BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Sept. 24, 2008 - To get the most out of the celebration of the Federal Duck Stamp contest coming to Minnesota in October, you may have to go from walking shoes to hunting boots to dress shoes. A number of events, including a walk and a gala banquet, are planned to commemorate the success of the Federal Duck Stamp program, which has raised more than $700 million to purchase and protect more than 5.2 million acres of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge system.

In the world’s oldest and most prestigious wildlife art contest, five judges will select the art to grace the 2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp. The contest takes place in Bloomington on October 17 and 18.

Start off Duck Stamp Week on Sunday, October 12, with the Walk for Wetlands through the beautiful Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, hosted by Ducks Unlimited and Minnesota Audubon. This is a great opportunity to help support wildlife habitat conservation programs on national wildlife refuges by gathering pledges from friends and family to support your walk experience. Volunteers from Minnesota Audubon will be on hand to help ID birds as you stroll through the refuge. Register online at www.walkforwetlands.org for a wonderful learning experience for everyone. Kids 12 and under will receive a free pair of DU binoculars when they check in.

Walk for Wetlands will include a special guest appearance from wildlife photographer and author Stan Tekiela. The walk is hosted by Ducks Unlimited and Minnesota Audubon, in partnership with KARE 11, Eagle Optics and Bird Conservation Minnesota. For more information visit www.walkforwetlands.org

Hardcore waterfowlers will not want to miss the special Waterfowl Hunters Party on October 16 at the Bloomington Center for the Arts. Hosted by Ducks Unlimited and Sportsmans Warehouse, the event will feature decoys, gear and guns for the waterfowler in a fund-raising event built around a display of all of the entries in this year’s Federal Duck Stamp competition. Avery Outdoors, the event sponsor, is providing over 50 dozen of its most popular decoys, blinds and bags for a great give-away of the best in waterfowling gear. Other raffle prizes will include duck and goose calls, camo clothing and of course – waterfowling guns. Participants can even meet Scot Storm, 2004 Federal Duck Stamp winner, the event chair.

Tickets for the event are limited to 150 and can be purchased at metro-area Sportsman’s Warehouse locations and online. This event will sell out and no tickets will be held or sold at the door. Wear your colors since every attendee wearing a camo shirt will be eligible to be fitted for a full camo waterfowlers outfit, including waders and parka. All attendees will receive a special Ducks Unlimited/Federal Duck Stamp shirt as they leave the event. Information and registration can be found at www.ducksevents.org.

Ducks Unlimited caps off the week of honoring the Federal Duck Stamp program with the Duck Stamp Gala on Friday, October 17, at the Bloomington Holiday Inn Select. An evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors de’ oeuvres, featuring an auction of original art by many past winners of the federal stamp contest and an opportunity to meet many well known wildlife artists including Bob, Jim and Joe Hautman, Jim Killen and Scot Storm. Master of ceremonies Jared Brown, host of the DUTV show, will introduce the many national dignitaries and artists on hand, including honorary gala chairman David Maas, multiple winner of the federal stamp contest and three-time Ducks Unlimited International Artist of the Year. For more information on the gala, visit www.duckstampgala.org.

For more information on all of these events call the MNDU state office at (952) 820-8174 or email kmoore@ducks.org.

Anyone 16 years of age or older must be in possession of a Federal Duck Stamp when hunting migratory waterfowl. Funds from the sale of federal duck stamps provide financial support for the National Wildlife Refuge System program.

All proceeds from events hosted by Ducks Unlimited celebrating the success of the Federal Duck Stamp program will be channeled through DU conservation programs to support the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to expand and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System.

With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization with more than 12 million acres conserved. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands - nature’s most productive ecosystem - and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres each year.

Media contact:

Becky Jones Mahlum, 701-355-3507, bjonesmahlum@ducks.orgJennifer Kross, 701-355-3515, jkross@ducks.org