Last modified: Friday, March 2, 2007 3:02 PM PST Items for the Ontario Ducks Unlimited Banquet are stacked up at a committee member’s home. The banquet will start at 5:30 p.m. today at the Ontario Elks Lodge. Ducks Unlimited Banquet slated Saturday, March 3 By Julie Engel - Argus Observer Ducks Unlimited enthusiasts will again have a banquet opportunity in Ontario after a three-year hiatus. Daryn Lukehart, former Ducks Unlimited District 5 chairman for Oregon, said organizing a Ducks Unlimited banquet is time consuming and many of the former committee members grew weary with the task over time. Lukehart, with Craig deBoer, Steve Mallea and Ridg Medford, formed a banquet committee in November to bring the Ontario Ducks Unlimited Banquet back to town. "Ontario has been lax in holding a Ducks Unlimited banquet," Lukehart said. Doors will open for the Ontario Ducks Unlimited Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with a no-host bar and dinner starting at 7 p.m. at the Ontario Elks Lodge. Activities at the banquet will include games, silent and live auctions and a raffle, Lukehart said. The venue this year will be wonderful, Lukehart said, because the catering, bar and sound system are all included in the one location. "Guns are a big seller for Ducks Unlimited," Lukehart said. "People have been calling and asking, How many guns do you have?" Lukehart said they have about six guns lined up for the event in addition to prints, sculptures and other "extremely nice" items. As the event draws near, Lukehart said they could acquire more guns for the auction and raffle. Those who are not hunters still have a lot to gain from Ducks Unlimited, Lukehart said. The organization focuses on the environment, he said, working to restore wetlands and clean up water sources. For those who attend the banquet, Lukehart said they become a member of Ducks Unlimited for a year. "If you attend a banquet, you become a member - it's part of the fee of coming to the banquet," Lukehart said. Tickets to Friday's event will be $35 for individuals, $50 for couples and $15 for "green wings" - those 18 and younger. Lukehart said preregistration is requested to better facilitate the prime rib dinner. "We'd love to pack the hall," he said. For more information contact Lukehart at (541) 823-0844, Mallea at (541) 889-3943 or deBoer at (208) 739-0453.