The land I deer hunt on was purchased through the sale of duck stamps.

[daniel craig]

One of the most effective things we can do to ensure there is land to use for public hunting is purchasing a duck stamp. Even if you don’t hunt. Something like 98cents on a dollar spent on a duck stamp goes directly towards purchasing land for federal wildlife refuges, most of which allow hunting and fishing.

Now sure, the feds buying and owning land rubs a lot of people the wrong way but at least in my area state/federal managed land is a lot better for hunting and managed better all around than the open public areas that are unmanaged.

I don’t do a lot of waterfowl hunting (I want to eventually though) but I’ll be buying a duck stamp from here on out anyway.

 

[buck460XVR]

I have hunted public land all of my life. Altho it has gotten a bad reputation from folks that abuse it or are just irresponsible on it while using it, it has given me countless opportunities not only to hunt and fish, but to enjoy other facets of the outdoors. I have always promoted the idea that in my state anyways, that there should be a user fee. It needs to be small enough that it does not prohibit folks with limited incomes and it should be free to those under 18 and those hunting for their first year. All proceeds should go to purchasing more public land, even if it is in small parcels and promoting and enhancing those lands already owned. I but a "Patrons" license every year that includes all forms of hunting and fishing....including all state required stamps. I also buy a federal duck stamp every year even tho I rarely hunt waterfowl anymore. I plant apple tress and hazelnut bushes on public land to try and "pay back". Far too many folks only take and then complain when there is nuttin' left. Like when fishing, I limit myself to taking less game than when hunting private land as I feel public land needs the help. My state has cut down on antlerless permits on many areas of public land to try and enhance the quality of the hunt to ensure folks at least see some deer. I would like to see antler restrictions put on some areas of public land just so folks see a buck or two every year. In times like we now are experiencing, there is more pressure than ever put on our public fisheries and hunting grounds, with less monies out there to support it. We all should do something to help, even if we do not hunt public land. There may be a time when we, or our descendants need it. We need to assure that if that time comes, there is enough out there.

 

[Patocazador]

Federal duck stamp money helps hunters but doesn't always help the ducks. Getting dry land instead of marsh is one of the problems.

I quit Ducks Unlimited because the only place I have ever seen a spot helped by them was in Manitoba. Yes, ducks breed in the north but funds hardly ever are available for improving wintering habitat in the USA.
If I sound bitter, it's because only ~35% of DU money goes for duck habitat. The rest goes for salaries, advertising and the fancy furnishings at the DU offices in Memphis.

 

[alsaqr]

The USDA wetlands reserve program pays about 75 percent of the property's value. Hay cutting, pasturing of livestock and growing crops are not allowed. The lease lasts for about 75 years.

USDA comes in builds ponds and levees, plants trees, etc. Our deer lease is in wetlands reserve. It's a haven for ducks.

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/home/?cid=STELPRDB1049327

 

[daniel craig]

Federal duck stamp money helps hunters but doesn't always help the ducks. Getting dry land instead of marsh is one of the problems.

I quit Ducks Unlimited because the only place I have ever seen a spot helped by them was in Manitoba. Yes, ducks breed in the north but funds hardly ever are available for improving wintering habitat in the USA.
If I sound bitter, it's because only ~35% of DU money goes for duck habitat. The rest goes for salaries, advertising and the fancy furnishings at the DU offices in Memphis.

Which is unlike the duck stamp

 

[Patocazador]

Which is unlike the duck stamp

Note the first paragraph. "Federal duck stamp money helps hunters but doesn't always help the ducks. Getting dry land instead of marsh is one of the problems."

 

[Rembrandt]

I'm becoming increasingly leery of anything run by governmental agencies, Federal or State. The original intent may have been noble and justified, much good has come of it for many years. Unfortunately we are living in a time where politicians bow to the political correctness of a "few groups" and have limited the access and/or use to these areas. In the last few years anti-hunting groups have made a lot of noise which resulted in dictating how these areas can be used, the ones Hunters paid for and supported. If the agencies and politicians won't grow a spine to support the people footing the bill......there will be no support from me.

 

[daniel craig]

I'm becoming increasingly leery of anything run by governmental agencies, Federal or State. The original intent may have been noble and justified, much good has come of it for many years. Unfortunately we are living in a time where politicians bow to the political correctness of a "few groups" and have limited the access and/or use to these areas. In the last few years anti-hunting groups have made a lot of noise which resulted in dictating how these areas can be used, the ones Hunters paid for and supported. If the agencies and politicians won't grow a spine to support the people footing the bill......there will be no support from me.

It’s weird because that hasn’t been the case for me. The federal land near where I live has more access to hunters than any at any other point I remember and it seems that the hunter groups have more pull than the non-hunter groups. Maybe we’re experiencing different agencies.

 

[Rembrandt]

daniel craig, it probably isn't the case in your area.

I'm speaking in a broader sense where Presidential executive orders and anti-hunting judges have restricted hunting. Montana judge Dana Christensen, a 2011 Obama appointee, blocked a hunt. Wildlife refuges in Alaska were off limits due to an executive order by the same President. It's happening more frequently in eastern states, anti-hunting groups are getting judges and (political appointed) game departments officials to block hunting. Wish it wasn't the case, I think we'll be seeing more of this. Their justification is not based on wildlife management but political ideology.

 

[daniel craig]

You may be right, I don’t really know. Hopefully it doesn’t come to the Federal lands in NY

 

[Speedo66]

I used to sometimes hunt land in NY that was owned by a Swedish timber company, Sterling Forrest, near Tuxedo NY.

Some years back NYS bought the land, but continued to charge a fee to hunt there.

It was probably the closest public hunting land to NYC so I didn't mind paying a fee and saving gas and driving time instead of going further upstate. It was also pretty productive for me.

I don't know if the fee was used to purchase more land, or just going into the state's general fund.

 

[alsaqr]

Our deer lease is in the Wetlands Reserve Program. This man made slough is presently full; it's a 1/4 mile long.