The Bluff City Mallards chapter of Ducks Unlimited is in the final planning stages for its annual banquet in Poplar Bluff, set for March 2 at the Black River Coliseum.
“It’s shaping up really nice, and it should be a fun event,” said banquet co-chair Jeremy Wethington.
The doors to the event will open at 5:30 p.m., and various games, raffles and a silent auction will kick off then.
Some of the items available in the drawings include duck decoys, framed prints, hunting gear, home decor and more.
A steak dinner prepared by Karon Campbell’s Tasteful Creations will be served, followed by a live auction conducted by volunteer auctioneer Travis Birdsong.
The auction will feature a Terry Redlin print, plus a toy pedal car modeled after the U.S. Army Willys Jeep and a host of other items.
Over the course of the night, up to 20 guns are expected to be given away, including a Franchi Affinity shotgun, Marlin .22 rifle, a Kimber pistol and more.
This year’s Shotgun of the Year will be a Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 with wooden stocks, engraved silver receiver and blued barrel. The Rifle of the Year will be a Howa 1500 bolt-action in 6.5 Creedmoor caliber, and the Pistol of the Year will be a Glock 19 with matching knife.
Tickets to the event must be purchased in advance and cost $40 for singles, $65 for a couple and $20 for Greenwings age 17 and under.
Sponsorships also are available for $300 at the Bronze level and $600 at the Silver level.
Tickets can be purchased by calling Jeremy Wethington at 573-718-8167 or Grant Collins at 573-718-9737, by stopping in at Integrated Therapy Services in Poplar Bluff or online at www.ducks.org/events.
Those who purchase tickets by Feb. 24, Wethington said, will be entered into an early-bird drawing for a firearm.