The winter Botetourt 4-H Shoot-To-Retrieve Fun Field Trial will be held Saturday and Sunday. February 1 and 2, at Juniper Valley Shooting Preserve, Troutville.
As many as 25 pointing bird dogs and their owners will compete in 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 prior to the event.
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. Saturday. The Sunday portion begins at 10 a.m.
Saturday’s competition is for All-Age dogs, and Sunday’s competition is for Derby Class (under 2 years old).
There will be a silent auction during the Saturday portion of the event.
The event is a fundraiser for the Botetourt 4-H Shooting Education Club and is sponsored by the Botetourt Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Joel Hoeffner with Mossy Oak Properties, Land and Farm Realty.
The field trial will be held on the Juniper Valley Hunting Preserve at 487 Juniper Valley Lane, Troutville.
For more information and/or a flyer with more details, call Ed McCoy at 540-339-0622 or email edmccoy@ujroutdoors.com.
~ Submitted by Ed McCoy
