New Senate Stewardship Caucus to Protect and Expand Access to Public Lands and Waters, Proposed Increases in Hunting Opportunity in Canada, and More

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

United States

New Senate Stewardship Caucus: On Oct. 27, on the same day as Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday and the anniversary of the publishing of Sand County Almanac, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) announced the creation of a new bipartisan caucus to protect and expand access to public lands and waters, recovering wildlife and restoring habitat. John Devney, Delta’s chief policy officer, was pleased to be in attendance to celebrate this new energy around care for our public lands. 

In a release on his website, Heinrich reflected, “Putting together this Stewardship Caucus is an opportunity for all of us to work on these issues together to protect and conserve the places we know and love for this generation and the next.” 

Other inaugural members of the Caucus include Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Katie Britt (R-AL). Delta looks forward to working with the caucus and its members to elevate the issue of management and infrastructure needs on National Wildlife Refuges and other places important to duck hunters. 

Nevada Sportsmen’s Caucus and Advisory Council Retreat: Earlier this month, Delta’s policy team traveled to Carson City, Nevada, to meet with bipartisan state legislators and discuss issues impacting the hunting community throughout the state. The conversation centered around finding ways to support funding needs for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Delta’s team also discussed the topic of wildlife crossing and issues surrounding the illegal collection of shed antlers. Overall, it was an impactful meeting and further developed Delta’s relationships with NDOW and Nevada legislators. 

Although Delta does not currently have chapters in the state of Nevada, we are rapidly expanding in the region, and relationships like this will only further support the organization’s development. 
 
Oregon Legislative Hunt: Recently, Delta’s policy team traveled to Oregon to host state legislative staff on a duck hunt. The team was joined by Millard Houser, Delta’s regional director for the Pacific Northwest, as well as Delta Waterfowl volunteers from various Oregon chapters. We had an incredible hunt on the mouth of the Columbia River, where we were excited to see great number of ducks in the area. After the hunt, our team hosted a lunch where we discussed issues affecting our members in the region and the need for support of the hunting community throughout the Northwest. 

We had impactful conversations throughout the day, which serve to further facilitate growing relationships with Oregon legislators. 

Delta Policy Staff as Guests on Dr Duck Waterfowl Podcast: Earlier this month, Jeff Wardlaw, Delta’s senior manager of government affairs - Mississippi and Central Flyways, and Cyrus Baird, Delta’s vice president of government affairs, were guests on the Dr Duck Waterfowl Podcast. Delta’s team discussed public land hunting — specifically, ongoing hunting pressure issues and effects on habitat. Listen to the full episode on Apple or Spotify. 

Ongoing Waterfowl and Wetlands Research in Arkansas: Delta’s policy team is pleased to report that waterfowl and wetlands research in Arkansas is receiving a boost. This project received initial funding during the 2022 Legislative session, when the Division of Agriculture received a $1 million appropriation toward the waterfowl and wetlands endowed Chair at University of Arkansas at Monticello. The funds were accompanied by a challenge to raise $1 million in private donations to complete the $2 million endowment. David Snowden, Arkansas waterfowl conservationist, and Merritt Dyke, chairman of Dyke Industries, led a group of donors successfully raising the $1 million in private funds to establish the Dyke-Snowden Endowed Chair of Waterfowl and Wetlands.
 
Mississippi Wood Duck Box Building Project: Delta’s policy team traveled to Mississippi to participate in an event to build wood duck boxes. This has become a very successful event that takes place each year in conjunction with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Jackson, Mississippi. It is put on by Delta’s Jackson Chapter and is an incredible collaboration between the public, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and Delta Waterfowl. 

 

Canada

Municipal Discharge of Firearms By-laws in Ontario - In the Township of Georgian Bay: On Monday Oct. 6, Georgian Bay’s supervisor of municipal law enforcement presented her staff report to Council seeking direction regarding the ongoing discharge of firearms by-law review. Despite informative presentations from the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources that highlighted the level of surveillance and enforcement occurring on a regular basis (which included cases of criminal charges being laid, confiscation of firearms, etc.), Council ultimately voted 4-3 in favor of proceeding with a revamped by-law.

Following the vote, staff were directed to continue to finalize the draft by-law, which is to be brought back before Council later this fall. It is almost certain that licensed hunters in Georgian Bay will soon be faced with additional unjustified restrictions. Delta will continue to provide updates as they are available. 
 
Ontario Waterfowl Advisory Committee: Delta’s policy team participated in the Fall OWAC meeting that focused on proposals to be included in the upcoming regulatory package. This package is expected to be published as a Notice of Consideration in late December or early January for public consultation, and the proposals, if successful, would be implemented for the 2026 fall hunting season.

Delta’s team can now confirm and is pleased to report that the Canadian Wildlife Service will be moving forward with proposals for a limited Sandhill Crane hunt in geographically specific wildlife management units in both Ontario and Quebec. In addition, we will also see a proposal that will greatly expand the late Canada goose hunting season (late February) in several WMUs in the southern district of Ontario, primarily focused in the south-central and south-western portions. Delta Waterfowl has strongly supported both proposals and we are thrilled to see them listed in the upcoming Notice of Consideration.

Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area Proposal in Quebec: Delta’s team learned of a regulation proposal posted in the Canada Gazette, seeking public feedback on the proposed closure of a controlled fall hunt program for migratory game birds at the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area. This controlled hunt program has been used to protect the area’s large American bulrush marsh from intensive grazing by greater snow geese. 

The Canadian Wildlife Service has been running this hunt dating back to the early 1970s. The Department of the Environment now claims that the health of the bulrush marsh in the area is stable and no longer of concern, and that the hunt program as a conservation measure is no longer ecologically justified. For context, this hunting area has eight blinds available, allowing four hunters per blind, providing approximately 3,424 hunter days of opportunity for the fall season alone.

Even though this proposal to close the area had been kept relatively quiet, Delta’s team was able to submit a letter opposing the closure before the consultation period ended and were able to connect with the Federation Quebecoise des chasseurs et pecheurs (Quebec Federation of Hunters and Anglers), who quickly submitted an additional letter opposing the closure. Delta’s team also submitted a second letter to the recently formed Canadian Wildlife Conservation Partners, which was endorsed by nine hunting organizations and also submitted a letter before the consultation period closed. 

Atlantic Migratory Game Bird Technical Committee Meeting: In late October, Delta’s policy team traveled to Sackville, New Brunswick, to participate in the fall Atlantic Migratory Game Bird Technical Committee Meeting where discussions included potential regulation changes for the 2026 fall hunting season. 

One proposal was approved by the committee and will be moving forward and included in the upcoming Notice of Consideration for public consultation, to be released in late December or early January. In Zone 2, the Canada goose hunting season opening will be delayed by one week to allow it to close on the same day as the current duck season, which is Jan. 22. The early goose season will not be affected by this regulatory change. Delta’s proposal to see both the duck and goose seasons delayed to allow for a Jan. 31 close was discussed at length but was ultimately deferred and will not be proposed in this round of regulatory changes.

 

Do you want to stay involved with issues that are threatening the future of waterfowl hunting? Make your voice heard by registering for Delta Waterfowl’s Duck Hunters Action Alert System. Delta Waterfowl’s policy team will send you emails and alerts when issues that impact you arise and provide you with the tools and resources to engage with lawmakers. Text DELTA WATERFOWL to 52886, or click here today to sign up!