Virginians and tourists who love the outdoors should check out Virginia’s outdoor events calendar line-up below:

Rabbit Hunting Workshop For Youth In Pittsylvania Nov. 7

Join the VDGIF Outdoor Education staff for an educational rabbit hunting workshop at Wayside Park in Pittsylvania County on Nov. 7, 2009. Workshop includes eastern cottontail biology and habitat, firearms and hunting safety, game care and ethics. Participants must be 17 years of age or under and must have successfully completed the Basic Hunter Education Course and meet all license requirements. A $20 refundable deposit is required to confirm registration. For more information, contact Jimmy Mootz at 804-367-0656 or jimmy.mootz@dgif.virginia.gov.

Holiday Lake 4-H Center Offers Hunters Convenient Lodging

Are you looking for a place to stay during your hunting trip to the Appomattox/Buckingham State Forest? The Holiday Lake 4-H Center has a deal for you. The center is located in the middle of the 20,000 acre Appomattox/Buckingham State Forest for quick access, and just a short drive from Featherfin and Horsepen Lakes Wildlife Management Areas. Like a bed and breakfast, the 4-H Center offers inexpensive lodging at $15.00 per night, per person, (provide your own linens) and a kitchen is available for preparing your own meals. Meal service is available for an additional fee for groups of 10 or more, or several smaller groups combined providing breakfast, a bagged lunch, and dinner. Accommodations are available weekdays from Oct. 26– Dec. 18, 2009. Call for weekend availability at 434-248-5444 or email bgoin@vt.edu. Visit the Web site for information on the center’s programs at holidaylake4h.com.

Birding Trail Celebrates Fifth Anniversary at Local Trail Sites This Fall

The Watchable Wildlife Program will host a fifth anniversary celebration event for the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail at “The Link” (12018 Lee Hwy.) in Sperryville of Rappahannock County on Friday, Nov. 6. The celebration event will begin at 8 a.m. with a two-hour bird walk along the trail site. Local bird clubs and tourism officials will host exhibits and presentations. For more information contact Jeff Trollinger at 804-367-8747 or jeff.trollinger@dgif.virginia.gov. Visit the Web site for information on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.

Shenandoah Audubon Hosts Birding Festival Nov. 7

Shenandoah Audubon will host their ninth Birding Festival on Nov. 7 at Jim Barnett Park in Winchester. Discover the birds of the Shenandoah Valley on a morning bird walk in Abram’s Creek wetlands starting at 8 a.m. Everyone, especially scouts working on birding badges, is invited to a free “Bird Watching 101? workshop which starts at 9 a.m. The doors open at 10 a.m. There will be morning and afternoon presentations of live raptors and a black vulture. At noon there will be a “non-early bird” bird walk, and at 4 p.m. a “See the Woodpeckers” walk. There will be crafts for the children to make, conservation exhibits, and bird seed, books, and houses for sale. For more information call 540-667-6778 or email hagansan@yahoo.com.

Forest Landowners’ Retreat: Adding Value to Your Forest, Nov. 6-8 at Holiday Lake

On Nov. 6-8, join fellow forest landowners, the Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension and other natural resource management agencies, associations and professional managers for an interactive and instructional weekend learning about actively managing your woodlands. The three-day Forest Landowners’ Retreat, Adding Value to Your Forest, will be held at the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center near Appomattox. Register by Oct.23. For costs, accommodations, and workshop topics contact Jason Fisher jasonf@vt.edu 434- 579-5689 or Neil Clark 757-657-6450 x 406 southeast@vt.eduvisit.

Henrico County Parks Offers Outdoor Skills Workshops

The Henrico County Parks Department is offering outdoor skills workshops as follows:

Wilderness Survival

For ages 13-18. Have you ever turned around and noticed that all the trees look alike and you’re not sure which way is out? Join us for “Survival for the Geographically Embarrassed!” Learn how to make good decisions, survive the night, and improve your chances of being found fast. Instructor: Roy Hutchinson. Information: Hallie Boisseau, 501-5807.

Two sessions on Sun, Nov 8, 1-3 p.m. and Sun, Nov 8, 3-5 p.m. Dorey Park. $12.

Animal Tracking

For ages 8 and above. Registration of a paying adult is required with children under 13. Do you wonder what animals create the tracks you see in the woods, and what they were doing? Learn how to recognize and interpret tracks before going out into the field. You can also make a track cast. Instructor: Roy Hutchinson. Information: Hallie Boisseau, 501-5807.

3EJ.029608 Sat, Nov. 7, 8-11 a.m. Dorey Park. $12 per person.

Youth Pheasant Hunting Workshop November 29 in Catlett

The VDGIF Outdoor Education Program in partnership with Sporty’s Hunting Preserve in Catlett, will host a Pheasant Hunting Workshop for youth under the age of 18, on Sunday, November 29. The cost of the workshop is $90 and includes:

* Professionally guided pheasant hunt

* Shooting coaches

* Firearms safety instruction & basic wingshooting skills

* Upland game bird biology & habitat training

* “Field side” lunch

Participants:

* Must have completed the Basic Hunter Education Course

* Must have a current Virginia Hunting License or Preserve License

* This workshop is great for new, novice, or inexperienced hunters

* Pre-registration is required

For more information, contact Glenn Waleska at waleska@att.com, 540-347-0998 or Jimmy Mootz at Jimmy.Mootz@dgif.virginia.gov, or 804-367-0656.

Youth Deer Hunting Workshop at Claytor Lake State Park Dec. 18-19

The Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation and VDGIF are co-sponsoring a Youth Deer Hunting Workshop at Claytor Lake State Park Dec. 18-19. The workshop includes a Friday evening seminar, whitetail deer biology and game management, hunting safety and ethics, muzzleloader safety, and shot placement; Saturday is a guided hunt, lunch, game care and much more. Participants must be 12 to 17 years of age, and never harvested a deer with a muzzleloading firearm; may be accompanied by a non-hunting parent or guardian; must have successfully completed the Hunter Education Course, and meet all license requirements. Muzzleloading firearms only are allowed. For more information, contact Jimmy Mootz at 804-367-0656 or jimmy.mootz@dgif.virginia.gov.

Bedford County Hosts Youth Deer Hunting Workshop Nov. 21

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), in cooperation with the Bedford County Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Hunter Education Association, Inc., are offering a Youth Deer Hunting Workshop on Nov. 21, 2009, beginning at 6:00 a.m. This Youth Deer Hunting Workshop is an opportunity for area youth, specifically ages 12-15, to learn about deer, deer hunting and to hunt deer in a safe, controlled environment. Eight participants will be selected for this event. Selected youth must be accompanied by a properly licensed parent or guardian. Each team will be supervised by a certified hunter education instructor. To be considered for this unique educational opportunity, completed applications must be received by close of business on Nov. 10, 2009. For more information, an application packet and rules, please see visit the VDGIF Web site. For more information, contact VDGIF at the Regional Office in Forest 434-525-7522.