Classes: 6-points and below, 7-8 points, 9, 10-11 points, 12 points and above, Bow Hunter, Youth Hunter, Muzzleloader Hunter, Typical and Non-Typical in each class. Women's Division. All entries except the Historical Division, must have been taken during the 2004-2005 legal hunting season and contestants must produce a VDGIF game check card to verify a legal harvest. Contestants must register their entries by 5PM on Saturday, August 6th.

• Historical Division – Any deer taken from a previous season in Virginia.
• Allows free entry to show each day
• Pope & Young, Boone & Crockett and The Long Hunter Society on hand.
• Hall of Fame started by the VDHA.

Trophies for the annual Virginia Deer Classic are sponsored by Swedish Match.

Judges from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and VDHA members score each contest entry. All contestants receive a citation with their official final score and a free wekend pass to the show.

For more information about the contest and the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show visit the web site at www.sportsmanshow.com.

ANNUAL DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN HUNT

The first VDHA Disabled American Veteran Hunt was held on January 1st, 1986, in Chesterfield County. Fifteen disabled veterans, with over forty deer hunters that help as drivers, guides and assistants, started what has now become one of the most respected programs of its kind.

Each hunting season veterans from the Hunter Homes McGuire Veterans Medical Center in Richmond are hosted by the VDHA for an annual deer hunt. Over past several years hunts have have been organized by the Northern Neck Chapter of the VDHA. This hunt that has enjoyed much success and fellowship for the veterans and VDHA members alike is being held at Dahlgren Military Base.

Hunter success has been very good. Here one of the proud veterans and his VDHA guides proudly show off the harvest. The day usually starts with a light breakfast. Qualified hunter safety instructors conduct a short safety seminar before the hunt begins. After a long day of what has produced as many as nine deer the hunting party enjoys Bar-B-Q venison with all of the trimmings fit for a king.

This annual hunt has become quite a tradition for the VDHA. pictured are some of the veterans socializing after the morning drive, while waiting for the big Bar-B-Q lunch.

Disabled American Veterans or deer hunters who would like to learn more about this special hunting program should contact Buddy Fines at (540)775-7294.