As chilly mornings settle across the Commonwealth and thick, green cover begins to fade into majestic crimsons, hunters once again welcome another season. October ushers in just about every huntable species for Virginians. Whether you’re stalking whitetail and black bear with your bow, tucking into a blind along a waterway for woodies or pulling into your favorite preserve, there is something truly wonderful about this month.
Virginia may not supply the dynamic wild bird populations that are enjoyed out west, but what we do have can certainly satiate even the most devout wing shooter among us. I’ve noticed an uptick in late on-set hunters and with that has come questions of “where should I go to hunt?”. It’s no secret that most hunting locations are kept secret but there is still plenty of opportunity to go around. Each location offers a different experience and requires its own level of dedication. None of them wrong. None of them better than the others. All of them a path to the passion for the sport.
Preserve Hunting
For the new wing shooter, I always recommend a few preserve hunts to get started. It’s still not a guarantee so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You still must have a dog good enough to find the birds, a shooter good enough to hit them and the ability to deal with the wild weather we have in this area.
A preserve hunt builds confidence and often puts meat in the freezer. It’s an excellent way for friends and family to come together and enjoy a day in the field. My phone is loaded with young and old grasping their first birds and smiling from ear to ear. I’ve Facebook battled a few guys regarding their opinions on preserves. No one hits the ground loaded with gear and taking on sharpies in the sandhills.
Everyone starts somewhere and preserves create that “somewhere” in a safe, easy to access setting where many variables can be controlled and the participants can build a deep love for the sport. There’s plenty of time to throw them into the elements and extremes of true, wild birds. Let’s first build their passion!
Private Land Hunting
If you’re lucky enough to have a lease or even own enough land to hunt, that’s incredible and a thing to cherish. Management for wildlife is going to be the make or break decider to your hunts. Just having a big chunk of land does not guarantee birds. Habitat must be carefully assessed, cultivated and maintained. I encourage students to speak with neighbors or friends that have land and see if they might be able to trade some sweat equity for hunting rights.
Trespassing is pretty rampant nowadays and it’s mostly from the uneducated, non-hunting public. Having an extra set of eyes on a parcel is never a bad thing and the landowner is typically appreciative of the help.
Public Land Hunting
I’ve been hitting public lands pretty hard all over the state and beyond for several years despite having a very large tract of land in a lease. I love the chance to try something different that is going to push my skill sets and test my abilities to find game. I view public land hunting as the ultimate feather in my cap.
I’ve pulled into a parking lot where guys were pulling out and instead of giving up thinking I’m too late, I still pushed in and scratched out a few birds. These are trophy birds. These are birds my dogs and I have worked hard to put in the bag. The dogs don’t care where I stop the truck, they just want me to drop the tailgate and blow the whistle.
No matter where you hunt this season, be sure to share that time with a friend or family member. Share your passion for the hunt and love for the dogs.
Kate Ahnstrom, owner of Virginia Shooting Sports is a certified, professional instructor of the Paragon School of Sporting. She has dedicated her life to sharing her passion for the outdoors and diversifying the dynamics on the clay course and the hunt field. Her tireless dedication to her students’ success is obvious in each and every lesson. Kate is on the pro staff for Syren, the resident pro at Bacon Farms Preserve, Artemis Ambassador, regional coordinatHer for HerUpland, department editor for Woods & Waters magazine, and contributing editor for Women’s Outdoor News. She and her husband, Mike enjoy their small farm in central Virginia where they have a menagerie of animals and plenty of room to train and work their beloved GSPs. Kate loves getting behind the barrel of her Syren Tempio Sporting 20ga for all things clay and feathered.
