Delta Waterfowl’s University Hunting Program Delivers Record-Setting Year

Many of today’s wildlife management students don’t come from families with hunting backgrounds; Delta’s UHP bridges the gap to encourage informed management decisions

Throughout the 2023-2024 delivery year, Delta’s University Hunting Program spanned the continent, from the University of Northern British Columbia to Maryland’s Bowie State University down to the University of Florida and Texas A&M, and 99 more schools. The program has continued its trend of rapid growth since its formal inception in 2017, recently achieving a program-record of 103 universities, with a total of 447 students involved in the program. UHP supporting volunteers and mentors numbered even more.

During the past 25 years, the backgrounds of most college students seeking degrees in wildlife management and biology have shifted. Previously, the majority of students seeking those degrees grew up in hunting and fishing families, or at a minimum, had exposure to outdoor pursuits. Today, however, it’s estimated that 70% of students pursuing these career paths have little or no prior exposure to hunting.

Delta Waterfowl believes it is critical for these future wildlife management professionals to be exposed to hunting now so they understand the important role it plays in conservation. Delta’s UHP introduces students to the full hunting experience, including completing a hunter safety course, a shooting range day, a mentored waterfowl hunt, and cleaning and eating game. UHP provides a hunting introduction for students and aims to recruit them to become lifelong waterfowl hunters who will bring it to their families and friends.

“Many of the future leaders of waterfowl management have little to no exposure to hunting and the current generation of students gives us concerns about future generations,” said Joel Brice, Delta’s chief conservation officer. “That’s why it is so important that we continue to focus on growing UHP. We’re out to recruit new hunters, to be sure, but nearly as important is making certain the future leaders in wildlife management are aware and appreciative of hunting’s vital role in the North American model of conservation.”

Delta’s UHP is, in fact, growing rapidly. In 2021-22, students at 36 universities participated. The program doubled in 2022-23 to 72 universities. During the 2023-24 season, a record 103 universities took part, with a total of 447 students. The successful delivery of the program can be attributed to university faculty, volunteer mentors, Delta staff, many donors, and an array of UHP supporters.

“Delta Waterfowl is extremely proud of the results that the University Hunting Program has delivered,” said Stephen Sowell, R3 programs manager for The Duck Hunters Organization. “Without the efforts of our partnering university faculty, engaging participants, and especially Delta chapter mentors, the University Hunting Program would not be possible. It truly takes collaboration to make this program what it is. Delta Waterfowl is excited to continue to expand the UHP in the future to provide this experience to future wildlife managers at each of our targeted institutions in the United States and Canada.”

When the program reaches maturity, Delta seeks to deliver UHP at all of the nearly 500 universities in North America that offer degrees in wildlife management and related fields.

For more information regarding Delta’s University Hunting Program or to offer your support, contact Joel Brice at jbrice@deltawaterfowl.org, or Stephen Sowell at ssowell@deltawaterfowl.org. You can also visit us online at https://deltawaterfowl.org/deltas-university-hunting-program/.