<b>By Wendy Pollitzer</b>

We live in a community with a unique water fowl heritage. Our proximity to the ACE Basin is an asset to living in Beaufort, and hunters anticipate the start of every season with an appreciation of one of the most revered estuaries and wildlife refuges in the country.

[caption id="attachment_14184" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ducks5.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-14184" alt="Scenes from last year’s Warrior Hunt sponsored by Ducks Unlimited." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ducks5-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Scenes from last year’s Warrior Hunt sponsored by Ducks Unlimited.[/caption]

Another piece of Beaufort’s foundation for which our local community is grateful is its military presence with three installations North of the Broad River. Most servicemen and women who call Beaufort home for calls of duty rarely get to experience the tradition of water fowl hunting. Until now.

The Beaufort Area Ducks Unlimited Chapter is excited to announce the Second Annual Waterfowl Warrior Weekend to be held December 13-14, 2013. The goal of the event is to introduce local warriors to the deep water fowling traditions of the ACE Basin in and around the Beaufort area.

Three local marines are working with this year’s committee, chaired by Brian Harrelson, to choose 15 deserving heroes for a weekend of outdoor events. Sgt. Sean Burchfield, Sgt. Keith Peffer and Staff Sgt. Jonathon Caruthers have been working diligently with many committee members to plan this year’s Warrior Hunt.

The weekend will start at Nemours Plantation with an afternoon skeet shoot and Lowcountry cookout. During the meal, warriors will be introduced to their hosts for the weekend, who will help them prepare for the next morning’s hunt. And, Ducks Unlimited staff will do a brief presentation on wetlands conservation and the important conservation work being done in the Beaufort area.

The selected hunters will meet their hosts on Saturday, December 14 for a rich morning of waterfowl hunting, which will be followed by a breakfast and celebration of the harvest. Later that evening, the Beaufort Ducks Unlimited Chapter will host a Conservation Banquet and BBQ dinner at Beaufort Town Center.

The Conservation Banquet and BBQ dinner will begin at 6 p.m. with an open bar of wine and beer and mixed drinks. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., followed by a live auction that will include several limited edition exclusive shotguns and sought after Ducks Unlimited artwork.

Tickets to the banquet are $75 for singles and $125 for couples. For tickets, please call Brian Harrelson at 843-812-8985 or Sean Burchfield at 970-237-9380 or purchase online at www.tinyurl.com/ducksbft. Limited tickets are available.
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