Six Louisiana Ducks Unlimited chapters make Top 100

MONROE, La. – April 4, 2014 – The Top 100 is one of the most highly sought-after titles of recognition Ducks Unlimited offers to its local chapters. Each year, the list is comprised of the top 100 fundraising chapters in the United States that raise up to $100,000 through fundraising activities in their communities. Through the efforts of these volunteer committees DU is able to pursue its mission of conserving, enhancing and restoring North America’s wetlands. In 2013 six Louisiana chapters made the Top 100 list as one of the organization’s best fundraising chapters.
“These fundraising events are the backbone of DU’s habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the force driving DU and helping make a difference for North American waterfowl populations,” said DU President George Dunklin. “It takes a great deal of effort to break into the Top 100, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors.”

Kansas Hunt a Blast for JAKES Essay Contest Winner

NWTF hunt winner Ian Shofner (right), and guide Joel Pile (left), pose with their turkey taken at the Kansas Governor’s One Shot Turkey Hunt. Click to download full size image.

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — Each year, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) gives members of its youth programs, Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship (JAKES) and Xtreme JAKES, the opportunity to enter an essay contest to win a coveted spot on the annual Kansas Governor’s One Shot Turkey Hunt. This year’s winner, Ian Shofner, recently joined Kan. Gov. Sam Brownback and more than 70 other hunters for the invitation-only event.

Six Georgia Ducks Unlimited chapters make Top 100

ATLANTA – April 3, 2014 – The Top 100 is one of the most highly sought-after titles of recognition Ducks Unlimited offers to its local chapters. Each year, the list is comprised of the top 100 fundraising chapters in the United States that raise up to $100,000 through fundraising activities in their communities. Through the efforts of these volunteer committees DU is able to pursue its mission of conserving, enhancing and restoring North America’s wetlands. In 2013 six Georgia chapters made the Top 100 list as one of the organization’s best fundraising chapters.
“These fundraising events are the backbone of DU’s habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the force driving DU and helping make a difference for North American waterfowl populations,” said DU President George Dunklin. “It takes a great deal of effort to break into the Top 100, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors.”

NWTF Partners to Reach Online Hunting Community

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) has partnered with Powderhook, a technology company with a mission of “Access for All,” to increase the effectiveness of the NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative.

“The NWTF recognizes hunters are a major funding source for wildlife management. We need more hunters to keep wildlife populations healthy and thriving, and access to hunting lands keeps hunters in the game. Solving the access problem is bigger than any one organization. We’re happy to partner with Powderhook and others to develop a solution,” said Doug Saunders, NWTF senior vice president of marketing.

Powderhook’s website allows hunters to easily find and share access to hunting clubs and leases, reputable outfitters, and private and public lands. The built-in communication and trip planning tools are essential to engaging new people and encouraging hunters to venture out more often.

“The mission of `Access for All’ is a big undertaking but that is why our partnership with the NWTF makes sense. We, too, are trying to increase the number of hunters along with the availability of hunting habitat,” said Eric Dinger, Powderhook CEO.

As an incentive to join the movement for preservation of our hunting heritage, the NWTF and Powderhook are giving away a once-in-a-lifetime turkey hunt with former MLB player, Ryan Klesko, and turkey hunting legend, Eddie Salter. Find the contest rules andenter to win at www.powderhook.com/nwtf.

The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to give the NWTF more energy and purpose than ever. Through this national initiative, NWTF has committed to raising $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million new hunters and open access to 500,000 new acres for hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment. Without hunters, there will be no wildlife or habitat. The NWTF is determined to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.

For more information, contact Peter Muller at pmuller@nwtf.net or (803) 637-7698.

Five Florida Ducks Unlimited chapters make Top 100

ORLANDO, Fla. – April 3, 2014 – The Top 100 is one of the most highly sought-after titles of recognition Ducks Unlimited offers to its local chapters. Each year, the list is comprised of the top 100 fundraising chapters in the United States that raise up to $100,000 through fundraising activities in their communities. Through the efforts of these volunteer committees DU is able to pursue its mission of conserving, enhancing and restoring North America’s wetlands. In 2013 five Florida chapters made the Top 100 list as one of the organization’s best fundraising chapters.

“These fundraising events are the backbone of DU’s habitat conservation efforts, and the volunteers who make up these chapters are the force driving DU and helping make a difference for North American waterfowl populations,” said DU President George Dunklin. “It takes a great deal of effort to break into the Top 100, and these chapters deserve to be congratulated by every person who enjoys the outdoors.”

The Jacksonville, Vero Beach, Orlando, Tallahassee and Naples chapters earned a spot on the Top 100 list out of the more than 2,600 DU chapters nationwide. DU’s event fundraising system has become a model for other conservation organizations around the world and has funded a significant portion of the more than 13 million acres of wetlands and associated habitat DU has conserved since 1937.

The 2013 Top 100 chapters also have the distinction of being honored during DU’s 77th National Convention in St. Louis at the end of May, with many chapter representatives in attendance.

“DU chapters across the country are showing that the future of waterfowl populations and the wetlands that filter our drinking water and protect us from flooding are important to them and to their communities,” Dunklin said. “The more money we raise, the more habitat we can conserve and the closer we are to preserving our waterfowl hunting heritage. I would like to personally thank all our Top 100 chapters for their achievement and look forward to seeing them among our distinguished chapters next year.”

Visit www.ducks.org to see the full Top 100 list for this year.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets atwww.twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos atwww.youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.

Media Contact:
Andi Cooper
601-956-1936
acooper@ducks.org