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Greetings Waterfowlers!
Delta believes that conservation programs are vital, however we also see the overwhelming importance for our waterfowl hunting heritage to be preserved. We have recently being working diligently on a waterfowling initiative for North America, which outlines a multi-faceted strategy to recruit and retain waterfowl hunters, communicate publicly and positively about hunting, and to advocate for waterfowlers on key issues. We are excited to take the lead action on defending waterfowl hunting, and encourage you to take a look at Delta's hunting advocacy efforts to date, along with our plans for the future enclosed in this report. Please pass this information onto anyone you feel would be an ally as we move forward. Your support is critical!
A Report on the Development of a Waterfowl Hunting Advocacy and Waterfowler Recruitment Program for North America I. Introduction
Most of Delta’s research, advocacy and duck production programs are supported by duck hunter dollars and over 90% of our members are waterfowl hunters. Waterfowl conservation efforts are vital, but the “conservation” of hunting itself is equally important. Waterfowling has declined in both the United States and Canada. Hunter numbers in the U.S. have dropped by 30% since the peak of the 1970’s. In certain regions of the U.S. (i.e., Atlantic & Pacific Flyways) where increased urbanization has reduced hunting access and diminished public support for hunting, the future of waterfowling is especially threatened. In Canada, there has been a more precipitous drop in the number of waterfowl hunters. From a high of over 500,000 in the late 1970’s, today there are just over 140,000. At the same time there has been a tremendous increase in the numbers of US hunters visiting Canada. Over 25,000 Americans hunt each year in Canada, emphasizing the links between hunting traditions and the common hunting heritage in both countries. Delta believes the drastic loss of Canadian hunters presents an alarming situation, with serious implications for waterfowl management in North America and for the future of hunting in both countries. Canada may be a harbinger for the future of waterfowl management and hunting in the US, as the downward trends and the forces curtailing hunting heritage are similar in each nation. In Delta’s view, the loss of waterfowl hunters is a critical waterfowl conservation and management issue that must be addressed. Declining numbers of hunters in Canada have weakened the political voice of the hunter, and sharply limited the priority for waterfowl management among federal and provincial wildlife management agencies. There has been a significant concurrent reduction in the capabilities of Canadian wildlife agencies to conduct vital research and management requirements for waterfowl and to contribute to waterfowl management on the continent.
US capabilities for waterfowl research and management continue to erode at the federal, state levels and in private conservation organizations as human and financial resources decline, and management priorities shift from ducks to broader bird and ecosystem objectives. In addition, hunters are by far, the most consistent and generous contributors to habitat conservation on the continent. A multi-faceted strategy is required to reverse the decline in waterfowl hunter numbers in Canada and certain regions of the U.S. Delta has recently created a Waterfowling Initiative that is focused on three general tasks:
Delta’s Waterfowling Initiative is still in its initial stages of development and delivery. Currently, much of Delta’s hunting advocacy work is taking place in Canada, since the threats to hunting north of the border are currently the most severe and immediate. Nevertheless, Delta is vigilantly monitoring waterfowl hunting issues in the United States and examples of our actions to defend and promote waterfowling in the US appear below. The work in Canada is providing knowledge and experiences that will prove useful as Delta provides leadership in defending waterfowl hunting and the future of our waterfowl heritage in both countries. II. Background Over the past decade, animal rights organizations have increased their presence and impact in campaigns against all forms of animal use for recreational and agricultural purposes. Their campaigns have included overt and covert lobbying, ballot initiatives, and communications ranging from advertising campaigns to letters to the editor in mainstream media. Concurrently, as animal rights groups have become more organized, urbanization has continued across the continent, providing more fertile grounds for anti-hunting messages. The general public is becoming less connected to the land, and more susceptible to anti- hunting messages. At the same time, there is a distinct lack of accurate and reliable information on hunting available to the public. This national information void on hunting is currently being filled by messages from anti- hunting and animal rights organizations. Several US- based anti- hunting organizations have merged into larger, more powerful and well- financed lobby groups. US- based animal rights organizations are supporting anti- hunting campaigns in Canada, where they are honing the strategies and campaigns they will use to attack hunting in the United States. These groups believe that if waterfowl hunting can be eliminated or severely curtailed in Canada, it will set the stage for reducing waterfowl management efforts across the continent, and eventually the elimination of waterfowl hunting in the United States. These groups will proceed by attacking sensitive issues like crippling losses, and focus on whittling away hunting opportunity on public lands, in refuges and under the auspices of animal cruelty legislation, and also through promoting urban bylaws preventing firearms discharge near wetlands within city limits, and in ballot initiatives. Waterfowling has found itself a particular target of anti-hunting campaigns, most recently over the establishment of a youth waterfowling season in Canada. When the Canadian Wildlife Service pre-published the regulation authorizing this special mentored youth season in August of 2000, it was greeted with a vigorous and negative response from the Canadian Coalition Against Gun Control, and front-page headlines accusing the government of putting guns in the hands of kids. Animal rights groups openly attacked the youth hunt in the media. The youth hunt was only rescued with a last-minute email and media relations campaign organized by Delta and several provincial hunter/angler organizations, which generated enough support to approve the youth hunt regulation. Delta remains today, the leading international organization willing to publicly and politically promote and defend waterfowl hunting. This experience alerted Delta to the need to develop a capacity to provide information on hunting to public audiences and respond to attacks on waterfowling in both countries. In 2001, Delta engaged a professional consultant to develop a communications strategy for hunting, consisting of public opinion research, focus group testing, and media training. The opportunity to apply Delta’s historic research capability towards this advocacy effort was obvious. Waterfowling is in a uniquely vulnerable position relative to other forms of hunting in North America. Declining numbers and demographics of waterfowlers have made us prime targets for the anti-hunting movement. In 2001, the Humane Society of the United States released a paper designed to publicize crippling losses during waterfowl hunts – the animal rights strategy is to attack duck hunting as inherently cruel and therefore render hunting illegal under the terms of animal cruelty legislation in both countries. The Humane Society of the U.S., along with several US- based animal rights organizations are actively lobbying to criminalize hunting and hunters through changes to Animal Cruelty legislation in Canada and the U.S. Similar strategies have been used with great success by anti-hunting groups in Australia to mobilize public opinion against hunting and severely limit waterfowling. Delta is the leader in carrying the fight against these anti- hunting campaigns on behalf of waterfowl hunters across North America. As hunters increasingly demand a competent response to these attacks, Delta is taking leadership as the principal international conservation organization willing to publicly promote waterfowling and rise to its defense. III. Waterfowler Recruitment and Training The decline of waterfowlers in both Canada and the U.S. since the 1970s erodes our hunting heritage, and weakens political support for waterfowl hunting and management. To stop the decline of waterfowler numbers, there are two key initiatives that need to be launched by Delta Waterfowl: • Mentored Youth and Adult Waterfowling Recruitment programs; and Delta’s Youth Waterfowl Hunting Project In 2001, Delta worked with the Province of Manitoba and the Manitoba Wildlife Federation to create a mentored youth waterfowling pilot project in Canada that has grown to include six provinces. Partnership with local government, provincial hunter groups and local Delta chapters is key to its success. As more Delta chapters are created across the continent, Delta’s ability to deliver more mentored youth hunts will expand greatly. Delta has created a fledgling system to deliver mentored hunts that can now be further expanded across Canada and the U.S. as organizational capacity grows. This year (2006) marked the 6th year of Delta’s Youth Hunting project in Canada. The idea was piloted in 2000 at our Delta Marsh facilities and 13 young people hunted waterfowl in the company of experienced adult mentors. The program has grown considerably since then and has moved to engage novice adult hunters as well as youth. There were 8 youth hunts in Manitoba and 5 others across Canada with 369 youth participants. Talks are underway with 9 other groups across Canada to hold youth hunts in their areas. Special thanks must be given to adult mentors and hunter education instructors who generously volunteer their time. The Youth Waterfowling project is taking off in the U.S. as well. In 2006 youth hunting activities took place in 12 states. There were 23 hunting education events and 9 mentored hunts. With dedicated Youth Hunt staffing in the future, we expect this popular and needed project to grow extensively across the U.S. Waterfowler Training Project As mentioned above, groups like the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) are well aware that some waterfowl are not recovered while hunting. Also, HSUS knows that hunters are not always able to distinguish between various duck species, limiting their ability to avoid shooting at species with restricted seasons or bag limits. Consequently, it is imperative that Delta communicates key aspects of good waterfowling practices (e.g. effective shotgunning, using retrieving dogs, identifying waterfowl) to hunters to improve their performance in the field. During the 1980s, Delta created a communication program called Voluntary Restraint – Look for the Drakes, that advocates practices hunters should consider as responsible waterfowlers. There is an obvious need and opportunity to teach high standards for hunters, new and old. With increased internal capacity over the next few years, Delta plans to expand the reach of the current VR program to become a broader communications campaign expounding sound waterfowling practices. Improving species identification and increasing birds recovered by enhancing competency of hunters will be emphasized. The broad intent of the program is to improve waterfowling performance, while enhancing good conservation practices and encouraging a personal commitment of waterfowlers to high standards of behavior in the field. IV. Waterfowling Advocacy Advocacy is defined as the active effort to promote and defend waterfowl hunting. The ongoing defense and promotion of hunting in our increasingly urbanized society will require an effective public relations campaign on behalf of hunters, which currently does not exist in a substantive form for waterfowling. Existing hunting groups often speak primarily to hunters, while the future of hunting will depend almost entirely on our collective ability to promote hunting to the non-hunting public (i.e. – the voting majority) and to become proactive in reducing anti- hunting threats. Delta recognizes that effective communications are key to the future of hunting. Delta will build a strong voice, using a science-based approach to developing and delivering messages to the public on behalf of the hunting community. This section will describe some recent and important examples of Delta’s new hunting advocacy effort. 1. The Canadian Outdoors Caucus The Outdoors Caucus (OC) was founded by Saskatchewan Conservative Member of Parliament, Mr. Garry Breitkreuz. Modeled after the Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus in the United States Congress, the OC’s mandate is: “Our mission is to entrench in law fishing, hunting, trapping and shooting sports as acceptable, traditional, environmentally-sustainable outdoor heritage activities with a safety credo and a conservation ethic as our highest priorities” The response from Canada’s federal parliamentarians to Mr. Breitkreuz’ initiative was very positive. As of December 1, 2006, 78 Members of Parliament and Senators from all political parties have joined the OC, making it one of the largest in Canadian Parliament. Delta Waterfowl has worked closely with the founding members of the Caucus and Vice President Dr. Robert Bailey from Delta’s Ottawa office is a Policy Advisor to the OC. Mr. Breitkreuz recognized Delta’s support and noted in a Delta Waterfowl news release (full text in APPENDIX I): MP Breitkreuz credited Delta Waterfowl for its support and guidance in developing the Outdoors Caucus concept. “From the beginning, Delta Waterfowl has worked closely with my office in laying out the groundwork for the caucus,” he said. For Canada’s hunters, anglers, and trappers, the OC can be considered the single most important development in recent history. For the first time, we have a non-partisan parliamentary group dedicated to the promotion of Canada’s hunting, fishing and trapping heritage. The OC will be in place regardless of which government is in power, providing Canada’s hunters, anglers, and trappers a permanent voice at the highest levels of government. And Delta Waterfowl will continue to serve the caucus and guide it to advance waterfowl hunting and conservation. The Canadian caucus co- chairs recently visited Washington DC to meet with officials of the US Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). The sportsmen’s caucuses from both countries recognized many common threats to hunting heritage, and agreed to cooperate to address these. Delta recently met with CSF staff in Washington DC, and will continue to coordinate efforts between the caucuses in both countries on behalf of waterfowl hunters. 2. Scaup limits In 2005 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decided to reduce limits on lesser scaup from three per day to one per day. We believed such a drastic reduction may have effectively eliminated scaup hunting in the U.S. given the time, expense and effort that “big water” scaup hunting entails, while there was no scientifically- based conservation benefit identified that would accrue to scaup populations from this proposal. Delta along with a number of states objected to the proposal to reduce scaup limits to one per day across the US. In the face of these objections and because the science of scaup management was still in doubt, the USFWS decided on a 2-scaup limit. APPENDIX II is a letter written by Delta’s President Rob Olson to the USFWS regarding the proposed scaup limit reduction. This letter outlines the reasons for our position and further reinforces our determination to do the right things for both ducks and duck hunters. 3. Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies The membership of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) includes the public fish and wildlife agencies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and many leading non-governmental conservation organizations. Delta Waterfowl has moved to expand our contacts with this important group via our recruitment of Mr. Robert Carmichael as Senior Advisor, Operations and International Relations. Mr. Carmichael recently retired from the Manitoba Wildlife Branch where, in the course of a 30+ year career, he worked closely with AFWA and other international bodies to protect and defend the North American fur industry from attacks by the animal rights movement and anti-trapping European governments. Mr. Carmichael has been working with Delta’s Jim Fisher on expanding Delta’s presence within AFWA. Delta’s new AFWA team attended the September 2006 AFWA meeting in Colorado to contribute our unique waterfowling, and animal-use perspectives within key meetings and to important wildlife professionals. A report was received at AFWA on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which is positioning itself to become the lead player in the North American anti-hunting movement. HSUS has recently absorbed the Doris Day Animal Defense League and Cleveland Amory’s Fund for Animals. The larger entity is now hiring the most committed animal rights types it can. With these “acquisitions” the HSUS will now have yearly revenues of 106 million dollars. It is expected that the HSUS will be targeting waterfowl hunting in particular. 4. Animal Cruelty Legislation in Canada and the U.S. Over the past 5 years, successive Canadian federal governments have attempted to change Canada’s animal cruelty laws. The first attempt was Bill 15-B which would have drastically changed how perceived and real issues related to animal cruelty would have been addressed. Delta was a member of a coalition of animal use groups that led the fight against Bill C-15B. Other members of the coalition included agricultural organizations, trappers’ organizations, and the medical research community. Legal advice at the time concluded that Bill C-15B could have criminalized what up to that point had been considered acceptable animal uses. Bill C-15B also legitimized third party legal actions, which raised the specter of well-funded animal rights groups taking anglers, hunters, trappers, and farmers to court. The possibility of that happening was enough to catalyze opposition to Bill C-15B. The next iteration was Bill C-20, a better bill, but it died on the order paper with the calling of the 2006 general election. The current government is supporting Bill S-213, which represents a common-sense approach that the animal use community can support. Animal rights groups are fighting S-213, (see APPENDIX III) and Delta’s response has been to mobilize an advocacy campaign in support of the bill. We have asked our Canadian chapters to mount a lobby from their regions. In 2002 the animal rights lobby, primarily the Humane Society of the U.S., attempted to have a ballot initiative passed in Arkansas that would have created an “animal cruelty act” similar to what was being proposed for Canada. Delta was the first conservation organization to get involved and worked closely with the Arkansas Farm Bureau urging a no vote on this proposal. The ballot initiative was defeated. 5. Mandatory Outfitting in Prairie Canada The Saskatchewan Outfitters’ Association (SOA), the provincial association that represents most guides and outfitters in Saskatchewan, has been lobbying the Government of Saskatchewan to make it mandatory that every non-Canadian waterfowl hunter in Saskatchewan be required to use the services of a guide or outfitter. Delta teamed up with our allies from the 25,000-strong Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, to issue a press release (APPENDIX IV) opposing the move. Delta is supportive of outfitting but believes that their proposal, if accepted, would limit access to waterfowling for both Canadian residents and U.S. freelancers. Delta received many positive comments for this position. The Government of Saskatchewan has rejected the outfitters’ proposal. A letter from the Saskatchewan government confirming the rejection of the SOA’s intitial proposal is attached (APPENDIX V). The Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association and the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society also advocated for mandatory outfitting. Again, Delta opposed their proposals through attending meetings, contacting outfitters and government officials directly, and by arranging hunting media coverage of the outfitter issue. Helping Duck Hunters keep their Shotguns in Canada Canada has a national firearms registry and, in spite of the utter failure of the program to deter crime in any way and a cost overrun of more than a billion dollars, the registry still exists. Hunters had high hopes that Canada’s new Conservative federal government would fulfill a campaign commitment and scrap the registry, but a “minority” government situation has made this more difficult than expected. In May of 2006, the new government announced an amnesty for those firearms owners who have had difficulty complying with complexities of the registration process. Delta issued a press release (APPENDIX VI) praising the government for this action and encouraged all political parties to support the elimination of the registry. In fall 2006, the Liberal Party of Canada announced a resolution aimed to ban the ownership of semi- automatic firearms in Canada. Delta responded immediately with a letter to Liberal Leader, the Honourable Stephane Dion, voicing our concern with the resolution and the impact it would have on hunters in Canada (see letter in APPENDIX VII). Delta has launched a communications strategy to generate opposition to the resolution. In addition, Delta is currently organizing a coalition of hunting groups, the firearms and hunting industry against the resolution to ban semi- automatic firearms in Canada. This potential ban also has obvious implications for US waterfowlers visiting Canada. V. Delta’s Hunting Communications and Outreach The advocacy efforts described above represent Delta’s work in response to specific events and/ or opportunities. Intervening at the right time on an issue of importance to the hunting community ensures that Delta’s voice and the voice of the waterfowl hunter will always be heard. Reacting to events and seizing opportunities is important, but equally important are long term, proactive efforts to communicate hunting to society at large. Society’s view of hunters and hunting is more positive than most hunters think. But retaining society’s support for hunting requires constant attention in the face of declining hunter numbers and a more urbanized society. Hunters have no cause for complacency and there are a number of high-profile issues that we have “lost.” Every loss of a hunting opportunity or perceived defeat of a pro-hunting initiative further emboldens the anti-hunters who look upon these defeats as ways to secure more funds to mount the next anti-hunting campaign. Examples of recent defeats include the cancellation of Ontario’s spring bear hunt, the closure of some Quebec marshes to duck hunting (after having been secured by duck hunters’ dollars), and the loss of the mourning dove hunting ballot initiative in Michigan. Defeats can be reversed, as occurred in New Jersey, where the State reinstituted a black bear hunt after it had been closed due to an anti-hunting campaign. This happened as a result of increased bear depredation problems and threats to human safety that the rapidly increasing black bear population posed. Sound science combined with advocacy made this happen. Delta’s communications and outreach efforts speak to hunters as well. Many hunters despair about our common future, thinking that all will be lost in a generation. Delta’s message is one of hope and confidence. We firmly believe that the “sustainable use community” can resist anti-hunting efforts as long as we are “smart” about it and convey hunting in a manner that will appeal to society at large. Hunters should take heart from recent victories of the fur and sealing industries. In spite of multi-million dollar anti-fur and anti-sealing campaigns by animal rights groups, these industries have emerged strong and looking positively to the future. The following Delta initiatives are recent examples of our efforts to generate positive hunting messages in hunting and non-hunting media. 1. Message development and media training In 2002/2003 Delta Waterfowl initiated research to develop hunting messages that were appropriate for the non-hunting public and also to train key spokespeople to be available to the media when hunting issues arose. The message development phase of the project was carried out using focus groups. Urban Canadians were asked for their impressions of different messages about hunting. The participants were carefully chosen to represent the “uncommitted” and urban non-hunter, i.e. a person who does not hunt and has no strong views on the issue. There is little opposition to hunting in rural areas and hence the emphasis on urban citizens. It must also be emphasized that messages that are positive for hunters are not necessarily positive for the uncommitted non-hunter. Our focus groups reacted negatively to the word “trophy” but “trophy hunting” is a common message between hunters. Three messages proved to be most effective in supporting hunting for focus group participants:
Messages that related to “our hunting heritage,” or “hunting is part of our genetic makeup” or “we care about wildlife” had a much less favorable rating with non-hunters, even though these messages resonate strongly with hunters. The second phase of this project involved training key spokespeople for hunters as situations arise. This involved the use of experienced media consultants who conducted mock interviews where subjects had to answer aggressive and negative questions about hunting. The “performances” were critiqued and corrections were made. Participants learned to appreciate that the purpose of an interview is to get your message out, as opposed to answering the interviewer’s questions. They were provided with advice on how to “bridge” from the answer that the interviewer was seeking to the answer/message that would be good for hunting. Many of the “graduates” of Delta’s hunter training project have been interviewed on hunting issues and have performed very well. This same public polling and focus group work must be replicated where needed in North America, with the specific needs of the local waterfowler in mind. 2. Delta’s Hunting Communications Workshop – Pilot Project After solid pro-hunting messages have been created, the next step is getting these sound-bites into mainstream media. Training hunters to deliver the message is a logical approach, but how can we do this economically on a large scale? Delta Waterfowl developed and piloted a “hunting communications workshop.” Aimed specifically at hunters, the workshop provides hunters with latest polling information on hunting, tactics and strategies of anti-hunters, key messages (see above), and directions on how to influence the public debates and policy decisions by governments and city councils to ensure favorable decisions result for hunting. The first workshop was piloted in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island in the spring of 2005, with approximately 50 hunters in attendance. The event was organized by Delta Waterfowl Chapters in PEI and Nova Scotia. Evaluations of the workshop were very positive and Delta received critical feedback, which will be used to improve the workshop. These types of workshops must be conducted across North America to Delta Waterfowl chapters and other groups. 3. The Delta Waterfowl Report Delta’s magazine is considered one of the finest of its kind in North America. Delta’s magazine has become a strong voice for the waterfowl hunter. Waterfowl Report Editor Dan Nelson notes: “The goal of the magazine is to turn its readers into more effective advocates for hunting and waterfowl conservation by giving them information they can’t find in other publications”. We encourage our readers to nurture the next generation of hunters through a regular feature called the Canvasback Club, and we go out of our way to feature youth hunts and young hunters with stories and photo essays. How hunting is perceived by the non-hunting public is a critical element of our advocacy effort. Delta’s how-to columns and articles promote ethical and responsible hunting by its members. Our retriever column helps members conserve game by teaching effective techniques for training their dogs, and our shotgun column strives to reduce waterfowl losses by helping readers improve their shooting skills. Delta’s Camp Chef column - “A Celebration of Wild Cuisine” - encourages hunters to share their game, providing delicious, easy-to-fix recipes. Through the magazine, we strive to educate and encourage our members to become effective ambassadors for hunting. VI. Delta Waterfowl: A Voice for the Waterfowl Hunter Delta is often the only recourse for action on anti- hunting issues for waterfowl hunters in Canada, and in cases where hunting opportunities are threatened. The Canadian Wildlife Service, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and many others will not often publicly promote or defend waterfowl hunting today, or protest the loss of access to hunting areas, even where these have been secured and managed with dollars from waterfowl hunters. This likely reflects the ongoing urbanization and associated social change in Canada over the last 25 years. In recent years, Delta has intervened to fight closures of waterfowl hunting in provincial parks, conservation areas and on marshes secured under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in Canada. We have also assisted Delta members and others to fight anti- firearms discharge bylaws in a number of jurisdictions where these would curtail significant hunting opportunities, and where there was no concurrent public safety issue. Delta has worked with other groups to promote hunting heritage, and recognize the value in closer ties between hunter- conservation organizations, the industry that supplies hunter needs, and the private farmland where the game is produced. Delta has formed strong alliances with farming and ranching groups in Canada, and is sympathetic to the needs of farmers and rural communities in the US, in regard to conservation. Farmers and ranchers control access to the best hunting in North America, and it just makes good sense to cultivate friendship, a common understanding and cooperation between landowners and waterfowl hunters. Delta is proud to seek the cooperation of all interests in acting to promote and defend hunting opportunities, and in delivering our conservation programs. One recent example was Delta support for lifting the traditional ban on Sunday hunting in several counties in Ontario. Here, Delta supported and acknowledged the work of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and other groups involved in a successful outcome for hunters. We are always seeking the cooperation of members, chapters, elected officials and all groups striving to create a better future for waterfowl hunting. VII. Delta’s Leadership for Waterfowling in North America Delta Waterfowl is rising to the challenges of securing the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Our Canadian and early US experiences are immensely valuable in developing the communications strategies needed to defend and promote hunting using Delta’s membership, chapters, volunteers and partner organizations across the United States and Canada. We are learning how to offset the impact of US- based anti- hunting organizations that are using Canada as a testing ground for the methods they will use to attack waterfowl hunting in the US. Delta Waterfowl is poised to become the leader in defending and promoting waterfowl hunting in the United States and Canada. Delta needs the support of major donors, members, volunteers, the hunting industry and hunting partner organizations to achieve this goal. We have laid the groundwork for leadership, in our professional communications strategies and networks, in the work with political caucuses in each country, and in the highly- motivated network of Chapters and Delta volunteers established across North America. Delta waterfowl will use our corporate resources and volunteer base to fight for the future of waterfowl hunting, with the support of a growing and active Delta membership. Next steps include: Expanding hunting communications workshops across North America. We believe with your support, the opportunity to secure the future of waterfowling is very bright indeed, given the commitment by Delta Waterfowl to lead a highly professional, proactive promotion and defense of waterfowl hunting on behalf of North American duck hunters. For immediate release Recognizing that fishing, hunting, trapping and shooting sports are important components of Canada’s culture and heritage, Saskatchewan Member of Parliament (MP) Garry Breitkreuz has proposed organizing an Outdoors Caucus within the Parliament of Canada. In a letter to MPs and Senators, MP Breitkreuz proposed a non-partisan group that would meet as needed to discuss issues of interests to Canadian outdoors enthusiasts. MP Breitkreuz credited Delta Waterfowl for its support and guidance in developing the Outdoors Caucus concept. “From the beginning, Delta Waterfowl has worked closely with my office in laying out the groundwork for the caucus,” he said. “This is great news for Canadian sportsmen,” says Delta President Rob Olson, who credited Delta’s Vice President of Policy for Prairie Canada Robert D. Sopuck for his efforts in behalf of the caucus. “Delta applauds MP Breitkreuz for taking this important step in behalf of Canada’s outdoor heritage.” In a letter to fellow MPs, Breitkreuz said the caucus’ mission would be to entrench in law fishing, hunting, trapping and shooting sports as acceptable, traditional, environmentally-sustainable outdoor heritage activities, with safety and a conservation ethic as its highest priorities. MP Breitkreuz says the Outdoors Caucus would set as goals: Ensuring that the 5 million Canadians who participate in outdoor sports would have reasonable access to federally managed public lands and waters; increasing awareness of the economic importance of outdoor-heritage activities; preserving and promoting outdoor activities and environmental stewardship, and supporting multiple sustainable uses and management of public lands, waters, fish, wildlife and habitat based on sound science and professional natural-resource tenets. MP Breitkreuz said interest in the Outdoors Caucus has been strong, with 21 MPs indicating an interest to join and that number growing daily. For additional information, contact Robert D. Sopuck at 204-848-4007, or Dr. Robert Bailey at 613-283-6866. APPENDIX II –Letter from Delta President, Rob Olson to USFWS re: Scaup limits August 10, 2005 Brian A. Milsap, Chief Dear Mr. Milsap: I am writing to express the concerns of Delta Waterfowl Foundation with the intentions of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce the bag limit of scaup (both Greater and Lesser) from 3 to 2 birds per day in the pending 2005-06 hunting season. While Delta Waterfowl has traditionally encouraged a conservative approach to regulation-setting for waterfowl populations, we believe the decision to implement further reductions in scaup hunting opportunities should be delayed for a period of one year to achieve the following: 1. A better science-based foundation for management decisions on scaup populations. There is doubt and some controversy surrounding the findings of the recent scaup population modeling exercise by Boomer and Johnson. A summary of those findings coupled with the low May survey numbers for scaup appears to have triggered impetus to take immediate management action. While Delta Waterfowl shares concerns about declining scaup populations, we are also aware that the proliferation of special hunting regulations, where merely precautionary in nature, may not address real biological needs, nor be of significant scope to influence positive outcomes for scaup populations. Populations of scaup are not in imminent danger – in fact scaup consistently are the third or fourth most abundant duck in the May surveys. It appears that there is no hard scientific evidence that hunting has a discernable impact on the size of scaup breeding populations. Moreover, there is no evidence that further harvest reduction would help scaup population recovery at this time. Finally, it is almost certain that the proposed harvest reduction goals could not be evaluated for their efficacy without far more planning. We advocate delaying this decision to gather scientific information, to allow full consultation with available experts and interested agencies, and to plan whatever steps may be required to improve the scientific basis for managing scaup populations. 2. An assessment of potential scaup management options on waterfowl hunter clients and the future of waterfowl hunting. Delta believes waterfowl management should be a collaborative process between resource managers and stakeholders. It is critical that resource users understand the purpose and need for regulations, to encourage their cooperation and compliance, as well as future participation in waterfowling. Participation in waterfowling is important as hunters are advocates for waterfowl and key contributors to wetland conservation. Within the broader field of waterfowling, there are individuals and groups with traditions and specific interests in scaup and diving duck hunting. Delta is concerned that the reasons for a further reduction in bag limits for scaup have not been explained to these clients. Hunters may overestimate their influence on scaup populations and traditions for diving duck hunting could be lost in some areas. Further, there is a strong possibility that anti- hunting organizations, whose stated mission is to end waterfowling, may misconstrue messages from this management action. Anti- hunting organizations could advocate an end to all diving duck hunting, as many species have much lower continental populations than scaup, and far more restrictive regulations. 3. A more collaborative process for management decisions pertaining to scaup populations. In our view, this decision suggests a need for improving the process of scientific and management scrutiny, to bring the best available expertise to bear on the issues facing scaup populations and on any potential management solutions. Such a process led by the US Fish & Wildlife Service would engender more collaborative input on management actions with Flyway Council Technical Committees, conservation organizations, academics and other stakeholders, and ensure all views are considered. We note that a delay of one year would allow a full review of the current status and scientific information on scaup populations and a much more thorough consideration of management options. This delay would allow an opportunity for expert advice on the issue in an upcoming scaup symposium to be held in North Dakota in January. We would be pleased to discuss our views with you, and to work in cooperation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service on the issues facing scaup populations in North America. Sincerely, Rob Olson Cc: Matt Hogan, Deputy Director USFWS Animal cruelty bill lacks teeth, say rights groups Joel Kom Wednesday, August 30, 2006 OTTAWA - The Conservative government has decided against re-introducing a Liberal bill from the last Parliament that would have modernized 19th century definitions of animal cruelty a decision that has angered animal-rights groups who lobbied to pass the bill for the past seven years. The government will instead support a Liberal senator's bill, known as S-213, that focuses mostly on increasing fines and jail terms for animal cruelty offences, a spokesman for Justice Minister Vic Toews said Tuesday. The Conservatives won't re-introduce the last Parliament's legislation, which itself was the fourth version of an animal-cruelty bill dating back to 1999, because it wasn't part of the party's platform, Mike Storeshaw said. ''S-213 is an approach we'd support,'' he said. ''We think the (penalties) that exist are too low and S-213 is a good way of handling it.'' The Senate bill, introduced in April by Liberal Senator John Bryden, would raise the maximum jail term to five years for indictable offences, higher than the current two-year maximum. The bill would also raise the maximum fine from the current $2,000 to $10,000 and allow judges to impose a lifetime ban on animal ownership for anyone convicted of animal cruelty. Those penalties were all included in the last Parliament's legislation, which died last year after the election was called. But the big difference, animal-rights groups said, was the parliamentary bill modernized definitions of animal cruelty that hadn't been updated since the first such law was passed in 1892. While some minor changes were made in the 1950s, they said, the Senate bill lets most of the 19th-century rules live on. For example, crimes against animals are considered property offences. ''The most unfortunate development around the whole debate ... is the introduction of Senator Bryden's bill,'' said Shelagh MacDonald, program director for the Ottawa-based Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, adding she was "enormously disappointed" with the Conservative plan. MacDonald said the Senate bill fails to lower the high threshold that demands prosecutors prove someone intended to neglect animals, something the parliamentary bill would have done. The threshold came into play, MacDonald said, when a judge acquitted a Saskatchewan farmer charged with starving more than 30 sheep to death because the judge didn't feel the farmer intended to starve the animals. The Senate bill would also not extend the law's protection to wild or unowned animals. ''If you can't convict to begin with, what difference does it make if the penalties are larger or smaller?'' said Cele Partap, a spokeswoman for the Toronto-based World Society for the Protection of Animals Canada. Some had criticized the last parliamentary legislation for its potential to spark lawsuits from overzealous animal-rights groups who, they said, would go as far as making hunting and fishing illegal. Partap called that a ''radical statement,'' saying anything already lawfully regulated such as hunting and fishing would have been unaffected by the parliamentary bill. That bill had, in various incarnations, been kicking around Parliament since 1999, yet it was never passed either because of an election call or because the parliamentary session ended. Storeshaw said he couldn't comment on animal-rights groups' specific concerns, only to say the government supported the Senate bill. Brian Murphy, the Liberals' associate justice critic, said he was ''relatively receptive'' to the Conservatives' plans to back the Senate bill despite his preference to re-introduce the old legislation. But, he added, MPs would have the chance to make amendments to the Senate bill before it would become law, something his party would ''absolutely'' look at. Ottawa Citizen APPENDIX IV WINNIPEG, Manitoba—Delta Waterfowl has come out in opposition to a proposal by the Saskatchewan Outfitters Association that would require non-residents to utilize a licensed guide or host while hunting in the province. “Delta Waterfowl sees this move as a threat to Saskatchewan’s hunting heritage,” says Delta’s Vice President of Policy for Prairie Canada Robert D. Sopuck. “Mandatory outfitting for non-resident hunters would not only create a monopoly situation for the favored few who are outfitters, but would jeopardize access to hunting lands for resident and non-resident waterfowl hunters alike. “We understand there’s a role and a need for outfitters,” Sopuck added. “Some folks could not access hunting in Canada without them. However, the SOA’s proposal is not a balanced solution. The needs of freelance hunters from the United States, outfitters and Canadian residents must be equally and fairly considered.” In February of 2005, the outfitters association published a paper entitled “Mandatory Bird Outfitting” in which it proposed that non-residents would be required to hunt with either a paid guide or be accompanied by an unpaid hunter-host. Hunter-hosts would be residents who could accompany two hunters for six days every second year, and would not be allowed to charge for the hunt and could not carry a gun. The paper portrayed illegal outfitting as a major problem on the prairies, a contention that was disputed by Dr. Robert Bailey, Delta’s Vice President of Policy for Canada. Says Dr. Bailey, “The outfitters have no factual, third-party information to support their claim of illegal outfitting, or to show how widespread the practice may be.” Sopuck says Delta opposed a similar proposal by the Manitoba Lodges and Outfitters Association, which was rejected by the Manitoba government, and continues to oppose a similar proposal by the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society. “We commend Manitoba for its foresight, and encourage Saskatchewan and Alberta to follow suit,” Sopuck said. Sopuck and Bailey agreed the economies of rural communities across the province would be hard-hit by the loss of income from “freelance” resident and non-resident hunters, despite SOA claims to the contrary. Darrell Crabbe, Executive Director of the 25,000-member Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, concurred, saying, “It is indeed ironic that the outfitters are using an economic argument for their proposal when studies have shown that the contribution to the Saskatchewan economy by resident hunters and non-resident, non-guided hunters is already very significant. The SOA proposal puts that at risk. “The outfitters’ proposal represents the slippery slope whereby hunting could be priced out of the reach of the average Saskatchewan resident,” says Crabbe. Letter from Hugh Hunt (Sk) confirming the rejection of the outfitter’s proposal December 21, 2006 Rob Olson, President Dear Mr. Olson: This letter is to advise Delta Waterfowl Foundation of the decision Saskatchewan Environment has taken regarding outfitting of non-resident game bird hunters, which is some interest to your organization. As you know, the Saskatchewan Outfitters Association (SOA) asked Saskatchewan Environment to consider adopting mandatory outfitting for non-resident game bird hunting. While government manages the resource for long-term sustainability, it does regularly explore options that support optimum economic return from use of the resource. A recent review by Saskatchewan Environment has resulted in the conclusion that it is inappropriate to implement mandatory outfitting for non-resident bird hunting. Economic modeling predicts a potentially high loss of non-resident bird hunters and loss of expenditures to the rural service sector would far exceed any benefits to the outfitting industry. Saskatchewan Environment will be maintaining the current approach to non-resident bird hunting, and mandatory outfitting will not be introduced. Saskatchewan Environment will continue to work cooperatively with the SOA on initiatives that improve opportunities within the industry and promotes economic growth in the province. As this occurs, we remain committed to seek input from all our stakeholder partners on issues that affect the hunting and fishing resources of this province. Yours sincerely, Hugh M. Hunt cc: Dave Phillips, Assistant Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Environment Delta Applauds Canadian Government’s Firearms Amnesty WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Delta Waterfowl applauded the firearms amnesty announced today by the Government of Canada, and encouraged the government to move quickly to eliminate the long-gun registry. The Hon. Stockwell Day, Canada’s Minster of Public Safety, announced the amnesty for long-gun owners who have not registered their firearms or who may have become ensnared in the complex firearms-registration process. “Delta has always opposed the Canadian long-gun registry because of the threat it posed to the recruitment and retention of waterfowl hunters,” says Delta President Rob Olson. “We applaud the amnesty, and encourage the government to totally eliminate the gun registry.” “Responsible hunters, trappers and competitive shooters have been unfairly targeted by this cumbersome and ineffective long-gun registry, “said Delta’s Vice-President of Policy for Canada, Dr. Robert Bailey. “ From an initial cost estimate of only $2 million per year, the registry has consumed over $1 billion with no noticeable impact on crime. “Delta feels strongly that hunters are passionate conservationists dedicated to conserving wildlife resources,” Delta's Vice President of Policy for Prairie Canada Robert Sopuck said. “By discouraging firearm ownership in Canada and hence the recruitment of hunters, the long-gun registry set back conservation efforts in Canada.” “This is great news for Canadian hunters,” said Olson. “Delta also appreciates the great work by Conservative Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville, Garry Breitkreuz, who has worked tirelessly to eliminate the long-gun registry. “We hope that all political parties in the Canadian Parliament will support new Conservative Government in taking the next step, which is the complete elimination of the long-gun registry,” Olson added. Delta believes that the failure of the Canadian long-gun registry will have a ripple effect around the world by causing countries that have such registries to re-think this failed strategy. Editors: For more information, contact Robert Sopuck at 204-848-4007. Hon. Stephane Dion, M.P., P.C. Dear Mr. Dion; On behalf of the Delta Waterfowl Foundation, please accept our congratulations on your election as Leader of the Liberal Party, and Leader of the Opposition. We are encouraged by your commitment to the environment and our natural heritage, and look forward to working with you in the cause of conservation. There is one aspect of the recent Liberal convention that causes us concern. Resolution 42, adopted by the convention, calls for a ban on semi-automatic firearms. The resolution states that semi-automatic firearms “do not support the hunting culture found in all parts of Canada”. In this respect, the resolution is not correct. In fact, semi-automatic firearms are, legally, in wide use for duck, goose and upland bird hunting and for hunting big game such as deer and moose in all regions of our country. The proposed ban will seriously impact hundreds of thousands of hunters across Canada. Delta Waterfowl supports reasonable and effective measures to ensure the safety of society at large. However, placing a legal, semi-automatic shotgun used to hunt ducks in the same category as an automatic weapon intended for military purposes is not appropriate, and would lead to unnecessary antagonism between Canada’s 1.2 million hunters and the Liberal Party of Canada. We have no quarrel with informed and necessary initiatives to prevent misuse of firearms, but urge you to ensure that resolutions by the Liberal Party to prevent criminal uses of firearms is based in fact and on actual need. The real issues of firearm abuse have nothing to do with law-abiding hunters using limited- capability, semi-automatic firearms for hunting, and there is no need to ban such guns. Thank you for considering this matter further - we look forward to your reply, and your support for the hunters of Canada. Yours truly, Rob Olson |
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Waterfowl hunters are some of the most passionate people focused on waterfowl conservation. In fact, they make up over 95% of Delta's membership base, supporting Delta’s research and programs across North America. As hunter numbers continue to decline, we are faced with an alarming situation that will have serious implications for waterfowl conservation, management, and the future of waterfowl hunting.
