ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, August 26, 1996 TAG: 9608270012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
Sept. 1 - Superb views in all directions
The Mount Rogers high country is special. Every view, no matter what direction, harbors something lovely, even rare. This will be the setting for a Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club hike Sunday, Sept. 1, from Massie Gap to U.S. 58. The trek will provide lofty views of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and the Grayson Highlands State Park.
The following day is Labor Day, so you might want to spend additional time in this region, which includes some of the best opportunities in the state for backpacking. It is about as close as you can get to Montana or Wyoming, short of a 1,400-mile trip. The timing should put visitors in the thick of the blueberry season.
The outing, which is rated moderate, begins at 7:30 a.m. and will cover 14 miles. The area is located south of Marion. The hike leaders are Eric Miller, 342-5053, and Ralph Burgio, 774-7476. Contact one of them for the details.
2 - Let the hunting season begin
September ushers in the first of the fall hunting seasons. Dove hunting begins Sept.2, which is Labor Day, meaning the season has a Monday start rather than the traditional Saturday beginning. The hunting dates are split three ways, Sept.2-28; Oct.4-Nov.2 and Dec.23-Jan.4. Look for an average season, as far as the availability of birds. The key to success will be finding a cut cornfield or other dove-feeding area, which could be scarce in view of the cool, moist growing season.
The first segment of the resident Canada goose season is Sept. 3-21. The bag limit is five daily. Hunting should be more productive than sporty in areas where these birds have become a nuisance.
Squirrel season opens Sept.7 in Southwest Virginia counties, including Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Roanoke and Wythe (See the game law digest for the entire list). Hunting should be above average, thanks to three decent acorn crops in a row that have boosted squirrel reproduction and survival.
The bear hound training season is Sept.7-Oct.5.
21 - Taking aim at bow season
With the bowhunting season scheduled to begin Oct.5, serious hunters are giving attention to shooting and scouting. Most archery clubs have programs designed to assist hunters in preparation for the season. That's particularly true of Sherwood Archers, a Roanoke-area club that has shooting facilities near Hanging Rock.
On Sept.21, the club will hold its annual Bowhunting and Archery Jamboree. The jamboree will include seminars on hunting techniques and regulations along with a 3-D match and opportunities to shoot broadheads. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sessions will be repeated the following day.
Sherwood will hold 3-D matches every Thursday of September, from 5 to 7 p.m. Additional information is available from Jimmy Brugh, 254-2490. Triangle Bowhunters will hold a Big Game 3-D Archery Tournament and Jamboree in Blacksburg on Sept.7 and 8. Contact Jim Overfelt, 540-552-8023. Blackwater Bowhunters, an organization with shooting facilities on Virginia 122 in Franklin County will have a 3-D match Sept.28. Contact Mike Smith, 540-576-4069.
24 - Bird's-eye view of quail
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries recently launched a multimillion dollar Virginia Bobwhite Quail Management Plan. But what does that mean? Members of the Virginia Mountain Chapter of Quail Unlimited hope to find out during a meeting 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Vinton Library, 800 E. Washington St. The club, which has been doing its own quail restoration work, has invited Steve Capel, a state game biologist, to discuss the plan. Sportsmen, landowners and others interested in this bird are invited to attend. Additional information is available from Steve Parker 992-2109.
28 - Time to show off big heads
If you killed a big buck, tom turkey or bear last hunting season, maybe its time to see if it really merits all the bragging you've been doing. The annual State Big Game Championship is Sept.28-29 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds. This also is the time and site for the Western Regional Championship. The Eastern Regional Championship is Sept.14-15 at James Blair Middle School in Williamsville (Call 804-229-0490).
Sportsmen who want to enter trophies in the Western and state championship must have their entries at the fairgrounds by 2 p.m. Sept.28. The best time to view the show is midafternoon Sept.29, after the trophies have been judged. There is an awards presentation at 4 p.m. Information on the Western/state competition is available from Boyd Skelton, 540-828-3393.
LENGTH: Medium: 87 linesby CNB