On April 28, 2005, the general membership selected a temporary Board of Directors to begin the formal process of incorporating as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Board has been working since that time to draft and finalize the Bylaws of the Association and begin planning for events and fundraising. Federal 501(c)3 status was gained in the summer of 2007.

Please join us in our Forum if you are interested in the future of waterfowl hunting in Idaho. We will be discussing the paths we can most effectively utilize to attain our mission of enhancing and preserving waterfowl and waterfowl hunting in our state.

Membership

IWA is a statewide organization. We encourage waterfowl hunters from all parts of the state to join in working for a better future for waterfowl and waterfowl hunting. IWA currently has 59 members in the following Idaho towns and cities: Ammon (1), Boise (8), Caldwell (1), clarkston (1), Couer d'Alene (1), Emmett (1), Greenleaf (1), Hailey (1), Hayden (1), Homedale (2), Idaho Falls (10), Kuna (1), Lewiston (2), Meridian (5), Midvale (1), Moscow (1), nampa (8), Pocatello (2), Post Falls (1), Rexburg (2), Rigby (1), Rupert (1), St. Anthony (2), Sugar City (1), twin falls (2), Wilder (1). You may join us by visiting this page

Bylaws

The IWA Bylaws are available for review HERE

Leadership
The current Board of Directors for the IWA consists of avid waterfowlers from across the state.

President Steve Birrer (Idaho Falls), Vice President Ted Eisele (Boise), Treasurer George Valentine (Meridian), Secretary Ben Montgomery (St. Anthony), Bryan Palmer (Kuna) and Adam Walker (Twin Falls).

Your new board of directors is excited to be working with you to help accomplish the goals set forth in our mission statement. If you have any questions or concerns, we really do want to hear them. Feel free to contact any of us at any time...we love waterfowling so much that our wives swear they see us growing pinfeathers!

We want to thank all the previous board members for their dedication and hard work to lay the groundwork for the IWA, and hope that we can build on that foundation and create a healthy, viable organization.

All members are welcome at Board meetings. Times and location for meetings will be posted on the IWA site.

Personal messages from the IWA Board:

Hi, my name is Steve Birrer or IFSteve on the IWA or Refuge Forums. Originally from Montana, I moved to Idaho Falls after I graduated from college in 1976. I am an engineer working on the cleanup of the Idaho National Laboratory and manage a group of environmental professionals. I began waterfowl hunting when I first moved to Idaho and have been addicted ever since. I tend to focus on ducks more than geese; just think there’s nothing better than a greenhead hanging over the decoys. Besides my two legged hunting partners I currently hunt with a yellow lab male and a black lab female. When waterfowl seasons are closed I turn to my other addiction, flyfishing. I love to flyfish stillwaters and try to make a trip saltwater flyfishing at least every couple of years.

I have been with the IWA since its inception as I really believe that a unified voice is a great way to get waterfowlers in this state the attention from the state we need. I encourage interested parties and IWA members to contact me and discuss any issues you are aware of. The measure of IWA’s success will be directly proportional to the involvement of Idaho waterfowlers. I can be reached at home at (208) 524-3343 or on my cell phone (208) 521-7993.

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I’m George Valentine, known as “Redlegs” on the IWA forum. I’ve lived from the east coast to the west coast and places in between. Idaho is home and has been for 27 years. I’ve hunted waterfowl all over the USA, Canada and Mexico. Ducks & geese are what I thrive for each hunting season. Seeing a small flock of mallards diving into the decoys on a bluebird, sub-zero day gets the blood flowing pretty good!

I have been involved with getting IWA on track as to being the Waterfowler’s Voice in Idaho. Another area that will have a positive impact on our sport is to continually get our youth involved with waterfowl. Taking your son, daughter, grandkids, or neighbors kids to a park, a pond, or down to the river to see ducks and geese in their normal habitat, explaining to them why there are hunting seasons and the balance between habitat and the number of ducks and geese. Building a solid foundation for them is very important to the future of our sport. I encourage you to voice your opinion about issues that concern you as it relates to waterfowl. Please feel free to contact me at 208-841-0929 anytime with your opinions or to discuss topics you may think need attention

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I’m Ted Eisele. I have been an avid waterfowler now for 40 years. I was raised in Wisconsin and hunted along with my dad and four brothers. The big species there were blue-wing teal, mallards, and woodies. I’ve lived in Boise since 1980, and love it here. I have 2 great kids who are currently in college. My other interests include flyfishing, fly tying, downhill skiing, photography, and spoiling my bird dog. Flyfishing is a big one for me. You’ll find me all over Idaho chasing trout, though I also have gone to Alaska and B.C. to chase salmon with a fly rod. I’ve done a little writing and photography for flyfishing magazines over the years, and hope to do more when I retire. I work as the manager of instructional TV for BSU. I’ve been in TV broadcasting and video production since 1976. I directed TV newscasts in Pocatello, San Luis Obispo, and here in Boise.

Feel free to call me with your ideas regarding IWA. I am the only person in Idaho who does not own a cell phone. But you can reach me at work at 426-1695 or at home at 345-0364. My username is Tedlyduckster on the message boards.

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My name is Ben Montgomery. I’m 26 and currently live in St. Anthony, Idaho. I work as a conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service. I’m a native Montanan and I’ve only been an Idahoan for about a year now. When I heard about IWA, I jumped at the chance to become involved. I believe that the organization gives waterfowlers in Idaho a much needed voice and I’m grateful to those who’ve worked so hard to make IWA a viable and worthy organization.

Like everyone else, I hunt birds hard. If I’m not waterfowling I’m chasing mountain grouse, sage grouse, sharptail, pheasants and huns with my pointing lab ‘Quack’. My goals as a board member are to continue to help grow the organization and open more avenues for participation by our members. I’d like to see us become involved in some habitat projects, meetings with the Idaho Fish and Game, fun shoots/picnics and possibly some youth activities. I’m always open to any ideas our members might have! Please don’t hesitate to contact me via the forums or call me anytime (208) 569-8360!
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Hi, my name is Bryan Palmer; I was born and raised in the treasure valley. I am thirty-five and have spent most of my years living in or around Kuna. After graduating from BSU, I spent a few years in Washington. I currently own Performance Heating & Air with an old friend and hunting partner. I love to hunt duck and geese on the river or over decoys in a field. Spending time in the field with friend and family completes the experience.

My son became a member of the IWA and a duck-hunting addict. Later in the fall my son was fortunate enough to attend the 2007 IWA youth hunt. This was terrific exposure for the kids and they had a great time.

As a result of my son’s passion for waterfowl hunting, I decided that I should join the IWA and help preserve waterfowl hunting for the youth of tomorrow. I will be working with local schools, the Idaho Fish & Game and youth who express and interest in waterfowl hunting. We are currently planning a volunteer project for this spring.

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My name is Adam Walker and I am a native Idahoan. As I was growing up my father introduce me to hunting and fishing at an early age. As soon as I could get my hunting license Dad and I were off. I enjoyed fishing but I loved to hunt. These days Dad isn't talking me out hunting I am taking him hunting.

I was first introduced to waterfowl hunting when I was 15. It was a cold slow miserable hunting experience. But I had to do it again! Something about getting up really early jumping into a boat and spending time with great friends was to much fun. 11 years later I spend 8 months out of the year getting ready to hunt for 107 days.

Recently I joined the IWA and learned that they were looking for a new board of directors and I jump at the opportunity. I am looking forward to serving with some great gentlemen working for Idaho waterfowl hunters to help preserve the right for future generations.