New law will expand conservation efforts, improve outdoor recreation and enhance natural resources across the state.

Delta Waterfowl is celebrating a strongly bi-partisan vote by state lawmakers to establish the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund. Polls showed 75 percent of Mississippi voters supported the measure, including a vast majority of resident sportsmen and women.

The historic legislation allocates money to expand conservation efforts, improve outdoor recreation and enhance resources — all while supporting local Mississippi economies.

“The Duck Hunters Organization thanks the Mississippi legislature for establishing the Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund and appropriating $10 million this year,” said Cyrus Baird, senior director of government affairs for Delta Waterfowl. “We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers and our conservation partners to make sure the fund has full and dedicated funding in the future. Doing so will provide substantial funding for quality waterfowl habitat and duck hunting access, including infrastructure investments to provide high quality habitat and hunting on public lands.”

Delta Waterfowl has identified “deferred” payments to public duck hunting lands in the South as a key barrier to quality waterfowling. The Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund will support both private and public entities through a competitive grant program overseen by an independent review board to make much-needed habitat improvements benefitting ducks and duck hunters.

In establishing the trust fund, Mississippi will be able to leverage and multiply its investments with other federal and private resources to deliver projects that support outdoor recreation and conservation on all lands in Mississippi.

“Federal programs such as the Pittman-Robertson Act, North American Wetland Conservation Act, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund prove the immense impact that the conservation dollars of sportsmen and women can play,” Baird said. “Mississippi was one of only two states in the South without some sort of dedicated state-level conservation funding. This is an immense step in the right direction.”

For more information, contact Cyrus Baird at (703) 254-6737 or cbaird@deltawaterfowl.org.

Delta Waterfowl Foundation is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group working to produce ducks and ensure the tradition of duck hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.