEMBERS Content/_documents... · list of events, dates and contacts. ***** We are planning our State Convention for next spring. I encourage