By Blake Deshazo | The Selma Times-Journal

Water Avenue will take a trip on the wild side tonight for the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s annual Wild Game Cook-off.

Fifteen teams are slated to compete by cooking up their best dishes featuring wild game.

“We’ve got teams coming from Billingsley, one from Eclectic, Centreville, Lowndesboro, Wetumpka, so we’ve got a pretty widespread number of people that are coming in to cook,” said Tim Wood, who helps organize the event.

Last year’s cook-off featured deer, duck, alligator and even crow, and this year’s dishes will be just as diverse.

“There will probably be deer loin stuffed with jalapeno peppers and cream cheese wrapped in bacon, to fried deer meat. I couldn’t even begin to tell you. There could even be tacos with deer meat. There is no telling what will be there,” Wood said.

“I’ve heard everything from gumbos, I know some people have a bunch of ducks they are trying to cook, I would almost bet the farm that there will be an alligator smoked somewhere.”

Wood said he expects this year’s to be one of the biggest cook-offs yet.

“We think it is going to phenomenal by the amount of tickets that has gone out,” Wood said. “It is a great, great event because there will be about 600 to 700 people. The atmosphere is phenomenal on the street, with the street lights and the city of Selma and all of its people that are all coming together to enjoy each other’s time and cooking. It’s just a good time.”

Tickets can be purchased for $50 a couple at the Central Alabama Farmer’s Cooperative or at the gate. Children ages 16 and under are free. Tickets are also good for a one year membership to the Alabama Wildlife Federation.