Delta Waterfowl's University Hunting Program

Since its founding more than 100 years ago, Delta has focused on waterfowl and wetlands for one primary reason—duck hunting. We have found innovative ways to increase duck production and protect their habitat through strategic programs like Hen Houses and Predator Management, vigorous agriculture policy efforts, and multiple incentive-based habitat initiatives.  We are also committed to recruiting,  retaining, and reactivating hunters,  known in the wildlife agency world as R3. Waterfowl hunters support our work to identify and implement the best ways to manage and enhance waterfowl populations. They also help ensure that our voice makes a  difference in prioritizing hunting-related policies and resources throughout North America. We are dedicated to finding new ways to increase the hunter population to secure the future of waterfowl hunting. Delta's HunteR3 initiative, launched in 2003, recruits new hunters through First Hunt events held by Delta Waterfowl chapters across the  United  States and  Canada.  Defending the  Hunt,  an advocacy program that works diligently to address threats to duck hunting and create new opportunities to serve waterfowl hunters, and our latest initiative, the University Hunting Program (UHP). Delta Waterfowl created UHP in 2017 with two objectives: (1) to recruit and educate future waterfowl hunters and (2) to provide students who do not have a hunting background (i.e., non-hunting wildlife degree majors)  with hands-on participation in the  North  American  Model of Wildlife Conservation—the world's most effective system of policies and laws to restore and safeguard fish and wildlife and their habitats through sound science and active management. In 2021, Delta Waterfowl plans to offer UHP in 36 universities nationwide. In 2022, Delta aims to provide the program at 50 universities. The 2022 Multistate Conservation Grant will enable us to introduce approximately 500 new wildlife management students to the hunting lifestyle. It will give these students the knowledge and skills to implement policy and management decisions that sustain waterfowl and their required habitat at the most beneficial levels to hunters.