MEMPHIS, Tenn. March 10, 2017 Ducks Unlimited announced the winners of the 2017 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards during the 82nd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference held in Spokane, Washington. This years recipient in the communications category is the late Wade Bourne.

Wade Bournes name is one of the most recognized in the outdoors. Bourne was a full-time outdoor writer/broadcaster whose works have appeared regularly before national reading, listening and viewing audiences over the past four decades. Bourne passed away in December.

As a professional outdoor writer and broadcaster, Wade educated his audience about waterfowl and conservation issues and was extremely proud of his association with Ducks Unlimited. Wade described himself as being eaten-up with duck and goose hunting for half a century, said DU Chief Conservation Officer Paul Schmidt.

Bourne was the founder and host of the award-winning Wired2Fish/Hunt Radio, a syndicated fishing/hunting radio show that aired year-round throughout the U.S. on approximately 280 stations. Prior to that, Bourne hosted In-Fisherman Radio, the largest syndicated outdoor radio show in North America.

Bourne was a veteran contributor to the nations leading outdoor magazines, with more than 3,000 published articles. He served as an editor-at-large for Ducks Unlimited magazine and senior writer for Bassmaster Magazine. He also authored six books. In 2004, he began appearing on Ducks Unlimited TV, sharing his waterfowling exploits and expertise with viewers throughout North America.

Recognized as a pillar of outdoor communications, Bourne received the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. This award recognizes those who contribute to the memberships profession and craft and who make improvements to the organization. Bourne was only the seventh recipient of this award in SEOPAs 50-year history. In 2016, he received the Homer Circle Fishing Communicator Award from the Professional Outdoor Media Association and the American Sportfishing Association.

Through his work, generations of sportsmen and women learned to be better hunters and anglers, said Ducks Unlimited Chief Communications Officer Tom Fulgham. He taught them how to be more successful afield. But, more importantly, he taught them to be better stewards of our wildlife resources and our outdoor heritage.

Ducks Unlimiteds Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards are presented annually in six categories to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the conservation and restoration of North Americas wetlands and waterfowl. To view a complete list of the 2017 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award winners, visit www.ducks.org/wetlandawards.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13.8 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.