Following the lead of Ducks Unlimited (the oldest at about 65 years old), all of the hunting and fishing conservation organizations have raised fund raising to an art form.
For example, the DU chapter in LaCrosse, WI holds an annual banquet that, despite all of the competition from other conservation groups and other DU events in nearby towns, brings in about 400-450 people a year. The NET from that banquet this year was over $50,000. That is an average of $125 per person after all expenses. The LaCrosse dinner is a large one, but there are another couple hundred banquets of various sizes held in other cities throughout the state each year. The proceeds from all of those events combined with corporate and high value sponsorships and memberships adds up to a huge amount of money that is put into marshland preservation and restoration. Multiply that by 50 states, and it really adds up. DU is just one of many organizations that is doing this. In addition to Pheasants Forever (and the new Quail organization), there are also the Ruffed Grouse Society, Whitetails Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Unlimited, and many other national and local groups. To say that these organizations are well organized and effective is an understatement. When combined with licensing, Federal and State Duck and Habitat Stamps, and the Pittman/Robertson taxes (gun and ammunition tax), it is fair to say that the hunting / fishing community definitely carries the majority of the load in terms of money spent on refuges and habitat restoration / preservation. It is a shame that we can't find a way to reach into the wallets of all of the non-consumptive users of the same resources (bird watchers, hikers, etc.). We take advantage of the fruits of their money. We should also do our share. We can all start by buying a duck stamp. Dan Jackson Chaseburg, Vernon County, Wisconsin, USA (Near LaCrosse, WI) <http://community.webshots.com/user/danielejackson> -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of SSMORTON Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 6:20 PM To: Mike Hendrickson; MOU-net; Jim Williams Subject: Re: [mou] Quail Forever It's because they are well organized! Sue, Cottonwood ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Hendrickson" <[email protected]> To: "MOU-net" <[email protected]>; "Jim Williams" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 6:14 PM Subject: Re: [mou] Quail Forever Why don't you tell us why instead of asking why? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Williams" <[email protected]> To: "MOU-net" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 4:21 PM Subject: [mou] Quail Forever > Why is it always hunters who get the job done? > Jim Williams > Wayzata > > > NEWS RELEASE: > > Pheasants Forever (PF) has announced it is extending its successful > approach to pheasant conservation to another beloved upland bird > species: > quail. Quail Forever will build on PF's track record of successful local > chapter development, localized habitat initiatives, and national public > policy leadership and advocacy. Plans for the new organization include > recruitment of additional wildlife biologists and a phased chapter > development plan. > > PF has a steady track record of success, including the completion of > more > than 300,000 habitat projects benefiting 3.4 million acres for wildlife > since inception. PF has also participated in over 800 land acquisitions > totaling more than 100,000 acres now open to public hunting. All told, > PF > has spent more than $170 million nationwide on wildlife habitat projects > and conservation education during its 23-year history. > > In forming Quail Forever, PF plans to deploy its current organizational > model – localized decision-making with lean, low-overhead central > administration. Pheasants Forever already has a strong presence in > states > where quail and pheasants share habitat – Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, > Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, and > Pennsylvania. In fact, Pheasants Forever members have been responsible > for > delivering more than 2 million acres of wildlife habitat in those shared > habitat ranges. Those same states have also been some of the country's > most successful at enrolling acres in the bobwhite buffers (CP-33) > component of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). > > PF is outlining a phased approach to establishing the Quail Forever > organization. Initial focus will be on states with both pheasant and > quail > hunters and habitat. Quail Forever's expansion south and west will be > based on chapter interest and available resources. In the > organization's > first year, Quail Forever has set a goal of forming 50 chapters and > recruiting 12,000 members to work on quail habitat projects. > > _______________________________________________ > mou-net mailing list > [email protected] > http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net > _______________________________________________ mou-net mailing list [email protected] http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net _______________________________________________ mou-net mailing list [email protected] http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net
