First-ever Duck Hunter's Challenge to take place at the Sportsmen's RecFest

Thursday, September 16, 2004

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

Part relay, part skills test and part just plain fun, the Duck Hunter's Challenge was created by local hunting enthusiasts, especially for those who attend the Four Rivers Sportsmen's RecFest, Sept. 25-26.

"It's a game to involve family and everybody who participates in the RecFest in a fun way, to celebrate duck hunting and to educate people a little bit about what's involved in duck hunting," said Mark Jackson, local Ducks Unlimited member.

Here's how Jackson envisions the event, put together by several volunteers:

"We're going to line 'em (participants) up in boats at the edge of the (Katy Allen) lake. First we'll have them approach the lake and throw out decoys -- probably about six of them, at specified locations. Then they'll get in the boat, oar out and pick up decoys. Then, a volunteer throws a dead duck dummy and they have to retrieve the dead duck. When they turn back to the shore, there'll be mounted ducks. People in the challenge will have to identify species of ducks and return, sack the decoys and come across a finish line."

On the shore, Ducks Unlimited volunteers will be keeping score.

Participants aren't necessarily competing against one another, but will earn a chance to win prizes based on how well they perform the tasks of the challenge.

"We'll give 'em tickets based on how well they do," Jackson said.

The challenge participants take tickets earned to the home economics building at the fairgrounds, where they can deposit the tickets into buckets which will be used in a drawing for prizes. (Prizes will be available for viewing at the RecFest.) Jackson said prizes will be mailed if winners are not present for the drawing.

The event is sponsored by Ducks Unlimited, a wetlands conservation organization, and most prizes will be Ducks Unlimited merchandise only available to those attending Ducks Unlimited events.

Jackson said he hopes the challenge will be fun, yet educational and informative about hunting and wildlife conservation concepts.

For example, the species identification exercise offers specific knowledge hunters need.

"A duck hunter is only allowed certain numbers of certain species, so it's important to learn duck identification. It's very important. Certain species you can only get one."

"We tried to do this so that it will be fun for all skill levels, so that everyone can participate. As long as you can oar a boat and toss out a decoy, you can do this," Jackson said.

It's the first time such an event's been conducted, so some changes in format may take place.

"We might find that we need to do something a little bit different," from the plan now in place, but, Jackson said, it will be conducted in the safest, most fun way they can create.

The challenge will be conducted at the Vernon County fairgrounds in Centennial Park, Nevada, and participation in the event is free. (There is a $5 admission fee to the fairgrounds; but no additional fee for the Duck Hunter's Challenge.)

Challenge participants will be asked to sign a liability waiver, and the game will be available all day Saturday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

A number of other events will take place during the RecFest, many of them at the fairgrounds.

Other fairgrounds events

* Archery skills

* ATV demos

* Barbecue cookoff

* Boats and blinds contests

* Casting activities

* Conservation stations

* Game calling contests

* Outdoor skills seminars

* Retriever activities

* Shooting skills

* Concessions

* Vendors

* Trout pond

Meanwhile, other events will take place nearby.

At Marmaduke Park

* Muzzleloaders Black Powder Rendezvous

At Four Rivers Conservation Area

* Retriever demonstrations

* Wetlands experience

* Self-guided driving tour

At the Nevada Elks Lodge

* Ducks Unlimited benefit dinner and auction

* Beverage garden by Missouri Eagle, LLC

* Gun show and sale

For more information, contact the RecFest coordinator at (417) 667-5300 or (800) 910-4276.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: