By PAUL DAVIS
Outdoors Editor
The Bluff City Mallards chapter of Ducks Unlimited is gearing up for its 2018 banquet, set for Feb. 17 at the Black River Coliseum.
The event will kick off with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., with several games, raffles and a silent auction to be offered.
Various items will be up for grabs, including decoys, coolers, hunting gear, lots of home decor pieces and more.
A steak dinner will be served by Karon Campbell's Tasteful Creations, which will be followed by a live auction for more nice items. This year, Travis Birdsong will be volunteering his services for the auction.
According to committee chairman Jeremy Wethington, around 25 firearms are expected to be given away over the course of the night, including the Browning A5 Sweet 16 Shotgun of the Year, the Kimber M84 Rifle of the Year in 6.5 Creedmoor and the Kimber 1911 stainless Handgun of the Year.
Tickets to the banquet cost $40 for a single or $65 for a couple. Greenwings tickets, for youths age 17 and under, cost $20.
Sponsorships at various levels also are available with pricing ranging from $300 to $2,500.
All tickets must be purchased in advance at Integrated Therapy Services (2166 N. Westwood Blvd.) or by calling Wethington at 573-718-8167 or Grant Collins at 573-718-9737. You also can purchase them online at www.ducks.org/events.