08/07/2026
Over the past two weeks, many of you have been following the discussion surrounding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's review of drainage tile setbacks on protected wetland easements in the Prairie Pothole Region.
Thousands of duck hunters have spoken up because they care deeply about the future of these wetlands. We appreciate every hunter who has taken the time to make their voice heard.
Delta Waterfowl has been engaged from the very beginning.
Since this issue first surfaced, Delta has:
• Worked directly with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leadership, the Department of the Interior and members of Congress.
• Helped unite 31 hunting and conservation organizations representing millions of hunters and conservationists in support of protecting wetland easements.
• Mobilized 220 Delta chapters across 44 states to demonstrate nationwide support for these critical wetlands.
• Engaged state legislative leaders through the National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses.
• Submitted Delta Waterfowl's official comments into the public record.
Delta’s responsibility is to ensure that science, conservation expertise, and the voice of duck hunters are heard by the people making decisions that affect ducks and duck habitat. Throughout this process, that has remained the focus of our policy team.
It is the work Delta has done for more than a century—and it remains our commitment today.
Delta Waterfowl CEO Jason Tharpe has prepared a message explaining the issue, why these easements matter to duck hunters, what Delta has been doing on your behalf, and where the process goes from here.
We encourage you to read the complete letter.
https://deltawaterfowl.org/whats-new/news/delta-waterfowl-outlines-recent-work-on-behalf-of-wetlands-and-duck-hunters/
Thank you to every hunter who has stood up for prairie wetlands. Protecting ducks takes all of us, and Delta is proud to stand alongside the hunters, chapters, and conservation organizations working toward that shared goal.
