The 22nd Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show takes place from Friday, August 12 through Sunday August 14, 2005, with a variety of activities and displays for outdoors people of all ages. All events take place at “The Showplace” located at 3000 Mechanicsville Turnpike, in Richmond Virginia. Friday’s show hours are from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday’s hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday’s show times are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The “Virginia Deer Classic” is one of the main attractions of the annual show. Bringing together the prize bucks taken across the Commonwealth provides the backdrop for successful hunting and quality deer management practices on a statewide basis. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) wildlife biologists and managers will be onsite helping with the measurements and point score assignment for bucks entered in the contest. Deer hunters throughout Virginia are welcomed to join in the competition. To find out how to enter, call Denny Quaiff at (804) 743-1290 or visit the web at, www.virginiadeerhunters.org  Another competition offered at the annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show is the “Virginia Gobbler Classic.” This beard and spurs contest has an entry deadline of 5:00 p.m. Saturday, August 13, 2005. Cost to enter is $20 for the adult division and $10 for the youth division (17 and under). Proceeds go to the “Hunters for the Hungry Program.” An added bonus is that paying the entry fee for Virginia Gobbler Classic gets the entrant a free weekend pass for the show and a “Virginia Classic” hat.  For more information on entering the Virginia Gobbler Classic, call Hugh Crittenden at (804) 748-7529 or Hunters for the Hungry at 1-800-352-4868. Information is also available at the Hunters for the Hungry websites, www.h4hungry.com  There will also be a Virginia State Championship Calling Contest during the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show on Saturday, August 13 at 4:00 p.m. Only Virginia residents who are members of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) can compete and the winners are eligible to go to the National Championships. NWTF memberships are available at the show. Senior and Junior Divisions are art of the competition. The event is sanctioned by the NWTF. For more information, call Ron Farr at (804) 379-0934.

     Other attractions and events at the 3 day Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show include the NRA Great American Whitetail Collection, Michael Waddell of Realtree Outdoor Productions, Eddie Salter, Larry Weishuhn and Richard English. A favorite of the younger outdoors generation, Dimples and Honee-Be are back again. This fun-filled clown couple put on magic tricks, do balloon sculptures and face painting designs. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) will be at the show with a variety of information and are available to answer questions you have about hunting in the Commonwealth. Onsite at the Sportsman Show will be State Game Wardens, Wildlife Biologists and experts in specific wildlife management programs. T& J Slotcar Racing is another favorite of the youngsters who attend the annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show. They can participate and maneuver the small, fast cars as they move around a 12 foot wide, 8 lane track. 

     For the outdoor shopper, there will be more than 270 booths with hunting supplies, bows tree stands, muzzle loaders, shotguns, clothes and accessories. Admission to the 22nd Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show costs $9 daily or $15 for a three day pass. Children 15 years and younger are admitted free if accompanied by an adult. While at this year’s show, stop by the Hunters for the Hungry booth and see the wonderful work this organization does in feeding the less fortunate across the Commonwealth. Networking with participating hunters, they supply donated venison to area food banks, social services, church groups and others who help direct this nutritional food source to those in need. There is so much to do and see at the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show that you can spend a day or more, when you visit. The best deal this show has to offer is the 3 day pass for $15, just in case you have to come back to see what you missed the first time around. For more information, visit www.sportsmanshow.com.

© 2004 Steve & Chelly Scala All Rights Reserved