ABOUT US
We are your neighbors and friends, people from all walks of life, with a strong desire to pass the hunting heritage to the next generation of hunters. We volunteer our time and knowledge to teach, mentor, and support hunters of all ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. Virginia has several hundred certified volunteer instructors across the state.
The Virginia Hunter Education Association (VAHEA), a 501 ( c) (3) non-profit organization, began in 2007 with a group of volunteer hunter education instructors. Our goal is to work in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to support and improve hunter education opportunities. The cooperation between DWR Recreational Safety Coordinators, Conservation Police Officers, and volunteer instructors keeps the hunter education program in Virginia successful.
We strive to improve our teaching abilities through DWR advanced instructor training, equipment acquisition for the classroom and hands-on activities, and creative class and workshop development to keep Virginians interested, active, ethical, and responsible hunters.
We teach basic hunter education classes, wildlife management, species-specific hunting workshops, webinars, and more, always with an emphasis on ethical behavior, safe firearm handling and shooting skills. We understand that each individual hunter represents the hunting community as a whole and has the responsibility to make a positive impact on conservation, the public’s perception of hunting, and our ability as citizens to maintain access to Virginia’s rich wildlife resources for future generations.
Our leadership consists of VAHEA members elected by VAHEA members. Officers and regional directors serve two-year terms with no financial compensation. We are always entirely volunteer.
Calendar of events
Check here for new announcements coming soon!
Virginia Hunter Skills Weekend 2025
The annual Virginia Hunter Skills Weekend took place on September 12-14 at the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center in Appomattox. Thanks to near perfect weather conditions, this year’s event welcomed 88 participants who enjoyed a range of outdoor learning opportunities across the expansive grounds. Students engaged in classes held at the firearm and archery ranges, open-air classrooms, and within the surrounding forest.
VAHEA members organized and planned the workshop, which was primarily staffed by 43 certified volunteer hunter education instructors from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Important partners included the Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Virginia DWR, and the Virginia Waterfowler’s Association. Together, they offered nearly 30 activities over the two-day event. Special thanks were extended to Hunters for the Hungry for their ongoing support of deer processing classes.
A total of 25 classes were available, spanning topics such as deer scouting, guided squirrel hunts, archery, muzzleloading, rifle and skeet shooting, basic shotgun skills, outdoor survival for hikers and hunters, decoy painting, land navigation, field to table deer processing, and bowfishing. For the first time, VAHEA was able to supply cooking materials for the Game Cooking class, as well as duck calls, predator calls, deer grunt calls, monopod shooting sticks, and snacks for all participants.
The event welcomed many new participants, while returning attendees expressed appreciation for the expanded class selection. Selecting classes remained a challenging but rewarding task for many. Dates for the 2026 Virginia Hunter Skills Weekend will be announced in early 2026.
Introduction to Waterfowling Workshop
August 23, 2025
For the fifth year, the Rappahannock Pistol and Rifle Club in White Stone, VA was home to the annual Introduction to Waterfowling Workshop. Twenty-two participants from all over Virginia spent the day rotating through three informative stations staffed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) volunteer hunter education instructors, Conservation Police Officers, and an expert on hunting with decoys.
The event has been held in several locations across the state for almost twenty years and is always offered at no cost to participants. Workshop organizer Lynn Hyde, a Master Hunter Education Instructor, stresses that the event would not be possible without the cooperation of the Rappahannock Pistol and Rifle Club, the Virginia Waterfowler’s Association, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and the VAHEA.
Todd Cocker, President of the Virginia Waterfowler’s Association, led an in-depth session on how to set up decoy spreads based on terrain, wind, weather, and the type of waterfowl being pursued.
Virginia DWR Conservation Police Officers 1st Sgt. Amanda Nevel, and CPO’s Brian Bratton and Stephen Scripture discussed Federal, Virginia, and local migratory game seasons and regulations and waterfowl identification. DWR Region 1 Recreational Safety Coordinator Bryan Branch talked about how to select appropriate firearms and ammunition.
On the shotgun range DWR volunteers worked one-on-one with participants to improve their shooting technique as they shot clay targets from inside a blind. Many students had never used a layout blind and were offered the chance to “get out of their comfort zone” and shoot from one. DWR provided firearms and all the ammunition for the live-fire activities.
A hard-working crew of cook-instructors from the Virginia Hunter Education Association were there to provide burgers, dogs, fries, and drinks courtesy of VAHEA.
BULLETIN BOARD
VAHEA and Kroger Community Rewards Program
VAHEA has joined the Kroger Community Rewards Program to raise funds to support hunting and shooting workshops and events in Virginia. Kroger will donate to VAHEA based on the shopping you do every day.
All you need to participate in the Kroger Community Rewards Program to benefit VAHEA is a Kroger Rewards account. New users will need to create an account which requires a valid email address and some basic information.
If you already have an account, visit http://www.kroger.com, log in to your Kroger account, search for VAHEA either by name or PN096 and then click Enroll. That’s it!
2025 Muzzleloader Drawing
A CVA Optima V2 .50 caliber muzzleloader was graciously donated by Buddy Wagner and raffled at the September 12 – 14 Hunter Skills Weekend at Holiday Lake 4-H Center. There were 100 tickets sold with one lucky winner.
