Delta Waterfowl CEO Represents Duck Hunters at the White House
Delta’s Jason Tharpe met with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum during a conservation leadership forum on federal land management strategies
WASHINGTON D.C. — Delta Waterfowl CEO Jason Tharpe represented the voice of duck hunters during a conservation leadership forum hosted by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at the White House on Sept. 4.
The meeting served as a listening session for Burgum and senior leaders from the U.S. Department of the Interior to solicit input from the nation’s leading conservation organizations regarding the administration’s strategies to manage federally owned public lands. The DOI manages the National Parks Service, which has 433 units encompassing more than 85 million acres, the Bureau of Land Management’s 244.4 million acres primarily in the western United States, and more than 570 National Wildlife Refuges spanning 96 million acres of land and 760 million marine acres in all 50 states and five territories.
“Delta Waterfowl was at the table with the nation’s top conservation groups and DOI leaders to ensure the perspectives of waterfowl hunters were represented and heard,” Tharpe said. “As The Duck Hunters OrganizationTM, Delta is built on science, committed to producing more ducks, protecting habitat, and securing the future of waterfowl hunting.”
Federal lands — especially National Wildlife Refuges — provide critical habitat for millions of ducks, geese, and migratory birds. Throughout all four flyways, the network of U.S. refuges serves as important breeding grounds, migration stopover points, and wintering areas for waterfowl. Many refuges also serve as important access for waterfowl hunters, who fund refuges through purchase of Federal Duck Stamps. Since 1934, sales of federal duck stamps have raised more than $1.2 billion.
“The discussion emphasized aligning conservation outcomes with federal land management priorities,” Tharpe said. “Delta’s perspective was recognized as being driven by science and relevant to hunters.”
Delta continues to work toward expanding hunting access on federal lands through the Hunt Fish Rule to create more waterfowling opportunities for sportsmen and women.
The organization also supports the original intent of the Land and Water Conservation Fund of prioritizing land acquisition and grants over deferred maintenance. Another Delta priority is to strengthen refuge management capacity, including stewardship plans that can incorporate outside contractors, modeling practices already used by BLM and the Park Service.
Delta welcomes the appointment of Brian Nesvik as director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“The Director is a fellow waterfowl hunter who understands the importance of these priorities,” Tharpe said. “Delta recognizes the clear need to continue engaging with Sec. Burgum, Nesvik, and DOI leadership on refuge stewardship and the Hunt Fish Rule to ensure the voices of hunters shape public lands strategies.”
Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters OrganizationTM, a leading conservation group working to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.