Delta’s Meetings With the CEQ Chair and USFWS Director, Sunday Hunting Expansion in Nova Scotia, and More

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

United States

Delta Waterfowl White House Council on Environmental Quality Meeting: Last month, Delta staff visited the White House to meet with Katherine Scarlett, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The CEQ consults and coordinates with federal agencies, providing guidance on the implementation of National Environmental Protection Act to ensure timely environmental review and permitting processes across the federal government. In addition, the CEQ advises and assists the president on policies that promote the improvement of environmental quality, while supporting the economic prosperity and energy security of the American people.

Delta was joined by other conservation partners and advocated for expanding hunting access and opportunity on federal public lands for waterfowl hunters.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service Director Meeting: Last month, John Devney, Delta chief’s policy officer, and Cyrus Baird, vice president of government affairs, met with Brian Nesvik, the newly appointed director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Following Nesvik’s confirmation, Delta Waterfowl submitted a letter outlining our efforts over the past two administrations and pushing for a more comprehensive and impactful Hunt Fish Rule in the coming years. Delta provided Nesvik with a detailed list of national wildlife refuges Delta believes would be well positioned for new offerings in future rulemakings. The letter led to a meeting between Delta and Nesvik, where he confirmed his commitment to expanding access and opportunity for sportsmen and women.

Wisconsin Legislative Sporting Clay Shoot: Several of Delta’s staff participated in a legislative sporting clays shoot in Wisconsin with our conservation partners and members and staff of the Wisconsin legislature. Cyrus Baird, Delta’s vice president of government affairs, had several productive conversations with lawmakers and their staffs about supporting the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and establishing a hunting season for Sandhill cranes in Wisconsin.

End of California’s Legislative Session Summary: Delta Waterfowl’s policy team had a busy and productive year in California. We engaged in a variety of bills from waterfowl conservation and wetlands protections to firearms. Our team held our first lobby day in Sacramento. The Delta team met with more than a dozen bipartisan assembly members and senators from districts throughout California, and members discussed priority legislation affecting duck hunters and the importance of waterfowl conservation in the state.

California’s legislative session ended on Sept. 12. Below is a list of bills particularly applicable to ducks and duck hunters that have been signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, as well as those that unfortunately did not pass the legislature this session.

More detailed summaries of these bills and their status can be found here.

Passed the Legislature:
• Senate Bill 427
• Assembly Bill 1520
• Assembly Bill 764

Failed to Pass the Legislature:
• Assembly Bill 1169
• Assembly Bill 929

Missouri Department of Conservation Partner Roundtable Meeting: Delta’s policy staff attended the MDC Partner Roundtable Meeting in Jefferson City last month. The overarching purpose of the roundtable is to establish and strengthen partnerships through information sharing and listening. This was an excellent opportunity for Delta to have one-on-one time with staff and leadership from within MDC and discuss questions and issues that are important to both Delta Waterfowl members in Missouri and the population of duck hunters at large.

Scheel’s Kansas Expo Meet and Greet: Delta policy staff traveled to Wichita, Kansas, last month to attend the Scheel’s Expo where they met with Delta members, volunteers, and duck hunters from across the state to discuss issues impacting ducks and duck hunters in the state.

Dedicated Conservation Funding Letter to Tennessee’s Governor: Delta joined partner organizations in discussing, drafting, and submitting a letter to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee outlining the urgent need for dedicated and sustainable funding for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The TWRA’s mission is to manage all of Tennessee’s wildlife for the benefit of its citizens. However, hunters and anglers have always needed supplemental resources to provide enough funding to meet the challenges facing the management of fish and wildlife. Over the years, these challenges have become greater than ever, and the issues faced by TWRA and its supporting network of users have only become more complex.

Investing in Tennessee’s wildlife by providing a dedicated source of funding to TWRA is an investment in Tennessee that will show meaningful returns. Specifically, this letter outlined the need to address issues such as reducing the maintenance backlog on agency-managed lands and boat ramps — which benefits habitat, user experience, and ease of access — improving access to rivers primarily used in winter for hunting, enhancing wetland management on agency-managed lands, and more.

Canada

Canadian Wildlife Conservation Partners: Four leading Canadian conservation organizations — Delta Waterfowl, the Fur Institute of Canada, Safari Club International Canada, and the Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia — have proudly announced the launch of the Canadian Wildlife Conservation Partners, a new coalition dedicated to protecting Canada’s outdoor heritage and ensuring a strong future for waterfowl, wildlife, and the hunting traditions we all cherish.

Through the CWCP, Delta Waterfowl and its partners will:
• Advocate for hunters on national and provincial issues including firearms, access to hunting lands, and promote science-driven wildlife management.
• Protect and enhance the traditions of hunting, trapping, and outdoor stewardship that define Canada’s national identity.

News of the new coalition traveled quickly across the country and within the first two weeks, the CWCP has grown to include 15 organizations and now represents 126,000 hunters, trappers, and outdoor enthusiasts (and growing). The coalition operates under a shared set of guiding principles and rules of engagement that respect the autonomy of each partner organization while coordinating advocacy efforts on issues of national and provincial importance.

To read more about CWCP, click here.

Nova Scotia Hunting Regulation Amendments: Nova Scotia announced a package of three major regulatory amendments under the Wildlife Act, which came into effect on Oct. 1. The province announced the expansion of Sunday hunting by adding 11 more Sundays throughout October, November, and December.

Previously, hunters were only permitted to hunt two Sundays per year, which aligned with the moose and deer hunt. This major change aligns Nova Scotia with the rest of Canada in providing extensive opportunities to hunt seven days a week — an initiative that has been a continual priority for Delta Waterfowl.