Thursday evening in East Ridge is a big night for wildlife conservation fans.
The Chattanooga-area chapter of Ducks Unlimited is holding its annual Fall Flight Sportsman's Dinner & Auction at the Camp Jordan Arena, and space is, well, not unlimited but available. STIR Restaurant is preparing the meal, and the doors and the bar will open at 5 p.m.
Single tickets cost $50, couples tickets are $65 and ages 17 and under get in for $15. Tickets will be available at the door, or patrons can leave a comment requesting them on the DU Facebook page or call area chairman Ed Moss at 423-994-5661.
Donations will be accepted in lieu of attendance, but organizers proclaim the excitement of the event.
"I oversee a lot of banquets in Tennessee and Kentucky. The Chattanooga banquet is always one of the MOST well-attended and exciting banquets I attend," DU senior regional director Charlie Lowery said in a release.
This is the chapter's major fundraiser of the year, and proceeds go to projects in Tennessee as well as to help in land purchases and conservation efforts throughout the North American flyway, according to the release.
"The Camp Jordan Arena offers us a massive amount of space for even more vendors," Moss said. "We've got about 20 major sponsors this year, and the Camp Jordan Arena basically gives us two-thirds of a football field to fill up with games, displays, products and auction or raffle items."
The live auction offerings include an Argentina dove hunt for four people, a pheasant hunt in South Dakota, a duck hunt in Arkansas, a youth deer hunt at nearby Covey Creek Farm, the 2019 DU rifle of the year and shotgun of the year among other hunting firearms and a "dream vacation" to Costa Rica, Mexico, Belize or St. Thomas for eight people.
Compiled by Ron Bush. Contact him at rbush@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6291.