Delta’s Advocacy for Increased Refuge Hunting Opportunities; Worrisome California SB53 Headed to Governor’s Desk; Sunday Gun Hunting Expansion in Ontario, and More

Vigorous Duck Production, HunteR3, and other Delta-supported efforts continue across the United States and Canada 

United States

Federal:

Hunt Fish Rule Comments: Delta Waterfowl policy staff recently submitted public comments in support of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2024-2025 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Proposed Rule. This new proposal would open or expand access at 12 national wildlife refuges, including new or expanded opportunities for migratory bird hunting in five national wildlife refuges (Green River, Bayou Teche, Waccamaw, Trinity, and Canaan Valley).

While Delta was supportive of this year’s proposal, we also urged greater action from the Service in future rulemaking, including the prioritization of refuge openings/expansions identified by Delta Waterfowl and duck hunters as being potential waterfowling hotspots. Delta continues to advocate for a more aggressive approach to expanding access on federal refuge lands, given ongoing declines of access to quality waterfowling and the increasingly urgent need to recruit, retain, and reactivate new hunters.

Read Delta’s full comments here.

Wildlife for the 21^st Century: Recently, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP)—comprised of the nation’s top 52 sporting-conservation organizations that represent America’s hunter-conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists—released Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume VII (W-21). This comprehensive publication focuses on solutions to conserve wildlife and their habitats across the nation, bolstering public access, and protecting our outdoor traditions.

The recommendations in W-21 will aid policymakers in the next administration and the next two Congresses in making decisions on sporting-conservation issues and practices that are vital to current and future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen and other conservationists.

“Our partners that make up AWCP should be proud of their ability to coalesce around a shared set of policy priorities which, should they be adopted, would produce real and meaningful benefits for hunters, habitat, and wildlife across the United States,” said John Devney, AWCP vice chair and chief policy officer for Delta Waterfowl. “It is a comprehensive suite of recommendations that can serve as a blueprint for conservation and hunting policy in the future.”

Read Wildlife for the 21^st Century here.

State:

Delta Waterfowl Welcomes New Senior Manager of Government Affairs: The Duck Hunters Organization is thrilled to announce that Jeffrey Wardlaw has joined our policy team as the new senior manager of government affairs for the south ends of the Mississippi and Central Flyways.

Wardlaw currently serves in the Arkansas House of Representatives, where he has been representing the 94th district in South Arkansas for 14 years. Moving forward, he will work with state legislators, state fish and wildlife agencies, Delta members and volunteers, and duck hunters at large to help continue delivering meaningful policy results for ducks and duck hunters at the southern end of the Mississippi and Central Flyways.

His years of policy leadership and legislative experience, combined with his passion for waterfowl hunting, will help take Delta’s state and local government affairs efforts to new heights in one of the most important regions for ducks and duck hunters in North America.

California Navigable Waters:  Recently, California Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 1226 into law, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Delta Waterfowl’s policy team has worked hard in support of this legislation since its inception, as it has positive effects on duck hunters across the state.

Currently, under California state law, an individual must stay within the marked boundaries of a refuge, river, delta, or any other body of water to hunt, even if the location is flooded over. Beginning at the start of the new year, California hunters will now be able to leave the marked boundaries of a waterway and hunt flooded waters as long as they are not trespassing on private property and they are still maintaining a minimum 150-yard distance from a residence or any other building.

Read Delta’s full legislative report on SB 1226 here.

California Wetlands: Assembly Bill 828—which adds the term “managed wetlands” to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act—has passed the California legislature and is on its way to the Governor’s desk. The added language of this bill prohibits a groundwater sustainability agency from imposing fees upon a managed wetland and offers additional benefits such as a sweeping commitment to the No Net Loss policy for wetlands, ensuring regulatory protections for some of the most sensitive areas in the state.

Wetlands ecosystems across California are impacted more than any other ecosystem in the state and are essential in providing more opportunities for wildlife and migrating waterfowl. Supporting these ecosystems is critically important—not only to Delta Waterfowl and our members but to waterfowl hunters at large. According to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, California is home to nearly 300,000 hunters who help support approximately 16,100 jobs, contribute $760 million towards salaries and wages, and provide $140 million in state and local taxes. Assembly Bill 828 directly supports this community by providing water to wetlands, in turn providing quality habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl that we are privileged to have in California.

Additionally, Assembly Bill 2875—which codifies “no net loss and long-term gain in the quantity, quality, and permanence of wetlands acreage and values in California” into law— has passed the California state legislature with a unanimous vote in both the Senate and Assembly. This policy has been in place since Gov. Pete Wilson signed Executive Order W-59-93, but with AB 2875 it becomes law.

Originally, the bill sponsor did not have “no net loss” mentioned. This language was critical to include because it guarantees that wetlands protections are prioritized by state and local government without exception. Accordingly, Delta worked directly with CWA’s policy team to ensure that the bill language was exemplary.

Overall, this is an important bill that should have positive long-term effects on wetlands and waterfowl in the state of California. Our team will continue to support and advocate for this monumental legislation as it heads to Gov. Newsom’s desk in hopes of being signed into law.

California Firearms: Unfortunately, Senate Bill 53 has cleared its final legislative hurdle—the California Assembly—and is now on its way to Gov. Newsom’s desk. SB 53 states that all firearms must be stored and unloaded at all times in a locked box or safe that is listed on the Department of Justice’s list of approved firearms safety devices. This bill also states that the only person who can legally gain access to the safe or lock box is the individual to whom the firearm is registered. No other individuals—including directly related family members—are allowed access to the safe or lock box under this legislation.

This bill also allows law enforcement agencies to enter an individual’s home to ensure that their firearms are properly rendered. This is a gross overreach and violates Californian’s right to privacy in their own homes. This bill is clearly unlawful and goes directly against the Supreme Court ruling on New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which establishes an individual’s right to a loaded firearm in their home. In addition to that, any infraction of this law may result in the inability to own, purchase, or transfer firearms for up to one year.

The bill was presented to Gov. Newsom on Sept. 3, and, under the California constitution, he has 12 days to decide, meaning that he has to either sign the bill or veto it by Sunday, Sept. 15.

This is nothing more than another attempt to further discourage and hamper firearm ownership in the state of California by placing unnecessary regulations on the backs of law-abiding gun owners. Our team will continue to fight against this flawed legislation as it makes its way through the Governor’s office.

Canada

Provincial:

Sunday Gun Hunting Expansion: Flipping the calendar page from August to September was particularly rewarding for many Canadians this year, especially for Islanders and many Ontarians. As you are reading this update, hunters in Prince Edward Island, as well as residents in six new municipalities in southern Ontario, have been taking to the field (and water) to participate in the early goose and/or dove hunting seasons on a Sunday for the very first time. Delta Waterfowl has been working tirelessly in conjunction with our members, volunteers, and chapters in each of these jurisdictions to remove antiquated prohibitions against Sunday gun hunting.

Removing barriers and working to improve access to opportunity, like Sunday gun hunting, will continue to be a focus for Delta Waterfowl. To learn more about Delta’s advocacy on Sunday (gun) hunting, or on any advocacy file, feel free to email Brian McRae, Delta’s director of government affairs for Canada, at bmcrae@deltawaterfowl.org.