The fall Botetourt 4-H Shoot-To-Retrieve Fun Field Trial will be held Saturday, Oct. 29 at Juniper Valley Shooting Preserve, Troutville.
Pointing bird dogs and their owners are invited to enter (limit is 15 entries) the field trial that will be run in an eight-acre field that is established as pollinator/quail habitat.
Spectators are welcome, and will be able to watch the dogs/handlers from a gallery area a safe distance from the field.
The dogs/hunters will be judged on a simple point system that includes points, shooting and retrieving on three released quail during 20-minute hunt sessions for each dog. Dogs will be run individually. Order of hunts will be determined during a pre-trial drawing the morning of the event.
The entry fee is $75 per dog, which includes awards for the top three dogs/hunters and lunch.
There is no fee for spectators, who are welcome throughout the day. The first dog/hunter goes in the field at 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast and lunch will be available, and there will be a silent auction during the event.
The event is a fundraiser for the Botetourt 4-H Shooting Education Club and is sponsored in cooperation with the Botetourt Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Rockbridge Area Quail Forever Chapter.
Dog pre-registration and a $25 deposit are required before October 26. Registration checks should be made to Botetourt-VCE and sent with hunter’s name, dog’s name and contact information to: Ed McCoy, 489 Back Creek Lane, Buchanan, 24066.
Include “4-H Field Trial” on the check memo line.
The shooting preserve is located at 485 Juniper Valley Lane, Troutville.
For more information and/or a flyer with more details, call Ed McCoy at 540-339-0622 or email botetourt4Hshootinged@gmail.com.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
