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Upcoming Events: Hunting

January 2025

Jan8Wed

Spring Gobbler Turkey Hunting

Virtual

Join us for the first virtual class of a step-by-step Spring Gobbler Turkey Hunting series! This series will walk you through from start to finish on how and where to hunt spring gobblers in Virginia. This series will be a mixture of virtual classes and hands-on clinics to give you the knowledge and confidence to pursue Virginia's wild turkeys. Students will have to register for each class that they are interested in. We will be holding a virtual class every Wednesday from January to April with in-person clinics along the way.

Location

  • Virtual

Event Schedule

  • 01/08/2025 (7:00 pm–8:00 pm)

Contact

  • Jason L. Miller
Register

Jan11Sat

Duck Decoy Clinic (Morning)

Gainesville, VA

MAKE IT - HUNT IT - SHOW IT! Join us for a duck decoy constructing & painting clinic. The participants will construct and paint a decoy (type to be revealed at the event) that can be used for your next hunt and entered in the Rappahannock Carvers Guild decoy contest. Throughout the event, information about waterfowl will be discussed and displayed with the participants to make this a fun-filled opportunity!

Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
No firearms or live ammunition.

Decoy constructing and painting participants may participate in the 2025 Rappahannock Carvers Guild decoy contest to be held on March 15, 2025. The event will be held at the Women’s Club of White Stone, 560 Chesapeake Drive, White Stone, VA. More information will be provided during the Duck Decoy Clinic.

Location

  • Cabela's Gainesville
  • 5291 Wellington Branch Dr., Gainesville, VA 20155 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 01/11/2025 (9:00 am–12:30 pm)

Contact

  • Ronold C. Smith
Register

Jan11Sat

Duck Decoy Clinic (Afternoon)

Gainesville, VA

MAKE IT - HUNT IT - SHOW IT! Join us for a duck decoy constructing & painting clinic. The participants will construct and paint a decoy (type to be revealed at the event) that can be used for your next hunt and entered in the Rappahannock Carvers Guild decoy contest. Throughout the event, information about waterfowl will be discussed and displayed with the participants to make this a fun-filled opportunity!

Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
No firearms or live ammunition.

Decoy constructing and painting participants may participate in the 2025 Rappahannock Carvers Guild decoy contest to be held on March 15, 2025. The event will be held at the Women’s Club of White Stone, 560 Chesapeake Drive, White Stone, VA. More information will be provided during the Duck Decoy Clinic.

Location

  • Cabela's Gainesville
  • 5291 Wellington Branch Dr., Gainesville, VA 20155 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 01/11/2025 (1:00 pm–4:30 pm)

Contact

  • Ronold C. Smith
Register

Jan12Sun

Predator Hunting Skills

Franklin, VA

This Introductory Predator Hunting class will cover the basics of hunting and calling predators. We will be discussing equipment, calls, day & night hunting, legal methods, and so much more. The class will include hands-on equipment setup, night vision, and call selection. Participants younger than age 18 must attend with a registered adult.

Location

  • Bronco Rod & Gun Club
  • 31040 Delaware Road, Franklin, VA 23851 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 01/12/2025 (2:00 pm–6:00 pm)

Contact

  • Robert W. Carpenter
Register

Jan14Tue

Venison Care, Prep and Cooking: Making the Most of your Harvest

Virtual

Join this informative webinar to learn how to make the most of your whitetail or elk harvest. This 1-hour online class will be hosted by Chef and Master Hunter Education Instructor Wendy Hyde, also the author of the Fare Game column in DWR's Virginia Wildlife magazine. She'll discuss handling meat during processing, choosing how to butcher and package meat, basic cooking methods for meat, and how to choose the best one for the variety of cuts you have. There will be a Q&A session after the presentation.

Location

  • Virtual

Event Schedule

  • 01/14/2025 (7:00 pm–8:00 pm)

Contact

  • Wendy L. Hyde
Register

Jan18Sat

Deer Processing Workshop

Virginia Beach, VA

This hands-on class will demonstrate large game butchering and processing for both beginners and more experienced participants. Deer skinning, butchering and packaging for transport will all be done by participants under the guidance of Hunter Education Instructors. Participants are encouraged to bring a cooler for transporting venison to take home and to bring a lunch. Rain or shine. No personal knives allowed.

Location

  • Freedom Outdoors Shooting Center
  • 5070 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 01/18/2025 (9:00 am–2:00 pm)

Contact

  • Pierre J. Granger
Register

Jan18Sat

Deer Canning Workshop

Fries, VA

Learn to safely can venison and other wild game meat to produce a safe and healthy product that makes fine table fare. Instruction provided by a Virginia Cooperative Extension Food Safety Agent. The class is free and is co-sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, the New River Wildlife and Conservation Club and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Location

  • New River Wildlife Club
  • 7107 Riverside Drive, Fries, VA 24330 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 01/18/2025 (10:00 am–4:00 pm)

Contact

  • Jeff S. Pease
Register

Jan29Wed

Predator Hunting Skills

Staunton, VA

This workshop will cover hunting predators (foxes, bobcat, raccoon, and coyote) in Virginia. Legal hunting methods, hunting equipment (calling equipment, night vision, and firearms), and how to hunt predators will be covered. There will be a demonstration of how to use the hunting equipment.

About the Location:
The Parks and Recreation Department is located in Montgomery Hall Park. Follow the signs to the department office building across from the softball field. This is a one way street. After parking in the parking lot, look for the side entrance to the building and follow the signs to the classroom.

Location

  • Staunton Parks and Recreation
  • 1000 Montgomery Avenue, Staunton, VA 24401 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 01/29/2025 (7:00 pm–9:00 pm)

Contact

  • J. Frank Wade Jr.
Register

Jan31Fri–Feb2Sun

Next Level Bowhunting Workshop

Chesapeake, VA

This multi-day workshop includes two hunts! Workshop begins Friday, January 31, 3:00 p.m. and ends Sunday, February 2, 12:00 p.m. For adults 18 and older who are new to bowhunting or want to sharpen their skills.

Workshop Topics:
This multi-day workshop will cover bowhunting methods and techniques; tree stand use, placement and safety; camouflage, scent control, lures, and calls; and shot placement and recovery of game. If game is harvested, there will also be a processing segment.

Hunts:
A Mentor will help participants select a site on the Triple R Ranch property (Urban Archery season) for Saturday evening and Sunday morning bowhunts.

Workshop Fee:
$204 fee includes: Meals (Friday dinner through Sunday brunch) and lodging (bunk style; bring your own linens). All instruction provided at no cost by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Hunter Education Instructors.

Participant Requirements:
· Have completed a hunter education course; classes can be located through: https://dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/education/
· Have a current hunting license, archery license, and at least one available either sex/antlerless tag
· Provide their own archery equipment, hunting clothing, tree stand with a TMA-approved full body harness or ground blind or tree saddle
· Proficiency with archery equipment out to 25 yards is required (bow or crossbow)

Registration Process:
Triple R Ranch is taking payment and registration here: https://triplerranch.campbrainregistration.com/
You will need to create a user account; once in, scroll down through the program offerings to find the Next Level Bowhunting Workshop to begin your registration.

Registration Deadline:
January 24, 2025, limited to the first 12 participants

Location

  • Triple R Ranch
  • 3531 Bunch Walnuts Road , Chesapeake, VA 23322 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 01/31/2025
  • 02/01/2025
  • 02/02/2025

Fee

  • $204.00
Register

February 2025

Feb1Sat

Duck Decoys for Kids

Warsaw, VA

Kids - Build it, Hunt it, Show it! Free admission. Minimum age is 11; anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult does not have to be registered, but must remain with the youth during the workshop.

Construct and paint your own duck hunting decoy. Take it hunting with you. Then take it and show it in competition. Decoy head, body, paints, supplies and instruction provided. This is a partnership event made possible by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the Virginia Waterfowler's Association, and the Newland Volunteer Fire Department. Experts available to help you get started and see you through to the end. There will a free lunch provided around noon for participants.

PLUS:
Local NNK resident and World Class Carver, Wade Johnson, will be on hand to provide painting tips and suggestions.

Location

  • Newland Volunteer Fire Department
  • 587 County Bridge Road, Warsaw, VA 22572 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 02/01/2025 (10:00 am–2:00 pm)

Contact

  • Philip L. Hyde
Register

Feb22Sat

Squirrel Hunting Skills

Churchville, VA

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is sponsoring a winter squirrel hunt on Saturday February 22, 2025. The hunt, weather permitting, will be held at the Staunton Augusta Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA). The class is limited to 10 participants.

The day will begin at 9 a.m. with a power point presentation, safety discussions, and a live fire exercise. Participants may bring their own shotgun and ammunition (# 4 or #6). Shotguns and ammunition will be provided for those who do not have their own. Lunch will be provided. After lunch, participants will be paired one-on-one with a DWR instructor(s) to go on an actual hunt on the Chapter property or adjacent National Forest. Participants will return to the Chapter house approximately at 3 p.m. for a follow-up exercise. All activities will be completed by 4 p.m.

Participants must have:

Eye and ear protection for the live fire exercise
Valid hunting license with National Forest Stamp
Blaze orange hat and/or vest
Appropriate cold weather clothing and footwear

The Izaak Walton Property is three fourths of a mile off Route 250 outside Churchville, Virginia. The property house has been winterized and there are no indoor restrooms. There is an accessible porta potty outside. Some of the hunting areas are suitable for individuals with physical disabilities. Detailed directions to the class location will provided on the registration page.

This activity could be cancelled depending on weather conditions or driveway conditions that lead to the Izaak Walton property. If the activity must be cancelled, you will receive an email one to two days prior to the scheduled hunt.

Location

  • Staunton Augusta Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America
  • 342 Haskins Lane, Churchville, VA 24421 (map)

Event Schedule

  • 02/22/2025 (9:00 am–4:00 pm)

Contact

  • J. Frank Wade Jr.
Register