CHL Mississippi RiverKings

RiverKings Highlight Ducks Unlimited On January 23rd

January 19, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS --- The Mississippi RiverKings will host the annual Ducks Unlimited Night when the hockey team highlights the works of the conservation organization during the January 23 game against the Missouri Mavericks at 7:05 p.m. at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven.

"Ducks Unlimited's main objective is the preservation of wetlands for waterfowl habitat and breeding grounds," said Mike Crum, Southaven Ducks Unlimited member. "Back in 1937 a fellow by the name of Joseph Knapp and others recognized the impact that the loss of wetlands was having on waterfowl, and he and fellow hunters and associates started Ducks Unlimited to help solve this problem."

Ducks Unlimited has conserved over 12.6 million acres of waterfowl habitat in North America.

"Through biologists' and ecologists' studies, Ducks Unlimited restores grasslands used to protect waterfowl from predators and nesting, has replanted 80 percent of forested land that was previously cleared, restores watersheds (areas surrounding wetlands), educates landowners, purchases land, and oversees conservation maintenance of land easements in cases where individual landowners retain ownership of a wetland area," Crum said.

Ducks Unlimited has over 775,000 members. There are chapters in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Latin America, just to mention a few.

"I have been a member of Ducks Unlimited for approximately 30-plus years and a waterfowl hunter since my high school days, back when dirt was invented," Crum said, laughing.

"I enjoy Ducks Unlimited for the fellowship with other hunters and the self-pride that I am doing my part for future duck hunters and all those who love the outdoors. I know that through this organization that all waterfowl, not only ducks, will have a presence in the future due to the efforts of Ducks Unlimited."

Ducks Unlimited regionally sponsors many events open to the public, including the annual Continental Shoot at Harrah's Willows Sporting Clays Range every year in October, and most recently the first ever Waterfowl Hunter Party at DeSoto Honda. The Southaven chapter usually hosts a banquet and auction in February at the Southaven Events Center and for the last three or four years has partnered with the RiverKings for a silent auction/fellowship/awareness event at a RiverKings game. Other chapters such as Olive Branch, Tunica and Hernando each hold an annual banquet with fundraising auctions at various locations and times during the year.

"We welcome men and women interested in our efforts," Crum said. "Most everyone thinks you need to be a duck or goose hunter to get involved, but we encourage everyone who is interested in preserving this part of our great natural resources. We even have a membership for youth, becoming a Greenwing - named from the greenwing teal duck - which promotes waterfowl restoration among young people. I enrolled my grandaughter as a Greenwing a couple of years ago. She can't wait each quarter to get her magazine targeting just the younger generation."

The Mississippi RiverKings are supported by their community partners, season ticket holders, fans, and by program-related investments of the Maddox Foundation, an independent private foundation based in Hernando, Miss. The Foundation supports the team's programs that increase investments in area charities and their causes. To find out more about the RiverKings, call 662.342.1755 or visit www.riverkings.com.



Central Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2010


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