Entries are welcome and the public is invited to watch the Botetourt 4-H Shoot-To-Retrieve Fun Field Trial Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1 and 2 at Juniper Valley Shooting Preserve, Troutville.
Pointing bird dog owners may enter and run their dogs in the judged trial that will be held on part of an 8-acre field that is established as pollinator/quail habitat.
The Fun Field Trial will have two divisions, the Adult Dog Division and the Derby Division (dogs under 2 years old). Adult Dogs will compete on February 1 and Derby will compete on February 2. Each division is limited to the first 15 dogs to enter. Entry of Adult Dogs is $100 and entry for Derby is $75.
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.
Spectators will be able to watch the dogs/handlers from a gallery area a safe distance from the field. There is no fee for spectators.
The first dog/hunter goes in the field at 8:30 a.m. each day.
Breakfast and lunch will be available, and there will be a silent auction on February 1 during the event.
The event is sponsored by the Botetourt Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation as a fundraiser for the Botetourt 4-H Shooting Education and Hunting Skills Club. It is supported by Joel Hoeffner-Mossy Oaks Properties Land and Realty.
The shooting preserve is located at 485 Juniper Valley Lane, Troutville.
For more information about the trial, to enter a dog, and/or to get a flyer with details about the field trial, call or text Ed McCoy at 540-339-0622 or email edmccoy@ujroutdoors.com.
~ Botetourt 4-H
