Volume 24, Number 11 November 16, 2016
Inaugural NOVA Dove Hunt Was Huge Success
This young man walked away with a lifetime hunting license after the hunt! Passing the hunting tradition along to the next generation is a critical mission of the WFV.
The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV), a nonprofit group dedicated to enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities within the Commonwealth, hosted the inaugural NOVA Dove Hunt on September 10, 2016. The hunt was held at Jefferson Farm in Nokesville, Virginia, adjacent to WSSI’s Cedar Run Wetlands Bank, with help from WSSI staff volunteers. A delayed corn harvest at the hunt’s originally scheduled site required a quick change in venue, and Mike Rolband offered his property for the day.
Temperatures that day soared into the upper 90s but that didn’t deter 50 hunters and their retrievers from taking to the field for a day of camaraderie and dove hunting. Things were a bit slow during the heat of the afternoon, but as the sun sank in the west and the temperatures started to drop, the wing shooting got hot!
After the hunt, hunters and guests met back at the barn for cool beverages, raffles, and delicious food provided by Mission BBQ. The gathering offered a great opportunity for old and new friends to catch up, and for guests to hear about WFV’s mission and its successes over the past year. Click here to see photos from the day’s events.
Mike Rolband takes a dove from his English lab, Boss.
“It was a pleasure to introduce people in Northern Virginia to the WFV,” said WFV Board of Directors member Tyler Meurlin. “Having grown up in Northern Virginia, I understand how valuable and scarce hunting land is in the area. I hope those at the event will spread the word about the WFV and our goals of securing land for public hunting in the future.” The event was an overwhelming success, so WFV has started making plans for a repeat next fall.
For more information about the WFV and how you can get involved in the 2017 NOVA dove hunt, please contact Roy Van Houten, WSSI’s Director of Compliance and a member of the WFV’s Board of Directors, or visit the WFV website.