ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 26, 1996 TAG: 9602270052
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
March 2 - Help for beginner birders
So you can name the juncos and jays that have gathered at your bird feeders this winter. But what about some of those other characters wolfing down your seeds and suet?
You can get help identifying these winter visitors, along with information on why they are there, from the Roanoke Valley Bird Club during a beginners outing Saturday. The event is described as a ``walk and talk about winter birds in our area and why they occur here.'' Participants will spend time watching some busy bird feeders.
Meet at 8 a.m. at the Western Sizzlin parking lot in Daleville. Tad Finnell, 473-1271, is the club's field coordinator.
8 - Time for talking turkey
March is the month National Wild Turkey Federation chapters schedule banquets, calling demonstrations, auctions and other events to raise funds that benefit their favorite bird.
The Roanoke Chapter of the national organization has scheduled its annual banquet 6 p.m. March 8 at the Airport Marriott. A tickets costs $45 or $65 for couples. The price includes a membership in the federation. Tickets are available at Trebark Outfitters (774-9007). Prizes include $1,000 in cash. One gun will be given away for every 25 members.
On March 9, the Highlands Chapter of the federation has scheduled its annual daylong hunting show at Carroll County High School in Hillsville. Brad Harris of Lohman Game Calls will be the guest speaker. There will be a calling contest and equipment displays. The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The admission is $3 and is used to benefit the chapter's youth program.
The High Mountain Longbeard Chapter of the federation has set its banquet for 6 p.m. March 30 at the Wytheville Moose Lodge. Tickets are $35, $45 for couples. Information is available from Jim Beavers, 540-228-0045.
16 - Teaming up for bass
For the past 15 years, the Spring Partner's Bass Tournament on Smith Mountain Lake has gotten the tournament fishing season started in the area. Sponsored by the Smith Mountain Ruritan Club, the tournament is set for March 16 at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. The entry fee is $60 per team, and there will be an 85 percent payback. Last year, the winning two-man team entered a one-day catch of 30.2 pounds.
Elmer Mitchell, co-chairman of the tournament, is turning an old concession stand at the park launching ramp into a tournament weigh station which should speed up processing of the catches. Information on the tournament is available from Mitchell, 540-297-6040, or Russ Carrico, 540-297-2379.
17 - A walk through wilderness
Ever wonder what it is like to take a hike in the wilderness? Well, maybe it won't be like backpacking in Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness, but the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club has scheduled a hike through the James River Face Wilderness on March 17. The oldest of Virginia's wilderness areas, James River Face came into the wilderness system in 1975. It is 9,000 acres of federal land in Botetourt and Rockbridge counties.
The AT hike will be a downhill, moderate trip from Petites Gap, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, to the James River. The outing begins at 8:30 a.m. under the leadership of Phil Hanood, 540-965-8088, and Bob and Kris Peckman, 366-7780.
29 - Workshop for women hunters
Women rapidly are taking up the sport of hunting, an activity that has been dominated by men. To encourage this trend, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has scheduled a ``Women in the Outdoors'' program on spring turkey hunting March 29-31 in Wakefield.
The weekend workshop is designed for the novice and will be taught by women and men. Instruction will cover equipment, hunting techniques, use of a shotgun, calling and cleaning game. By attending a few additional sessions before the workshop, a woman can qualify for Virginia Hunter Education Certification, which is required of first-time hunters.
The registration deadline is March 8. The fee is $25. Call Anne Skalski, at the department headquarters in Richmond, 804-367-6778, or Debbie Bradshaw at the deportment's Powhatan field office, 804-598-3706.
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