Positive Strides Towards Protecting Critical Wetlands in Canada; Pennsylvania Sunday Hunting Update; And More
Vigorous Duck Production, HunteR3, and other Delta-supported efforts continue across the United States and Canada
United States: Federal
Delta Waterfowl Applauds the Introduction of HEN Act: A bill that would authorize funding for Hen House nest structures and conserve and enhance critical nesting habitat in California has been introduced in both chambers of Congress.
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., introduced the Habitat Enhancement Now, aka the HEN Act in the Senate on July 16, and U.S. Reps. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., Mike Thompson D-Calif., and Doug LaMalfa R-Calif., introduced the same bill on July 22 in the House.
The HEN Act authorizes $3.5 million annually for five years to fund Hen House nesting structures, which help nesting ducks by giving them a safer place to nest out of reach of mammalian predators such as skunks, raccoons, and others that prey on duck eggs and nesting hens. In addition, the HEN Act authorizes $3.5 million for duck nesting habitat in California. The resulting duck production would add more than 100,000 ducks to the fall flight every year from the Hen House provision alone.
Read more about the bills’ introductions:
• Representative Fischbach Press Release
• Senator Hyde-Smith Press Release
Brian Nesvik Confirmed as United States Fish and Wildlife Service Director: Delta Waterfowl cheers the confirmation of Brian Nesvik of Wyoming as he was confirmed by the United States Senate as the new Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on March 26, Nesvik noted the importance of both the USFWS Migratory Bird Program and the National Wildlife Refuge System after a series of questions from Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.).
Delta looks forward to working with Director Nesvik on top priorities for ducks and duck hunters, including access and opportunity through the Hunt Fish Rule, confirming investments in the Migratory Bird Program and the National Wildlife Refuge System, and more.
Delta Waterfowl Honors Policy Champions During Luncheon at Fourth Annual Duck Hunter’s Expo: Delta Waterfowl hosts an annual awards luncheon as part of the organization’s Duck Hunters Expo to highlight key leaders in the waterfowl community. Honorees are recognized for their outstanding contributions to advance Delta’s mission to produce more ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting. Delta honored Todd Loewen, Jenna Ronquest, Ty Burns, Carl Wagner, and Pat Gregory—all recipients worthy of the prestigious awards presented on July 26 during the Champions of Delta luncheon in Oklahoma City.
Read more about the award winners here.
United States: State
Delta Waterfowl Chapter and Volunteers Help Preserve Hunting Access in Missouri: Members and volunteers of the Route 66 Chapter of Delta Waterfowl in Springfield, Missouri, recently worked with the Missouri Department of Conservation, City Utilities, and Delta policy staff to ensure that hunting access at Fellows Lake remained open for waterfowl hunters despite prior confusion.
A potential shift in policy by City Utilities posed a risk to public hunting access, which included the duck blinds that Route 66 Chapter volunteers had spent years building and maintaining. After working with the Delta policy staff and appropriate contacts with local and state agencies, hunters will still have access to the entire inventory of blinds at Fellows Lake, including those installed by the Route 66 Chapter. However, access will now be available through a public draw instead of the former first-come, first-served process—a compromise that maintains the opportunity and addresses regulatory concerns.
Pennsylvania Sunday Hunting Update: After historic legislation repealing the prohibition against hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania was signed into law by Governor Shapiro, the Pennsylvania Game Commission moved forward with setting dates for hunting this fall/winter.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, there will be no Sunday hunting for migratory waterfowl in the Commonwealth this fall, as those season dates had already been set prior to the bill being passed and signed into law, which Delta was aware of at the time of signing.
A statement from the Pennsylvania Game Commission reads, in part: “The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners announced at its meeting on July 28, 2025, that no Sundays will be added to the 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons because those seasons are set through federal frameworks and adding any Sundays at this time would result in a loss of hunting days in 2025-26. The Board and staff stated that the agency will be conducting human dimension studies, including focus groups and surveys with waterfowl hunters, to determine hunters’ preferences for Sundays being considered for future hunting seasons.”
Delta’s policy team looks forward to working with senior leadership and staff from the Pennsylvania Game Commission as they work through their process to open Sundays for waterfowl hunting in the 2026-2027 season.
Canada: Federal
American Wildlife Conservation Partners Meeting: In early August, Delta’s policy team traveled to Calgary, Alberta, as guests to the American Wildlife Conservation Partner summer meeting. Delta Waterfowl is currently working with three other organizations from across Canada to create a national collaborative, closely mirroring the AWCP. This type of national collaborative is something that has been long missing in Canada, and Delta’s team is excited and grateful for the opportunity to work on this incredible initiative.
Canada: Provincial
Alberta:
Alberta Private Lands Program: The Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas has announced a new vision for working lands conservation in Alberta. The Private Land Conservation Program and Ecosystem Services Program will support new private land conservation by creating incentives focused on retaining key wildlife habitat, such as wetlands in cropland and native grasslands.
“We are beyond pleased,” said Jim Fisher, vice president of Canadian policy for Delta Waterfowl. “We have had extensive dialog with key members of the Alberta government over the past four years about opportunities to engage private landowners in conservation in a new way—simultaneously highlighting the importance of small wetlands not just for ducks, but also for broader benefits such as water storage, water quality, and drought resilience. This announcement demonstrates that the Alberta government is committed to new, bold actions to address key conservation needs while working with farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.”
Alberta Shallow Wetlands Incentive Program (SWIP): SWIP builds on Delta’s successful model of wetland conservation adopted by Manitoba in 2018 as part of the province’s Growing Outcomes for Watersheds, aka the GROW Program. GROW was established as a $204 million trust that includes the provision of $2.5 million annually for wetland conservation. Local watershed districts administer 10-year contracts to conserve ephemeral and temporary wetlands.
After the exciting announcement of an ecosystem services initiative in Alberta, Delta has begun working with partners on a grant proposal that will request funds for a SWIP program in pothole country. The proposals are due in October, and funding announcements will occur next spring. This would bring a new tool to conserve the most vulnerable wetlands—those in annually cropped fields that drive carrying capacity of breeding ducks, using voluntary 10-year agreements for small, shallow wetlands.
Manitoba:
Manitoba Shallow Wetlands Incentive Program (SWIP): The Assiniboine West Watershed District held a field tour on July 31, just north of Delta’s Minnedosa Field Station in Manitoba. This watershed has embraced SWIP and is delivering roughly half of the available funds each year.
Delta’s vice president of Canadian Policy, Jim Fisher, recently led a discussion at a SWIP project on the quarter section, shown below.
Ontario:
Ministry of Natural Resources Web Updates: Delta is pleased to report that the Ministry of Natural Resources has made progress on updating their website in an attempt to add valuable information to help address municipal discharge of firearm by-law reviews. While Delta’s team continues to press the provincial government to have MNR physically engage in these reviews, we are grateful they are taking steps to provide some clarity and information that can be readily available to municipalities who are seeking their input on common questions.
Firearm By-law Reviews in Progress: While late summer typically provides a reprieve from governmental engagement, Delta’s policy team has continued to participate in dialogue on several important files. In Ontario, there are numerous ongoing municipal discharge of firearm by-law reviews still in progress:
The Town of Mono: The Town of Mono has officially closed public consultation and is now in the process of reviewing all the feedback they received through their online survey with the intent to present a staff report in late summer or early fall.
The Town of Caledon: The Town of Caledon followed Delta’s recommendation and has created a working group to ensure transparency throughout their review. Delta Waterfowl is a member of the committee and participated in the initial working group meeting in July.
Georgian Bay Township: The Georgian Bay Township recently initiated a discharge of firearms by-law review. Delta will provide further updates on this issue in the next monthly report.
Proposed Regulation Change: Delta continues to meet and engage with the Canadian Wildlife Service and partners to initiate a regulation change that would see an expansion of wildlife management units in southern/southwestern Ontario, ultimately authorizing the late Canada goose hunting season. The dialogue continues to be positive, and Delta hopes to see a more formal draft recommendation in the coming weeks, well in advance of the next Ontario Waterfowl Advisory Committee meeting that is scheduled to occur in mid- to late-September.
Atlantic Canada:
Surveys: In Atlantic Canada, Delta’s team is currently gathering feedback from duck and goose hunters using three different hunting surveys in these provinces.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the survey is geared towards last year’s regulation amendment to change the opening day for ducks and geese from the traditional opener formerly recognized as the third Saturday of September to a fixed date of Sept. 16
In Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, Delta’s surveys are securing feedback on hunter participation during the early Canada goose hunting season.
In Nova Scotia, Delta’s team is requesting feedback on a potential regulation change in Zone 2 that would push the closing date for ducks and geese back to the end of January. The survey also seeks input on potential options for season dates, as hunters would be required to forfeit days earlier in the season to obtain a later closing date in order to stay within the maximum allowable 107 days.
All surveys will be closing soon to ensure that Delta’s team has adequate time to fully analyze the results in advance of the next Atlantic Migratory Game Bird Technical Committee meeting—taking place in late October—where these potential regulation changes will be discussed.
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!