The Pike County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host its annual banquet on Thursday, March 10 at Cattleman Park.

The National Wild Turkey Federation is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the American hunting heritage.

“You don’t have to be a turkey hunter to attend our banquet,” said Darren Jordan, president of the Pike County Chapter NWTF. “Anyone who enjoys wildlife and the outdoors and those who have an interest in guns will enjoy the banquet and the fellowship of others who share the same interests.”

Tickets for the local Wild Turkey Federation banquet may be purchased by calling Jordan at 334-268-0974.

Several levels of tickets are available beginning with individual tickets at $55.  These tickets are limited and it is recommended that they be purchased before the night of the banquet.

Sponsor member tickets begin at $270 and include one member ticket and two regular tickets.

Those wishing to purchase sponsor tables have two options, at $500 and $1,000.

The $500 option seats a member and five guests at a table. The $1,000 shooter’s table seats one sponsor membership and nine regular members.

“The shooter’s table will have a gun on the banquet table, either a shotgun, rifle or handgun,” Jordan said. “The shooter’s tables need to be sold in advance due to the logistics of getting the gun(s) here on time.”

Jordan said March 8 is the tentative deadline for the shooter’s table memberships to be purchased.

Jake memberships are available for those under that age of 16 for $20.

All members of the Pike County Chapter of the NWTF will receive the NWTF magazine for a year.

Purchasing tickets early helps with planning for the banquet so, as an inventive for tickets to be purchased in advance, Jordan said an early-bird gun drawing will be held.

“The names of those who purchase their tickets before the day of the banquet will have their names entered in a drawing for a gun,” he said. “So we encourage everyone to get their tickets early and get their names in the drawing for the gun.”

The NWTF banquet Thursday night will feature a live auction with a large variety of items for outdoor enthusiasts on the block including wildlife art, wildlife stamp collections, grills, coolers and much more.

The doors of Cattleman Park will open at 5 p.m. A banquet meal of chicken, ribs and all the trimmings will be served at 6 p.m.