Delta Waterfowl sponsors youth hunt at Burton Preserve

A group of young waterfowlers gathered at the John S. and Samuel J. Burton Preserve on Rehoboth Bay recently for an annual Delta Waterfowl youth hunt. Dressed from head to toe in camouflage, they hunted ducks and geese, stood out in the cold around a fire, eating scrapple-and-egg sandwiches, and talked about ducks and conservation, great shots and frustrating misses.

It's all part of the hunting tradition, and it's that tradition that Delta Waterfowl is all about maintaining and growing. One of the nation's oldest conservation groups, Delta Waterfowl focuses its efforts on producing ducks and securing the future of waterfowling in North America.

Paul Henry of Laurel heads up the Mid-Shore Chapter of Delta Waterfowl, which formed in 2006. "We're all about producing ducks for duck hunters," said Henry. "We're into predator management - paying professional trappers to control predators in the prairie pothole nesting areas - and nesting projects," said Henry. "In the last 10 years we've installed 700 to 800 wood duck boxes. We also put up nesting huts for mallards and black ducks. Those species - wood ducks, mallards and black ducks - are our main breeding ducks on Delmarva. Their populations are growing. We're very happy that because of improved populations of black ducks, the federal government has raised the limit on them from one to two starting next hunting season."

Henry said youth hunts such as the one held recently at the Burton Preserve help develop youth interest in hunting. "And we're not just interested in hunting," he said. 'We're also interested in conservation. Without a future of hunters, there will be no future for ducks. We have to take care of what we have here. If we lose habitat, we will lose wildlife. We also advocate for hunting rights, gun safety, gun rights and water rights."

John Burton's family has owned and developed land in the Angola and Long Neck areas for many decades. The hunting preserve where the recent hunt was held includes about 120 acres of marsh and 40 acres of high ground. The high ground has long been known as Horse Island and for many years was home to the Horse Island Gun Club.

Burton has made improvements to the land to halt encroachment from Rehoboth Bay. He plans to keep it as it is for long into the future. "This can't ever be sold or divided," said Burton. "That's what dad - Samuel J. Burton - wanted. The same with a farm we have in Angola. That's why we named this after him."

John Burton Jr., of the third generation, chimed in to put emphasis on his father's pronouncement: "It is what it is right now, and that's all that it's going to be."

Paul Henry said one of the goals of the Mid-Shore Chapter of Delta Waterfowl is to sponsor hunts for veterans and for first responders. "We want to support those who help protect us." He said he is proud of the partnership and the Burton Preserve. "There are 400 chapters in the country, and this is the only one with this kind of opportunity that we can bring to youth, vets and first responders."