Local hunter, Steve Purks of King George County, was inducted into the VA NWTF Conservation Hall of Fame yesterday in Roanoke. Steve is a self taught turkey, waterfowl and deer hunter. He shared that his first turkey he ever brought home was taken with the aid of an old Lynch box call that his grandfather had given him. The old bird, as Steve put it, was not necessarily fooled by his calling but rather by the fact that another gobbler on the other side of him started gobbling that morning and the two started dueling for the affection of the "hen" between them. That was the start to Steve's passion for turkey hunting. While he won't admit it, he has become a master at turkey hunting and has guided many people to their birds, quite a few to their first ever turkey, further lighting the fire of turkey hunting.
Steve's desire to excel at hunting has brought him full circle. He now spends an incredible amount of his free time studying wildlife and game animals' habits and teaching others what he knows. He is a very unselfish man who never asks for a thing in return when he takes someone hunting. Steve has spent a lot of his time taking women from NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program hunting for waterfowl and turkey. He also has volunteered many years to help the late Buddy Fines conduct and guide youngsters for youth hunts. He also helps Rick Wilks conduct his youth hunts in the area. As if that is not enough he has become the "unofficial guide" for the youth of the King George Outdoor Club (www.kgoutdoorclub.com) for geese.
Steve is very careful when managing wildlife on properties he hunts. If there are not enough game animals to be harvested and still leave numbers to procreate for the following season, he does not harvest any game until the numbers are sufficiently restored.
To be nominated for this award and lifetime achievement, the individual must be a member of NWTF for at least 5 years and must exhibit traits and character that exemplifies NWTF’s mission to conserve, hunt and share. To be inducted is a huge honor and not something taken lightly. Three Virginians were inducted in January at the banquet. They were Kirk Gordan, Billy Thurman and Steve Purks. They join previous recipients such as Bob Duncan (VDGIF Director), Sherry Crumley (board member of NWTF), and Gary Norman (VDGIF’s turkey biologist). No one has ever been nominated, much less received an induction to the VA NWTF Hall of Fame before from our region. The fact that Steve got this honor speaks volumes about his dedication to hunting, sharing what he knows and conservation. A number of people wrote letters recommending him to include the youth that he has taken hunting. Some spoke of his generosity, others of the time he takes to help them learn, his patience when teaching them and his humor. The youth that he has impacted spans many years. We are thrilled Steve Purks was able to receive this well deserved honor and are proud to call him our friend!

By Kristy Fike
We jumped out of the truck and then we formed a semi-circle around our mentors. Mr. Spuchesi, our local game warden, conducted a safety brief and introduced us to our mentors for the day.  Katelyn was mentored by Julie Abel, Courtney was mentored by Monty Clift, Kayla was mentored by Steve Abel, and I (Kristy) was mentored by Mr. Summers. Katelyn, Julie Abel, Mr. Summers and I were standing about 10 yards apart on a grassy road right in front of a huge grass, sapling, and briar thicket. Courtney and Monty Clift were standing just outside of the grass, sapling, and briar thicket towards our left in a cornfield. Kayla and Steve Abel were standing just outside the grass, sapling and briar thicket towards our right in a grassy field.   
Once we were stationed in our spots, it only took a couple minutes for the pack of dogs to uncover a rabbit’s trail.  All of us began scanning the terrain in front of us keeping in mind that the rabbit is way ahead of the dogs, sometimes even 100 yards. The dogs were happily trailing multiple rabbits straight up the middle into a huge briar thicket. Then the dogs looped away and trailed another rabbit into the briar thicket with their crisp howls bellowing throughout the land. Meanwhile, Mr. Summers and I spotted a rabbit in range with a safe background and Mr. Summers whispered “Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!” I pulled the trigger. I bagged the first rabbit of the day! Only a couple minutes passed, and we saw another rabbit. Once again with the rabbit in range and a safe background, I shot. With a second rabbit in the bag, I was off to a pretty good start, although I preferred that a girl that had not harvested a rabbit before would have gotten the rabbits. Finally, we heard a couple shots from Kayla’s direction…… she did not get the rabbit. Mr. Abel advised her to take off one of her jackets so it would be easier for her to get her gun in her shoulder. Two back to back shots later she had two rabbits.
We all shouted, “Good job Kayla!” She shouted back “Thanks!”
Meanwhile Courtney missed one rabbit. Meanwhile, Katelyn and I had switched spots, so I was now standing with Julie Abel and Katelyn was standing with Mr. Summers. We knew once the dogs pushed all the way through the thicket where all the rabbits where holing up, it was going to become a stampede of rabbits charging at Katelyn and me. Well it happened just like that! The scene was crazy because six rabbits came flying right through our feet. There was no real safe shot. All we could really do was stand there and look for a safe shot, but those rabbits were gone within a second. We just looked at each other with our eyes nearly popped out of our heads, and we laughed and talked about how amazing and crazy that was. Meanwhile, Kayla bagged more rabbits. She is such a great shot.
Within a few minutes. BANG! The shot came from Courtney’s direction. Curiosity was killing us wanting to know if she bagged the rabbit or not. A shriek echoed loud enough for us all to hear. We got our answer! Courtney was jumping up and down screaming in delight.  While walking over, we all yelled “GREAT JOB COURTNEY! WOOH GO COURTNEY!” This was a HUGE deal, because not only was this her first rabbit, but it was also her first kill ever with her new gun! We swarmed her with hugs, high-fives, and congratulations. After taking some pictures, we made our way back to our hunting spots.
A couple rabbits darted in front of me but, I had no shot. Katelyn also had some rabbits in front of her, but she had no shot. The pack was baying and howling their way closer to Katelyn and me.  I switched spots with her, putting her where the rabbit was going to cross any minute. The rabbit appeared, and it blended in with the brown grass which made it harder to see. Katelyn was struggling to see him for a few seconds. Then she recognized the rabbit’s outline in the tall brown grass, and she pulled the trigger; her shot splattered right behind him. Meanwhile, Kayla bagged yet another rabbit.
Mr. Spuchesi was calling out to the dogs “TALLY-HO, TALLY-HO!”
He was trying to get them to come to him and put them on another trail. He succeeded.
The pack was rolling. Courtney bagged another rabbit. Katelyn and I turned around facing a smaller briar patch and a hill. The dogs worked their way up the hill and were trying to find a trail. Once they did, they brought rabbits right at Katelyn and me. Katelyn was able to fire off a couple more shots. The dog ended up looping around and coming back and worked their way back up the hill. While they were trying to discover a hot rabbit trail, I took a shot on a rabbit and missed. Kayla finally limited out. The limit is six and she did it! That does not happen very often. She put her gun in the truck and broke out her food. She came over by me and sat on the ground watching.
Mr. Abel stood right behind me, being extra eyes. The dogs’ baying was getting closer and closer to the top of the hill.
“There’s one! Shoot! Shoot!” Mr. Abel said.
I put my gun up, took the shot and missed; the rabbit ran. Mr. Abel helped swing me around, so I could try to take another shot. I missed again.  The packed looped back around and worked back up the hill. Mr. Spuchesi was walking up the hill also trying to get the pack on another trail. After a few moments we could hear the pack getting closer again. Mr. Abel spotted another rabbit. It was a safe shot and I took it. I bagged the rabbit. Soon after, the dogs came rolling down the hill. After a while of trying to pick up another trail, we headed for another nearby spot.
 We all got stationed out in various locations and got ready. The dogs were hot on one. After a few moments we heard a shot come from Katelyn’s direction. The rabbit kept making the same loop over and over. The dogs stayed on him pretty good until, the rabbit finally went into a hole. We called it a day. On our way out, we saw a couple rabbits, but there was no safe shot on them. We headed for the trucks. Once we got to the trucks we removed layers of camo and laughing retold stories of our hunt.  Surely everyone slept well that night, especially the dogs. Thanks to Mr. Spuchesi for taking us all out, our mentors, and the dogs which did a phenomenally good job. A couple of the girls experienced their first rabbit hunt, we put dinner on the table, and we all were able to have fellowship with each other. Thank you so much!

The Middle Potomac Chapter of Ducks Unlimited in Virginia hosted a field goose hunt for physically challenged hunters to include four wheelchair hunters and one ambulatory hunter. The hunt took place January 13th in Westmoreland County on a farm not far from the Potomac River and Popes Creek. Chapter Chairman, Mike Worrell and his committee members teamed up with a local group to put on this hunt. The hunters came from as far away as North Carolina to participate.
The hunters were caravanned from their vehicles by UTV and trailers to a setup in a field that was reported to be a regular feeding area for geese. The amount of goose sign in the field was proof the birds were in the area. Once at the location along a hedgerow, the hunters were then wheeled to plywood covered areas where the hunters could move their wheelchairs around. These positions were tucked into the edge of the field. Portable box blinds were then lifted over set around the hunters to conceal them. A few other blinds were also built into the edge of the field for assistants and callers.
While the hunters were awaiting some geese to sail into the spread, a local hunter and one of the hosts, Joe, went to work cooking a mighty breakfast to keep the hunters warm and happy. The breakfast included hot coffee, fried egg, bacon and cheese sandwiches. Joe did all of this cooking back in the hedgerow with a propane fueled griddle. Every once in a while he would sneak out to the edge of the field and call to the passing geese. The smell of bacon frying and hearing the symphony of goose callers working the flights was a truly unique experience. Unfortunately the wind was gusting to over 20mph and the birds were having a very difficult time even turning into the spread to take a look. One of the younger assistants sitting in the blind commented, “If I were a goose and smelled that great food cooking, I would be feet down and in this spread!”
Still, the hunters were having a good time. Jokes and stories were shared, chatter about dog breeds to include the Boykin that was with one of the hunters was overheard and a good time was had by all. Spirits were high despite the tough conditions. The Middle Potomac Chapter and their hosts and friends that put on the hunt were very much appreciated by the hunters. Who can beat good food, fellowship and hunting all rolled into one? - Mark Fike Outdoor Writer/Photographer www.fikeoutdoors.com

Field Goose Hunt Blitz    
Mark Fike
New Year’s Day was a memory in the making for me and my youngest daughter. Normally our field goose hunts are scheduled events that involve a generous invite from a friend to go partake in some great shooting somewhere locally. This day was different in that we had just received exclusive permission to hunt some farm fields that had not been hunted in a few years. We were so excited about the prospect of doing it all on our own that we were busy loading up our gear the night before so all we had to do was jump in the truck and drive away in the morning.
The forecast called for cold temperatures. Our hope was that the birds would not take forever to fly. Although I have set up my own tiny spread before, it had been years and I had no idea how this would play out. We did know that the geese tended to fly in that location around 8:30 which gave us time to set things up with some daylight to work with.
When we left the house, the thermometer in the truck was in the single digits. However, our excitement did not allow us to feel that cold. Arriving at the farm I immediately noticed that the standing corn that we planned on hiding in was bare, with only stalks and no leaves on it. Time for plan B! The layout blinds were dragged across the field and backed up to the remains of the standing corn. We needed to blend the blinds in so they did not stick out. The dog’s Switchback already was brushed up good. After putting out goose decoys to the northwest of our position, I quickly drove the truck down over the hill and out of sight, and trekked back to the layouts. Kristy was stuffing her layout and her dog, Baily, was peering out of her Switchback. Baily was probably wondering if this was going to be nap time as our hunts in the duck blind have been this year or was this going to be the real thing.  While we laboriously stuffed the layout elastic straps with foliage, we tried to keep watch on the horizon for geese. Once while 35 yards from the layout I turned to see Kristy staring at me with a panicked look in her eyes. She had puffs of steam escaping her coat where her mouth was but no words came out. Then she pointed frantically to the north. There they were; bombers of the black and white kind approaching our position.
“Get in the blinds now!”
I tried to get into mine as she disappeared into hers. My gun was lying on the ground, unloaded, several feet away. My calls were in the blind somewhere, and the door on my blind would not pop up for some reason. I was wedged out of the blind and could not get in. Knowing the birds were very close I dove to the ground next to the blind and lay still. I could hear the wings of the geese as they circled our setup and eyed it curiously. They were probably thinking, “What is that fat dude doing laying on the ground near the corn?”
I hissed at Kristy to get ready to shoot. Imagine the sinking feeling in my gut when she told me her gun was not in her blind with her and it too was unloaded!
Those geese flew away, giving us time to regroup. I hurriedly used the little black leaf rake we had to pull some foliage over the ends of our blinds. Then we got in our blinds. We waited about 20 minutes before one of us noticed more birds coming. I tried desperately to find my calls but could not. I felt like a failure and a rookie. More panic set in. I knew the calls were in the blind with me, but my hands could not find them. Finally I located the lanyard and gave it a yank only to have my camera come flying out of the pocket inside the blind and thump me on the chest. I hurriedly shoved that back into the pocket as the big geese began swinging away from our set up. With no calls to assure them, I had to do something.
The Flapper!
We had a goose flag or flapper to wave to get the birds’ attention. The purpose was to add movement to the setup. I remember telling Kristy to put it near my blind. I searched for the opening slit in the side of my layout, but could not find it. After some squirming around and peering out of the side of my fogged up glasses I noticed a zipper that would allow me to reach out and get it. As I fumbled my arm and hand outside of the blind through the slit, I grabbed what I thought was the flapper. The flapper is just a few feet long, lightweight and much like a kite. In other words, it weighs next to nothing. When I grabbed the flapper it weighed a lot and seemed awful long. Still I went to waving it best I could. It seemed to be very heavy. The geese saw it though and swung back around. I dropped it and heard it “clunk” on the frozen ground. Something was definitely not right.
Peering through the mesh area in front of my face I was locked on to the birds as they set down softly for such large creatures and then they began walking through the decoys. No matter, I forgot to load my gun again!   
“Kristy! Shoot!”
I had to hiss at her a few times, but she got the idea and got one immediately. I could not shoot, so I sat up as the birds flew off and was thrilled to see she knocked a bird down. Then I looked over at the flag and realized that the “flag” was the rake! I had been waving the rake the entire time. The flag was lying on the ground just out of reach. What an idiot I was waving a leaf rake high in the sky above the corn field! But, it did work in a pinch and we had one goose down to prove it.
As Kristy cut Baily loose to get the goose, I watched with great pride. Kristy had trained the dog on her own with some tips and assistance from our friend Steve Purks. The dog had come a long way. She never seemed to bark or whine on this trip as the birds came down among us.
 In the small confines of the layout I began rifling through my pocket for the long 3 ½ inch shells and shoved them into my gun. I thought I shoved three in my gun but only managed two apparently which became painfully obvious on the next flight when we sat up as the geese were putting down and began firing. I knocked one bird down but ran dry on the last shot when a big goose was just taking off down the end of my gun barrel. Kristy got her second bird to limit out for the day and sent Baily out again. The dog was living it up and happy to retrieve. The look on her face was almost as if she was smiling as she held the birds as high as she could so she did not stumble or trip on them while bringing them back to us. When she got the second bird back, another small flock started our way so Baily was sent to her blind and Kristy shoved the birds in the blind with her. Ah, to be thin again and have room in your blind to hide several geese!
I was able to pick out a particularly fat bird out of the next flock and waited until they began settling in before I popped out and got the bird with one good shot. The birds were still circling and trying to come in on us. Seeing so many birds come in and want to land despite us standing there was amazing. What was more amazing was the hunt we managed to pull off despite so many mistakes. Both of us had taken our birds, the dog got some good work and we had supper to boot. It was only 9AM too!