The Valdosta State University chapter of Ducks Unlimited will present Sportsman’s Night Out at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, at The Kennedy Center. Area outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to attend this event and help support wetlands and waterfowl conservation efforts.
 
Tickets for Sportsman’s Night Out are $50 and include dinner, dessert, and a one-year membership to Ducks Unlimited, which comes with its own set of perks, including a subscription to the organization’s bimonthly magazine, discounts at its online store, and a wealth of information on waterfowling across the United States.
 
VSU students with a valid 1Card may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $40.
 
The deadline to purchase tickets is noon on Monday, Sept. 12, although a few tickets may be available at the door on the night of the event. All tickets sold at the door will be $50.
 
Throughout the evening, Sportsman’s Night Out attendees will have numerous opportunities to win duck hunting, deer hunting, dove hunting, and tailgating merchandise, as well as guns, tools, coolers, and more. Tickets for these random drawings will be sold at the event. Bottomless koozies with unlimited bottled beer will be available for $10. A limited number of VSU Ducks Unlimited T-shirts and hats will be available for purchase at $25 each or $40 for the pair. Corporate sponsorships are also available.
 
All proceeds from Sportsman’s Night Out will support Ducks Unlimited’s mission to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl, which are being degraded and destroyed around the world, and to someday have “wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow, and forever.” These conservation efforts also benefit other wildlife and people.
 
“In addition to the national conservation efforts, the VSU chapter of Ducks Unlimited has started a local initiative that provides wood duck boxes to wetlands like Grand Bay and Banks Lake,” said Zach Giddes, chapter vice president.
 
In the late 1800s to early 1900s, wood ducks were believed to be on the verge of extinction due to unregulated, year-round hunting. The wood duck is considered a true conservation success story by many waterfowl conservationists, and the wood duck box is credited with contributing to this accomplishment. These artificial nests help produce an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 additional wood ducks each year.
 
The Kennedy Center is located at 306 St. Augustine Road in Valdosta. This facility was formerly known as the Knights of Columbus building.  
 
Contact Jayson Crum, president of the VSU chapter of Ducks Unlimited, at (229) 561-7776 or Zach Giddes, vice president of the VSU chapter of Ducks Unlimited, at (229) 393-5829 to purchase tickets or learn more.
 
On the Web: http://www.ducks.org/