I learned early on that duck hunting was going to be a hobby that was going to be expensive, likely out of my range, so I haven't hunted ducks since high school. But, as a graduation present, my grandfather, who was a long time Ducks Unlimited member (since, like, the 1940's) and an avid hunter and fisherman, gave me a lifetime membership in DU. I remain a member not for the hunting, but for the wetlands conservation that enables a plethora of wildlife to sustain itself.
I'm most familiar with the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, of which less than 20% of the wetlands and forest still remain. The damming of the TN River, which created KY Lake, and the damming of the Cumberland River, which created Lake Barkley, and the Land Between the Lakes (largest inland peninsula in the US) that was left in between, has become a haven for all manner of wildlife, including a major winter habitat for mallards. The Land Between the Lakes and the two lakes became a major step forward in reversing the lost habitat. It's something we in western KY take very seriously, to the point where we helped force the decision by the TVA to hand over the land and the lakes to the US Forest Service when the TVA started making noises about commercializing some of the area and getting out of things that were strictly taxpayer funded. Not only would that have ruined a lot of the land and wetlands, but there are people still alive who got pushed out of there when the dam was built (many want their original land ownership restored to them, but that ain't gonna happen LOL). The foundations of some of the homes can still be seen on clear water days in the marinas.
The LBL provides 170,000 acres of non-commercial camping, hiking, and unlike a National Park, hunting is also allowed.
If I'm in the area on May 1, I'll certainly look you up. Sounds like a great time.
I'm most familiar with the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, of which less than 20% of the wetlands and forest still remain. The damming of the TN River, which created KY Lake, and the damming of the Cumberland River, which created Lake Barkley, and the Land Between the Lakes (largest inland peninsula in the US) that was left in between, has become a haven for all manner of wildlife, including a major winter habitat for mallards. The Land Between the Lakes and the two lakes became a major step forward in reversing the lost habitat. It's something we in western KY take very seriously, to the point where we helped force the decision by the TVA to hand over the land and the lakes to the US Forest Service when the TVA started making noises about commercializing some of the area and getting out of things that were strictly taxpayer funded. Not only would that have ruined a lot of the land and wetlands, but there are people still alive who got pushed out of there when the dam was built (many want their original land ownership restored to them, but that ain't gonna happen LOL). The foundations of some of the homes can still be seen on clear water days in the marinas.
The LBL provides 170,000 acres of non-commercial camping, hiking, and unlike a National Park, hunting is also allowed.
If I'm in the area on May 1, I'll certainly look you up. Sounds like a great time.
