Good times in the Virginia Piedmont dove fields. Some dove shoots are small family and friend affairs, others are commercial events that make money for organizers and landowners. This annual hunt near historic Culpeper, Virginia,raises thousands of dollars for the Cedar Mountain 4-H shooting sports program, helping to fund competition travel, supplies and more.
A highlight of the day is the pig picking, a dove shoot feast tradition. Hunt organizer Ken Greene explains that the pig of honor at the event is usually the prize-winning 4-H pig from the county fair. This hunt is usually crowded - lots of people participate. But one thing that stands out are the number of youngsters sitting in the fields. This hunt is truly a family, generational event. Hats off to the organizers, the landowners who graciously grant use of their property, the cooks and cleanup crew and everyone else who works to make it a success!