Ducks Unlimited Festival to Host Variety of Activities

LOS ANGELES, May 21 The 8th Annual Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival presented by Suzuki will host a variety of activities during the 2002 event, scheduled for Friday, May 31st through June 2nd at the Agricenter International in Memphis, Tenn.

Among the new activities this year, is the STIHL Timbersports Series(TM) featuring five-time and reigning champion Jason Wynyard from Auckland, New Zealand. Watch twenty-eight of the world's best axe men compete in six exciting axe-swinging, chip-flying events! Included among the activities this year you will not want to miss is the annual Wilderness Cooking Competition, featuring sanctioned chili and open salsa contests. Be sure to stop by the cooking demonstrations and pick up tips from the experts.

Returning this year is the popular Shoot with the Pros competition along with the world famous exhibition shooter Tom Knapp and the Cowboy Action Shooters from SASS located in the Dodge Shooting Sports Village. Also returning are the catfish tank in the Chevy Trucks Fishing Village, Bowhunter Challenge in the Archery Village and two 24-foot three-sided rock walls in the Toyota Biking and Camping Village. For additional information on this and many more exciting events please visit www.dugof.com or www.ducks.org .

Advance discount tickets are available at participating Mid-South Chevy Dealers for $10/adult and $5/child (6-12). Tickets at the gate are $12/adult and $6/child (6-12). Children 5 and under and dogs on a lead are admitted to the Festival at no charge. Also new this year to the Festival, Friday evening only -- event discount tickets are half price ($6/adult and $3/child) from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Eight distinct Villages make up the Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival each offering a hands-on experience for the entire family -- beginners to experts. At the Festival, attendees can use a variety of sporting equipment and products in real-world conditions, receive coaching from skilled professionals and get answers direct from factory representatives. The Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival is the largest outdoor event of its kind in the country.

The Festival hours are Noon - 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit the web sites or call the Festival hotline at 323-782-2978 or Ducks Unlimited at 901-758-3825.