Ducks Unlimited and Hunting
Participation in waterfowl hunting fuels the passion of many DU members to give something back to the resources that make their outdoor experiences so enjoyable.
DU was founded by a group of waterfowl hunters more than 65 years ago, and today 90 percent of DU members are hunters. Through the support of this sportsman constituency, DU has been 
able to conserve more than 10 million acres of habitat across North America in the areas that are most important to ducks and geese.
Every year, DU spends 87 percent of the revenue it raises directly to our habitat conservation mission. And the community of Ducks Unlimited supporters has spurred a unique lifestyle that revolves around a passion for waterfowl hunting and other outdoor activities. Ducks Unlimited celebrates this lifestyle and explores the role of hunters in conservation through its flagship magazine, its award-winning weekly TV show, its daily radio show, its nationally recognized web site, and other communications vehicles.
DU's operations are governed by a volunteer board of directors, many of whom are ardent waterfowlers. This board has publicly acknowledged DU's support of hunting through a formal resolution.
Preserving our sporting traditions is the key to ensuring healthy habitats for wildlife in the future. Through its Greenwing Program for youth, Ducks Unlimited is educating the conservationists of tomorrow and offering information about waterfowl identification, hunting traditions and ethics, and the important role of hunters in conservation.
DU also sponsors hundreds of clay target events every year and great outdoors festivals. DU's Great Outdoors festivals feature a wide variety of outdoor activities including shooting and archery and spread DU's conservation message to hundreds of thousands of sportsmen. And through its support of other organizations, like the National Shooting Sports Federation, the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program, the International Hunter Education Association, and others, DU is helping preserve our hunting and shooting traditions for generations to come.
Today there are an estimated 1.5 million waterfowl hunters in the United States, and approximately 700,000 Ducks Unlimited members. All waterfowl hunters contribute to conservation when they purchase hunting licenses and ducks stamps, or when they pay special taxes on outdoor sporting gear. DU invites all hunters to do something extra for North America's waterfowl by contributing to DU.
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