Ken Lowery

North America's waterfowl prairie breeding grounds are a long haul from Ken Lowery's hometown of Bossier City, La. Yet, the 46-year-old has made it his mission to send long-range support there because the area is critical to the hunting success of Pelican State waterfowlers.

"Growing up in this part of the world, duck hunting is just what you do," Lowery said. "We all have hunting lodges that we either own, operate, or manage. Waterfowling is in our blood."

As the owner of a successful engineering consulting firm and a partner with an oil and gas consulting firm, Lowery has strong business sense. When Lowery and Delta development director Travis Sheridan recently teamed up to raise money for predator management and Hen Houses, it was a match made in mallard heaven.

Working together, they've gathered donors into financial groups with the goal of contributing $80,000 to fund management sites in Canada. The funding covers 100 Hen Houses over 10 years, as well as predator removal in grassland areas hit hard by nest raiders.

"Supporting Delta Waterfowl and funding nest site management projects are the best ways to increase the number of waterfowl we see," Lowery said. "There isn't a lot you can do down here in Louisiana. The least we can do is participate in areas that make birds."

Lowery remains active in the Northwest Louisiana Chapter he helped found in 2000. Last year, Lowery guided the chapter to direct funding toward the Loggy Bayou Wildlife Management Area in south Bossier Parish, transforming the hunting area back into a waterfowling hotspot.

"It's not easy access, but a lot of young kids and teenagers hunt it because they're willing to walk a couple miles through the mud to kill ducks," Lowery said.-Tyler Shoberg

Summer 2014