Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 29, 1994 TAG: 9408290019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
3
Well, maybe the guys can shoot doves Saturday, because the sporting clays range at The Homestead in Hot Springs is going to be dominated by women during the Virginia Ladies Charity Classic.
Designed to appeal to the novice as well as the experienced woman shooter, the event is sponsored by the Women's Shooting Sports Foundation.
"The Women's Shooting Sports Foundation tries to keep the word competition out of it," said David Judah, manager of The Homestead's shooting facilities. But while novices will be placed with novices, there will be an opportunity for serious shooters to compete, he said.
The men will be invited back Sunday for a couples shoot. Information is available from The Homestead, (800) 336-5771. The program will benefit the Bath County Hospital.
More wildlife on your land
8
It is called the Coverts Project in Virginia. So what's a covert?
"A thicket that provides sheltering habitat for wildlife," is the way James Parkhurst of the Virginia Tech Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences explains it.
The covert project will take a select group of woodland owners Sept. 8-11 and train them in wildlife habitat improvement techniques that can be applied to private woodlands. The event will be held at the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Conference Center.
Parkhurst said this year's program is full, but he'd be happy to hear from landowners interested in future projects, (703) 231-9283.
In exchange for free instruction, lodging, meals and materials, participants must agree to share information with others when they return to their communities.
Good 'Gauley,' what a ride!
9
Joe Stevens has a lofty way of describing West Virginia's Gauley River. "This is considered the No. 1 one-day white-water trip in North America."
How about some proof?
A single-day, 28-mile trip on the Gauley will send a rafter through 125 class 3 to class 5 rapids. On the Colorado River, it takes a 21-day trip to cover 75 such rapids, said Stevens, who works for Mountain River Tours in Hico, W. Va.
The white-water season is Sept. 9-16 on the Gauley, a time when special water releases will keep the river frothing with challenges.
There are outfitters who provide rafting services on the Gauley. You can get a list by calling (800) CALL WVA. Ask for the "Raft West Virginia" publication.
Now's the time for a big head
24
If you killed a trophy deer, bear or turkey last season, now is the time to see if it is record-book material. The annual judging in the Virginia Big Game Show is set for Sept. 24 and 25 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg (on U.S. 11, 1.6 miles south of Exit 243 off Interstate 81).
Bucks killed east of the Blue Ridge must be judged Sept. 10-11 at the James Blair Middle School in Williamsburg. The contact is Kenneth Pickin, (804) 229-0490. Eastern winners then join western winners in Harrisonburg.
There are some major changes in the western competition and the state finals at Harrisonburg. It will be a Saturday and Sunday event, rather than the traditional Friday and Saturday format. Trophies must be entered no later than 2 p.m. Sept. 24. They may be submitted as early as 9 a.m. Sept. 23. Show hours are 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 24 and 9 a.m-4 p.m. Sept. 25. For information, call Boyd Skelton, (703) 828-3393.
Watching the raptor rapture
24
September is the hawk-watching season, or the raptor rapture, as some birders call it.
There are places where you can get a front-row seat for this annual migration of hawks, eagles, ospreys and falcons. They include Rockfish Gap atop Afton Mountain and Hanging Rock Fire Tower on Peters Mountain. But most popular with Roanoke Valley birders is Harveys Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Roanoke and the Peaks of Otter.
On a good day you can see 250 or more broad-winged hawks from Harveys Knob. In fact, on Sept. 6, 1983, the Roanoke Valley Bird Club recorded 2,710.
You'll find skilled hawk watchers most any day in September, but the bird club has set Sept. 24 as a special day at Harveys Knob. The club president is Mike Smith, 366-4260.
| - BILL COCHRAN
Memo: ***CORRECTION***