Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoor Festival Offers Family Fun

Muscle-Powered Activities Take Center Stage at Three-Day Event

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Agricenter International, May 22 -- The Ninth Annual Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors Festival presented by Suzuki will host a variety of activities during the 2003 event, scheduled for Friday, May 30, Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. The Festival is expected to attract approximately 75,000 people over the three days with shooting sports, archery, off-road driving, biking and camping, cooking, conservation, hunting dogs, fishing, and much more.

  New for 2003:

   -- Volunteers from the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) will showcase
      their skills and assist wheelchair bound attendees with firearm,
      archery, and fishing seminars.

   -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) will conduct two
      shooting games much like those seen on the ESPN Outdoor Games.

Returning this year is Project ChildSafe, a nationwide consumer awareness campaign to help make homes with firearms safer and prevent needless accidents. Project ChildSafe will distribute thousands of free cable gunlocks during the Festival, this is made possible by PRIMEDIA and Ducks Unlimited. Developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the program teaches Americans to properly handle and store their firearms.

The cable-style gunlock fits different firearms, and requires the weapon be unloaded before installed -- an added safety benefit of the Project ChildSafe lock. To obtain a lock, look for the Project ChildSafe van and tent at the Festival. For additional information visit www.projecthomesafe.org .

Advance discount tickets are available at participating Schnucks and Pig N Whistle stores for $13/adult and $7/child (6-12). Tickets at the gate are $15/adult and $8/child (6-12). Children 5 and under and dogs on a lead are admitted to the Festival at no charge.

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, call the Festival hotline at 323-782-2978 or Ducks Unlimited at 901-758-3825, or visit our websites at www.dugof.com or www.ducks.org .