QDMA Announces Details for Outdoorsman’s Challenge, National Convention Entertainment & More
OutdoorHub 05.20.14
The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) will hold its first-ever outdoorsman’s challenge, the Hunter Games, at its 2014 National Convention in Athens, Georgia, at The Classic Center July 24-27. Details of the Challenge were announced along with a tremendous lineup of live music and entertainment for the rendezvous-themed Convention.
The Hunter Games Outdoorsman’s Challenge:
The Hunter Games, QDMA’s first-ever outdoorsman’s challenge which will be held on Saturday, July 26, will give attendees the chance to show off their skills, win bragging rights and take home prizes. The Challenge will have two age groups: adult (ages 14 and up) and youth (13 and under). Prizes will be awarded including a top prize for the outdoorsman or woman in both age groups who competes in every event and tallies the highest combined score overall. The Outdoorsman’s Challenge is slated to include:
- Ground Blind Challenge - Participants must assemble a ground blind, get in it and shoot a target in this timed event.
- Fishing Challenge -This is a two-part, point-scored challenge that will involve Fish ID and Casting. A good fisherman can properly identify different types of fish, and that knowledge will be put to the test in the Fish ID. In the casting part of this challenge, contestants will earn points by casting and hitting targets.
- Deer Challenge – This Quality Deer Management “cornerstone” event will give participants the chance to prove how well they can score and age deer. This point-scored challenge will be broken down into three parts: field scoring from a tower blind, aging bucks in trail-camera pictures and aging jawbones.
- Treestand Challenge – In this timed event, participants will be challenged to put on a safety harness, secure it to a lifeline, climb a ladder and pull up a bag of gear.
- Marksmanship Challenge – How well can you shoot? Prove it in this timed, Crossman Air Rifle event.
- Hunting Challenge – Here’s another chance to prove your shooting skills. This laser shot challenge will also evaluate your reaction time and responsible decision making.
- Survival Challenge – In this timed challenge, participants will shoot a slingshot until they hit a target, and then they will be tested on starting a fire with a flint starter.
- Additionally, the outdoorsman’s challenge will include an assessment of your waterfowl and trapping knowledge as well as the opportunity to put your archery skills to the test.
Entertainment/Music:
Several music acts have be lined up throughout Convention to keep the rendezvous hopping. On Thursday, July 24, the High Strung String Band will perform at the Buckskin Bash and Ralph Roddenbery will play that evening at the Watering Hole.
On the evening of Friday, July 25, QDMA will take the Convention out on the town to the Georgia Theatre for a concert with one of Georgia’s favorite bands – the Kinchafoonee Cowboys! The band currently holds records at the famous Theatre for most shows played and most sold-out shows. Opening for the Kinchafoonee Cowboys will be Kaitlyn Baker. All Convention attendees will receive a ticket to the show, while additional tickets can be purchased through the Georgia Theatre.
On Saturday, July 26, the jams continue with The Beaters at the Grand Banquet and Auction and Rans Thomas at the Watering Hole.
There’s Even More!
Believe it or not, there will be even more to keep you entertained at this year’s Convention!
- Be sure to enter the “Best Rendezvous Getup” contest at the Buckskin Bash on Thursday
- Once again this year, tours will be held on Friday and Saturday mornings at the University of Georgia Deer Research Facility
- The Shed, QDMA’s store, will be open each day of this year’s Convention to give attendees more time to shop for the latest QDMA swag – including hours from 3 – 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 23, for those arriving and registering early
For more information including a full schedule with event times, to register and/or to book lodging, please visit QDMA’s National Convention webpage.
