In 2004, fundraisers at Ducks Unlimited quietly began soliciting funds for an extraordinarily ambitious new campaign. The goal: save North America's wetlands, grasslands and waterfowl. The cost: $1.7 billion. The lofty goal and even loftier price tag is the boldest campaign yet for the wetlands conservation not-for-profit. But with a mere 25-person fundraising staff, DU raised hundreds of millions of dollars even before announcing the "Wetlands for Tomorrow" campaign in May 2006, when it began raising funds publicly. So far, the campaign's coffer totals more than $900 million, and organization executives confidently expect the remaining $700 million-plus to arrive by 2010.

Ducks Unlimited makes no apologies that its wetland habitat conservation motives are based on a desire to keep the waterfowl population healthy so that hunters will have something to shoot—a fact that keeps the second largest conservationist organization in the country out of the green fraternity of environmentalists.

But the Memphis-based organization is not just a bunch of hunting buddies pitching in to protect their favorite duck pond. Well, in a way they are, but it's a group more than 850,000 strong raising $200 million in annual revenue, largely spent to safeguard now in excess of 12.5 million acres of wetlands. It's a regular on Forbes' top-200 charity list, currently sitting in the top 10% of the largest nonprofits in the country. In August, USA Today saluted Ducks Unlimited as one of those charities closest to the country's heart, alongside international stalwarts such as Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross. "At the end of the day," says DU's Gregg Patterson, "if you had all of the environmental groups sitting around a table, we'd be the ones with dirt on our hands, because we don't just talk about conservation—we get out there and do the work."

The pro-hunting organization is understandably not without its share of conservationist critics; however, in the increasingly contentious political environment, DU offers conservationists something most environmental lobbyists rarely can.

"We have a seat at the table during discussions at the highest level," Patterson says. By "highest level," he means the business community, noting conservationist converts August Busch and Cox's Jim Kennedy joined the "Wetlands for Tomorrow" campaign. But he also means government, with only the latest example being DU's advisory role on the 2007 Farm Bill.

Eco-warriors snag bigger headlines thwarting logging companies and land developers, granted, but Ducks Unlimited talks to Congress—and Congress listens.

Article Provided by:  Business Tennessee Magazine

Ducks Unlimited is a fantastic group and with 12.5 million acres is an organization that the team at HuntingLife and every one of you should support.  As hunters and conservationists we are all beginning to create a block of voters that truly will make a difference in national policy and the more members the better.  While the green groups that our out there could be working with conservation groups we have a long way to go!