Katy, Texas outdoorsman/hunter Newell Cheatheam, President of Newell’s Designs and contest calling chairman for the Texas State Championship Duck Calling Contest for the 8th year announces that the Texas State and Gulf Coast Regional Duck Calling Contests will be at the Jewett Community Center, Jewett, Texas on Saturday May 17 th.. Cheatheam has lived in Katy for 30 years and has been hunting on the Katy prairie for 28 of those years. He coordinated meat duck and goose calling contests at the Katy Rice Harvest Festival for kids, adults, and guides for around 16 years thru the local Katy Ducks Unlimited Committee.

Cheatheam coordinated the Texas State at numerous areas around Texas including Katy, Lewisville, Irving, and Jewett, Texas. The Texas State Sanctioned Duck Calling Contest worked out great in Jewett, Texas in 2007 in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Regional Duck Calling Contest (3 or more states) with Mike Barnett, contest calling chairman for it. So they decided to continue to have the two contests together this year.

The two contests are some of the best calling contests for prize money and organization in the nation. Contestants come from all of Texas for the Texas State and from 3-4 states for the Gulf Coast Regional Duck Calling Contest to test their calling skills against their fellow contestants. The winner of each contest goes on to Ark to be in the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest in November that has contestants from across the U.S. that qualify to enter to win around $30,000 in prizes. In 2007 two of the contest judges were the 2006 world champion duck caller and runner world champion duck caller. Andy Barnett of Centerville, Texas was the Champion Duck Calling in 2007 for the Texas State.

Leon County Delta Waterfowl www.DeltaWaterfowl.com will once again host, and sponsor, the 2008 Texas State and Gulf Coast Regional Champion Duck Calling Contests. The contest will be held in conjunction with Delta Waterfowl’s - Guns, Cash & Crawfish Extravaganza that attracted over 800 attendees in 2007. Giveaways or $10,000 cash, 23 guns and 2 bows given away after the crawfish and catfish dinner by Crazy Cajun Cookers. Dinner $25.00 per adult with kids 17 and under free. Dinner tickets must be purchased prior to May 10th to be eligible for the $2500.00 cash door prize. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TexasDuckCallingContest.com or at Buffalo Sporting Goods 903.322.4298, Davis Feed & Fertilizer, Centerville 903.536.2509, Ryder Oil, Centerville 903.536.4449; Great American T-shirt Company, Palestine 903.723.8898 or Leon County Delta Waterfowl Committee members. You must be present to win. Contact Jeff Beshears of Delta Waterfowl jeffb@windstearm.net if you want to sponsor a table at the event.

Texas State Sanctioned Duck Calling Contest check-in is 11:00 P.M. with contest starting around 12:00 P.M. and the Gulf Coast Regional will follow with a 30 minute or more break. The Gulf Coast Regional will be in the afternoon.

Delta Waterfowl has coordinated sponsors of a total of $5,320.00 in guaranteed cash prizes for the top six finishers in both contests with a payout in each contest as follows: 1st $1,000.00, 2nd 750.00, 3rd $500.00, 4th $250.00, 5th $100.00 and 6th will be $60.00. In addition, each contestant will receive a ticket for the All-You-Can eat crawfish boil to follow at 6:00 P.M. that evening. .

The entry fee for each contest will be $60.00 per caller or $100.00 for entering both contests at same time (contestant entry fees includes crawfish dinner and chance to win $2500 cash door prize). There will be Intermediate Duck open non-sanctioned duck calling contest for callers age 14-16. Entry fee is $15.00. Junior Duck open calling contest open for callers age 13 and under, free. Age 13 under receive a free duck call. Contestants for the contests can register in advance at www.TexasStateDuckCallingContest.com or contact Newell Cheatheam, Texas State Contest Calling Chairman, PO Box 5254, Katy, Tx 77491, 281.392.3034, ncheatheam@aol.com.

Premium outdoor-gear maker Rocky is looking to outfit one creative turkey hunter from head to toe in new boots and apparel this spring.

To win, all hunters have to do is: Give Rocky the bird.

Outdoorsmen and women can enter the “Give Us the Bird” contest sponsored by Rocky by posting the best photograph from their most recent turkey hunting adventure or a past season online at photo.rockyboots.com.

“We’re looking for Rocky nation’s best photographs and anything that has to do with turkey season is fair game,” said Sam Coalson, avid hunter and marketing manager for the outdoor division at Rocky. “Of course we want to see the big spring gobbler, but feel free to upload the eye-catching sunrise, too. Bottom line is we want people to be creative and have fun.”

The winner will be chosen by an online vote. Anyone can log onto photos.rockyboots.com to help choose the best photo.

Whether participating in the contest or just viewing the big toms, voting is limited to once a day. Participants can drive family members and friends to vote for their picture through a feature on the website that allows users to share the posted photos.

The contest ends June 15. The photographs with the most feathers in their hats at that time will be named winners.

The winners will receive their choice of Rocky boots and outerwear.

“Visit the site everyday and watch your feather count soar,” said Coalson.

Official contest rules and prize information are available at RockyBoots.com.

Rocky Brands, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets premium quality rugged outdoor, occupational and casual footwear, as well as branded apparel and accessories.

The Company’s footwear, apparel and accessories are marketed through several distribution channels, primarily under owned brands, Rocky, Georgia Boot, Lehigh, Durango and licensed brand Dickies. Most recently, brands Michelin Footwear and zümfoot were added to the product line.