Dallas Ducks Unlimited

Dallas Ducks Unlimited is a chapter of North America's largest private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization, operating since 1937. Based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Dallas DU mobilizes hunters, conservationists, and concerned citizens around a single mission: protect and restore the wetlands that waterfowl—and people—depend on.

This isn't a social club that shoots occasionally. Dallas DU coordinates major habitat restoration projects across Texas, managing:

• •277,000+ acres conserved through direct action and partnerships
• •$103 million in completed conservation projects across North America
• •2,077 active volunteers in the DFW region doing on-the-ground work
• •$10.8 million raised locally to fund habitat initiatives

Their work focuses on the Trinity River Basin, where they've partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department since 1987 to build and enhance wetland systems. The recent Wildcat Marsh project—a $1 million undertaking—will filter and replenish 54 million gallons of water annually while providing critical habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl.

The Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, located about 90 minutes south of Dallas in the Trinity River floodplain, showcases Dallas DU's approach. Their latest enhancements added 238 new wetland acres and installed water-control infrastructure that will deliver over 232 million gallons in annual volumetric water benefits while supporting populations of native and migratory waterfowl species.

Funding partners for these efforts include Microsoft, PepsiCo, Meta, The Coca-Cola Company, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and other major corporations recognizing that wetlands provide natural infrastructure benefits: flood control, water quality improvement, and sustainable recreation access.

Dallas DU runs events year-round for members and the curious:

• •Annual Banquet (October) at Astoria Event Center in Irving—the chapter's flagship fundraiser featuring seated dinner, live auction, open bar, raffle, and 50+ firearms donated for auction
• •Cornhole Tournament & Gear Raffle at Sitka Gear (Dallas location)—$200 per team entry includes beer, lunch, DU shirt, and 20% store discount; prizes include custom DU shotguns and handguns
• •Volunteer opportunities on habitat restoration crews doing marsh construction, water management, and native species planting
• •Conservation education events focused on wetland ecology and sustainable waterfowl management

If you hunt waterfowl in Texas or anywhere across the continent, your success depends on Dallas DU's work. The organization started during the Dust Bowl in 1937 when drought had collapsed North America's waterfowl populations to crisis levels. Today, facing modern threats like wetland loss, water quality degradation, and climate-driven flooding, DU focuses on the same core mission: ensure waterfowl have places to breed, migrate, and winter.

Their approach works multilaterally—partnering with government agencies, private landowners, corporations with sustainability goals, and scientific institutions. This means more effective habitat restoration than any single entity could achieve alone.

Based in Irving, Texas, Dallas DU coordinates projects across the Trinity River Basin and beyond, with particular focus on Texas's playas, coastal marshes, and river systems critical to Central Flyway waterfowl migration routes.

Join at ducks.org or contact the Dallas chapter directly to volunteer, donate, or attend upcoming events.