Curtis Hopkins
Fall 2007
 

Greetings. It is with great honor and humility that I accepted the challenge of leading the Southern Region. We are blessed with a great group of dedicated and hard working conservationists. This group includes volunteers, members and staff.

Fall flight estimates indicate that ducks will be in the skies this fall and winter.  As of mid-November, temperatures in North Dakota remain in the 40’ with occasional early morning temperatures in the low 30’s.  Waterfowl migration is behind last year with numerous ducks still in Canada.  However, early hunting reports indicate success in Texas and Missouri. 

Many of you contacted your congressional representatives regarding the conservation aspects of the Farm Bill.  With your help, DU, in association with our Farm Bill conservation partners, made significant progress towards ensuring strong conservation provisions.  We will be asking you to assist with other legislation significant to waterfowl as we continue to expand the use of public policy to accomplish our mission.

The world is in constant change and the Southern Region is no exception. Charles Darwin said, “It is not the most intelligent species that survive but the ones most responsive to change”.  The recently released “DU Conservation Vision and Priorities” document is bringing changes to our approach to waterfowl conservation. At this time we are busy preparing our Business Plan designed to implement our recently completed 5-year Operations Plan.  You will hear more from me as we chart our course in the South to make sure there are “wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever”.

As you are sitting in your duck blind or viewing waterfowl feeding in a wetland, remember that they are there because your forefathers had the vision to take action during the early 30’s. You must be willing to take action today so that those who follow us will enjoy skies filled with waterfowl.