Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 28, 1995 TAG: 9508280116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Fall hunting begins in earnest Saturday with the opening of the dove and squirrel seasons. Hunting prospects for both species are promising. State game biologists report that the dove population is similar to last year's, but the corn harvest is earlier, which means sportsmen should find ample spots to launch a hunt. The season is split into three segments: Sept. 2-30; Oct. 2-31; and Dec. 23-Jan. 2. The daily bag limit is 12.
Squirrel hunters should enjoy the best sport in recent memory, thanks to an abundance of food provided by two back-to-back bumper mast crops. The early squirrel season will be open from the Craig-Botetourt-Bedford-Campbell-Halifax-county area westward to Lee County. The counties to the east open Oct. 14. The season ends statewide Jan. 31.
9 - Dear me, what a big deer!
Trophy deer shows are common these days, but the oldest and most important in the state is the Virginia Big Game Contest.
The western regionals are set for Sept. 9-10 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg. If you plan to enter a deer, the deadline is 2 p.m. Sept. 9. The competition is for bucks killed last year west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For information, contact Boyd Skelton, (540) 828-3393.
The eastern competition and state finals will be Sept. 23-24 at James Blair Middle School in Williamsburg. The entry deadline is 6 p.m. Sept. 23. Information is available from Kenneth Pickin, (804) 229-0490.
The competition also will judge bear and wild turkey trophies. This is the only contest that determines which entries make the state record book.
9 - Sporting clays for women
Women-only shooting sports have become so popular that the Women's Shooting Sports Foundation has scheduled 38 Ladies Charity Classic Events across the nation this year. That includes a Sept. 9 shoot at Quail Ridge Sporting Clays in Lexington.
The sporting clays event is promoted as a fun shoot, not competition, which means a novice has as much chance to win a top prize - such as a fine gun - as does an expert. The participants are grouped according to experience. On Sept. 10, Quail Ridge will host a Couples Cup Classic for male-female teams (husband-wife, boyfriend-girlfriend, mother-son, etc.). For information on the shoots, contact Lori Salb, (540) 463-1800.
15 - Watching the hawk migration
On a clear day, you can see them a mile away, black dots floating across the sky. Hundreds of them. It is the annual hawk migration. September is the time to watch it, and Harveys Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway is the best seat in the house.
Most any day, especially from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., you will find members of the Roanoke Valley Bird Club at the knob. Newcomers are welcome to mingle. Bring your lawn chair, binoculars, field guide, sunscreen, insect repellent and sunglasses.
The daily count at Harveys Knob has gone as high as 3,500 birds. Mid-September generally sees the peak of the broad-winged hawks. The knob is reached by traveling north from Roanoke toward the Peaks of Otter.
23 - Taking aim at the bow season
If you need some last-minute help with bowhunting before the season opens Oct. 7, you will do well to spend Sept. 23 and 24 at the Sherwood Archers range near Hanging Rock. The club is opening its facilities to the public at no charge in celebration of National Bowhunting and Archery Day.
Instruction will be available for beginners who need help with equipment and techniques. Advanced shooters can hone their skills on 3-D and broadhead ranges. There will be tree stands for testing, dealer displays, safety seminars and information on hunting regulations. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
The range is reached off Interstate 81. Take exit 141, go north 0.4 mile, turn right on Dutch Oven Road, go one block, turn right on Timberview Road, go 2.2 miles to club on left. Information is available from Steve Smith, 345-4945, and James Brugh, 254-2490.
by CNB