Delta Waterfowl’s Route 66 Chapter Helps Protect Hunting Access in Missouri

Thanks to local leadership and Delta policy support, public hunting will continue at Fellows Lake under a new blind draw system

By Sade Chaytor

Fellows Lake, an 860-acre reservoir in Springfield, Missouri, has long served as a central place for waterfowl hunters. So, when Delta Waterfowl's Route 66 Chapter observed troubling signs regarding future access to the lake’s hunting blinds, they acted without delay.

The issue stemmed from uncertainty between City Utilities, which manages the lake, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. A potential shift in policy posed a risk to public hunting access, including to the duck blinds Route 66 Chapter volunteers had spent years building and maintaining.

Rather than passively wait for a final decision, the chapter leadership contacted Delta’s policy team, and a collaborative effort began. Delta urged MDC to take up the cause of continued public access, and MDC took that concern directly to City Utilities.

The result: Hunters will still have access to the entire inventory of blinds at Fellows Lake, including those installed by the Route 66 Chapter. However, access now will be via a public draw instead of the former first-come, first-served process—a compromise that maintains the opportunity and addresses regulatory concerns.

“Ensuring continued public hunting access at Fellows Lake is a major win for Missouri’s duck hunters,” said Julia Gibson, Missouri regional director for Delta Waterfowl. “I’m incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of our volunteers from the Route 66 Chapter and Delta’s policy team who led the charge on this effort.”

Since the formation of the Route 66 Chapter nearly five years ago, members have been working diligently and investing local resources to build the hunting infrastructure at Fellows Lake. Projects have included the purchase and installation of one all-hunters accessible waterfowl blind and two sled blinds, all funded through local donations, and made by Ayden Rouse from Bustem Blinds in Lebanon, Missouri.

“I’m so grateful that Delta Waterfowl started a chapter here,” said Tony Kalil, Route 66 Chapter banquet chairman. “It’s given me, and a lot of us here in Springfield, a platform to really impact conservation in our community.”

Kalil says the access issue felt personal.

“When we heard about the gate problems, we immediately partnered with Julia Gibson and Jeff Wardlaw from Delta’s government affairs team to support the lake and the conservation department however we could,” Kalil said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how everyone came together to make sure public access didn’t get lost in the shuffle.”

Local and state partners have recognized the effort to maintain public waterfowl access at Fellows Lake, underscoring how local chapters such as Route 66 can play a key role in preserving hunting access and ensuring inclusive opportunities for all hunters.

“The Missouri Department of Conservation and I want to sincerely thank City Utilities for providing waterfowl hunting at Fellows Lake for over 60 years, which has become a cherished family tradition,” said Betzaida Rivera, MDC urban wildlife biologist. “Our gratitude also goes to Delta Waterfowl and Chapter Route 66 for their unwavering support in maintaining hunting blinds and creating blinds for ADA hunters. Their commitment to community stewardship is genuinely inspiring, and we appreciate their contributions. We look forward to continuing to partner with City Utilities and Delta Waterfowl, further providing this opportunity with an online draw system starting this upcoming waterfowl season.”

Jeff Wardlaw, Delta’s senior manager of government affairs, called the outcome a prime example of Delta’s Defending the Hunt initiative, where chapter-level conservation and national hunting advocacy collaborate to protect our duck hunting traditions and opportunities.

“This is what happens when our chapter systems work,” he said. “We can assist departments with solutions that open access instead of closing it. The results here are access preserved. Thank you to MDC, City Utilities, and most of all, Route 66.”