Courtesy Photo On Friday, Lake Superior State University (LSSU) students are seen standing behind a boat holding firearms. The students participated in a two-day waterfowl hunting excursion program with the Sunrise Side Chapter of Delta Waterfowl (Delta).

ALPENA — Starting on Friday, the Sunrise Side Chapter of Delta Waterfowl (Delta) hosted a two day waterfowl hunt with students from Lake State Superior University (LSSU) at the Alpena Sportsmen’s Club.

The Sunrise Side Chapter of Delta Waterfowl was formed in January 2024, according to Kyle Greer, chairman of the chapter. The group is committed to promoting waterfowl production and hunting in Northeastern Michigan while also promoting the responsible use and management of natural resources.

Greer told The News that his Delta chapter hosted the students because Alpena is the closest chapter to LSSU. He said that the students recruited for this program are interested in conservation, biology, and environmental science. Greer explained that not only does the program introduce college students to the sport of hunting, it also exposes them to the importance of environmental stewardship.

“This is about getting the kids involved in a sport that I love and helping them learn about these sports so that they can manage them and help protect these for future generations,” Greer said.

Greer said the program is targeted towards students who may not have a diverse background in hunting and may be new to waterfowl hunting.

“A couple of these students might have some exposure, but that’s not really the goal either,” Greer said. “We want some people that are new to the hunting realm as a whole to get involved and do this with us.”

Greer said that the program will lead students through the basics of firearm handling and shooting etiquette. He said students will get the chance to shoot on a range, from a boat, and will get to duck hunt on the Fletcher Floodwaters (Fletcher Pond).

Stephan Sowell, a Delta Waterfowl program manager, told The News that the national chapter of Delta currently collaborates with 147 universities in the United States and Canada. He explained that Delta’s target audience for hunting excursion programs are aspiring biologists, game wardens, wildlife managers, et cetera.

“Mostly folks that are going to go work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or state and federal agencies,” Sowell explained.

He stated that Delta is interested in getting more people out to become duck hunters but also to be informed as to the stewardship responsibilities to maintain duck populations.

“Our primary objective is just to encourage a mindset that these aspiring biologists and policymakers are going to be making decisions that are favorable to the future of game species, as well as the heritage of hunting,” Sowell added.

Sowell stated that Delta hopes that the students participating in the hunting exclusion programs will want to become hunters but also leave the program with an understanding of the hunter’s role in North America.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.