Minnesota Hen House Project Update by Matt Chouinard (Posted July 8, 2008)

Though things sound less promising in North Dakota and the Canadian prairies, the remaining wetlands in Minnesota seem to be in pretty good shape.  According to the 2008 Waterfowl Breeding Population Survey, conducted in mid-May, wetland and mallard numbers in Minnesota were 32% and 34%, respectively, above their long term averages.  This is good news for Minnesota duck hunters, and hopefully wetland conditions will remain good through the fall waterfowl hunting season. 

Additional good news can be found with our cooperative project with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  Though not surprising based on the waterfowl survey, roadside pair counts I conducted during May found good numbers (6 to 19 pairs per square mile) of mallards.  I conducted the counts in the Working Lands Initiative Target Areas in Big Stone, Grant, and Stevens Counties, areas where we are also installing new Hen Houses.  This bodes well for the 210 new Hen Houses I installed last winter, as well as the other 300 plus DNR Hen Houses I am monitoring and evaluating.  

Initial results are positive as nearly 30% of the new Hen Houses have been used by mallards and wood ducks, and use should continue to increase next year as successful hens and their offspring return to nest in them.  With nest success over 90% so far, Hen Houses continue to be a safe place for ducks to nest.     

As the nesting season progresses, I will continue to monitor the Minnesota Hen Houses while looking at locations for new ones.  This winter will be busy as I hope to install 350-400 new Hen Houses to help ducks in Minnesota! 

Bob Carmichael receives Wildlife Management Institute Award (Posted March 27, 2008)

Bob Carmichael was presented with the Wildlife Management Institute's (WMI) President's Award at the 73rd Annual North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on March 26th.

Bob was presented with this award based on his long-standing efforts and tenacity on controversial and extremely challenging and important files on behalf of hunters and trappers across North America and the globe. Bob worked for the provincial government of Manitoba spanning several decades and retired two years ago as Chief of the Wildlife Branch. Delta is extremely fortunate to have Bob working with us in a consultant role as our Senior Policy Advisor.

Pictured from left to right are long time friend and colleague Don MacLaughlin (Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies), wife Carol-Ann, Bob and WMI's Steve Williams.

Delta's Matt Chouinard Working With Minnesota DNR to Enhance Mallard Production

Former Delta student Matt Chouinard came back to the fold last summer to take on a new and exciting post in western Minnesota. A grant from the Minnesota DNR has allowed Delta to hire Matt to work with existing Hen Houses and to install new ones. While we all recognize the need for basic habitat requirements, Hen Houses provide a safe place for mallards to nest. The folks at the Minnesota DNR have been working with and studying Hen Houses for over a decade and realize their role in helping enhance mallard production. Hen Houses are the most cost effective tool available for mallards on the breeding grounds. Mallards normally nest on the ground where hens and their eggs are susceptible to predators as they take 35 days to finish nesting. While nest success on the ground might be 5-20%, it averages 80% in Hen Houses.

As of March 12th, Matt has installed 200 new Hen Houses and helped maintain another 330. While there have been plenty of challenges working through ice and snow, Matt has done a great job preparing these nests to lend a helping hand to mallards. Matt has also worked closely with the regional staff of the DNR as well as landowners from Morris to Heron Lake. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Pioneer Heritage Conservation Trust are also actively involved with additional Hen House projects in western Minnesota so that in all there are over 1,000 Hen Houses. Matt continues these efforts prior to the oncoming nesting season and will switch from installation and maintenance to an evaluation component once mallards begin nesting in April through June.

Matt comes from a passionate hunting family, growing up hunting with his father and brothers in Missouri and now lives with his wife Michelle and son Max in Morris, MN. Matt completed his Masters degree at Mississippi State University under Delta alumni Dr. Rick Kaminski.

St. Paul Pioneer Press: Safe Houses - Thanks to a conservation group, Minnesota mallard hens will find more predator-free places to lay their eggs.

Delta's Canadian Team Hits the Road!

Throughout February and March Delta Waterfowl will be attending several sportsman shows across Canada. We will be signing up new members, encouraging chapter growth, expanding our mentored hunt locations and much more!! You can meet members of our Canadian team at any of the following shows:

• Calgary Sportsman Show February 14-17: Carly Michie & Françoise Lord
• Montréal Sportsman Show February 21-24: Mark Clifford & Françoise Lord and members from the Québec Migrateurs Chapter
• Town Hall Meeting Saturday February 23 at 6pm at Place Bonaventure in Montréal: presentation will be in French by Bob Bailey & Françoise Lord. All waterfowlers welcome!
• Ottawa Sportsman Show February 21-24: volunteers
• Saskatoon Sportsman Show March 6 - 9: Cam Meuckon
• Edmonton Sportsman Show March 13 - 16: Cam Meuckon
• Toronto Sportsman Show March 13 - 16: Mark Clifford, volunteers

We look forward to meeting you. Thanks to all of our fantastic volunteers who will be helping us at these events!

Hansen Named as Delta Waterfowl U.S. Senior Policy Advisor

Former Wildlife Director for the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks Doug Hansen has joined Delta Waterfowl as its U.S. senior policy advisor.

Hansen, 60, who spent 36 years in the department, 18 as wildlife director, will represent Delta Waterfowl on agriculture, energy, climate change and other national policy issues that directly impact waterfowl, waterfowl habitat and waterfowl hunters.

"Doug's management and conservation experience and expertise will be invaluable in helping to grow Delta's U.S. conservation policy team in the years to come," said Delta President Rob Olson. "Doug is an experienced hand and highly respected among his peers in the North American wildlife community. We’re very pleased he’s on board."

An avid hunter and angler, Hansen, 60 of Pierre, South Dakota, said he's witnessed firsthand how national policy affects wildlife habitat and, by extension, hunters at the local level. "My experience as wildlife director has made me keenly aware of how land water resource management can impact wildlife, particularly waterfowl in the prairie breeding grounds,” said Hansen. "I’m very pleased to be working for Delta because I strongly believe in its mission: securing the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting."

In 2007, Hansen was awarded the Seth Gordon Award, the highest professional honor bestowed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA).

Hansen's duties will include representing Delta Waterfowl on the policy council of the Washington D.C.-based Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, an umbrella group of leading hunting, fishing and conservation organizations.

Delta’s Bailey Wins Award from Canadian Outdoor Heritage Alliance

COHA referenced Bailey’s efforts to save the Canadian Duck Stamp program, Wildlife Habitat Canada and the Canadian Wildlife Service. Bailey also drew praise for helping stop a resolution that would have banned semi-automatic firearms.

Photo caption: Jim Lawrence (left), COHA manager of Corporate Affairs and Communications, presents Bob Bailey of Delta Waterfowl with the COHA Award for Conservation.