Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 25, 1994 TAG: 9407250037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Most people think of Smith Mountain Lake as power boat country, but the Smith Mountain State Park has been paddling against that trend. The park is offering two-hour canoe trips on weekends in the sheltered water of the park's coves and out to Turtle Island.
``It has been quite successful,'' said Tom Witowski, the chief ranger.
You don't have to be an experienced canoeist. Just show up in swimwear and bring old shoes and sun screen, said Witowski. The park provides canoes and equipment. Reservations should be made by calling 703-297-6066.
The two-hour trips leave the park boat ramp at noon. The cost is $1. Along the way, a park official will talk about lake ecology. The trips are conducted Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day, but can be arranged midweek for groups of 10 or more.
A room full of big bucks
Aug. 12
If you enjoy viewing trophy deer, there will be plenty to see Aug. 12-14 at the Virginia Deer Classic. It is sponsored by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association and held at the Show Place in Richmond.
This isn't the state competition that puts trophy bucks into the Virginia record book, but it does attract some of the best bucks from the previous season.
If you want to enter a deer, it must be registered by 5 p.m. Aug. 13. Each contestant receives a free weekend pass to the show. Others will be charged $6 daily, $10 for a three-day pass.
In addition to deer, the show will have a 3-D archery contest, a turkey-calling championship and - for the first time - a trophy gobbler contest sponsored by Trebark in Roanoke.
For additional information, call Denny Quaiff, 804-743-1290 or Hugh Crittenden, 804-748-7529.
Aug. 13 - Hiking under the silvery moon
So you think it is too hot to take a hike? How about a moonlight hike?
The Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club has one planned Aug. 13, when club members and guests are scheduled to hike to Apple Orchard Mountain.
In reality, there only will be a quarter-moon that night, but that should increase the chances for hikers getting a lofty view of a Perseid Meteor shower.
The hike is a modest three miles and is rated moderate. The car pooling gets started at 6:30 p.m. The leaders are Zetta Campbell, 366-8165, and Guy Brooks, 389-0890.
Aug. 25 - Something to quack about
Setting waterfowl seasons during recent years hasn't been much to quack about, but when the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries meets Aug. 25 to establish the 1994-95 season it's going to be different. Conditions are shaping up for a banner duck year.
``Our biologists have seen near-perfect water and cover conditions in much of the primary duck-producing region of the U.S. and improved conditions on the Canadian prairies,'' said Jeff Nelson, chief biologist for Ducks Unlimited.
The Virginia waterfowl regulations will be set during a 9 a.m. hearing at the game department headquarters, 4010 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Aug. 31 - Going to trophy deer heaven
If you haven't mailed your application for a Radford Ammunition Plant deer hunt, time is about to run out. Applications must be postmarked by Sept. 1, said Betsy Stinson, a wildlife biologist supervisor for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Big bucks already are being spotted on plant property in Pulaski County, Stinson said. ``I think the main excitement at the arsenal is just seeing that many beautiful bucks,'' she said.
This is a spot to go after a buck of a lifetime, but you must earn your chance through a drawing, and you must be willing to kill an antlerless deer before you put your sights on a buck. Applications are available at game department offices in Forest, Blacksburg and Marion, or may be obtained from the department headquarters in Richmond, P.O. Box 11104, Richmond 23230; 804-367-1000.
by CNB