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
VIRGINIA HUNTER SKILLS WEEKEND
September 13-15, 2024
THIS EVENT IS FULL!
Holiday Lake 4-H Center has enabled a Wait List. To be added please call 434-248-5444 or email heathern@vt.edu and provide your name and email address.
VOSS - Sportsman Show
Thanks to everyone that stopped by to chat at the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show – we love seeing everybody! We had a great time meeting people, answering questions about classes and workshops, showing off pictures from some of our events, and handing out copies of the “Today’s Hunter “ student manual.
We are grateful to Ravin/Centerpoint, CVA/BPI Industries, and Dance’s Sporting Goods for donating the raffle items!
Congratulations to the winners of the raffle items:
1st Prize
Jason Stover, Caroline County, VA
2nd Prize
Nick and Leah Graham, Virginia Beach
3rd Prize
Mike Sawyer, Aydlett, NC
4th Prize
Mike Gormas. Dillwyn (not pictured)
SPORTING CLAYS SHOOT
Boy, did we have a hot time in Remington!
Volunteers from multiple DWR divisions joined forces to host a recreational, fun shooting event on Saturday, July 12. The early drizzle disappeared and we had clear weather for the shooters of all ages.
We are grateful to Shady Grove Sporting Clays, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources staff members, and hunter education instructors and outdoor education volunteers from across the state who worked as registration takers, trappers, food servers, gophers, and any other job that needed done to make this a successful event. We send our gratitude out to all the volunteers, and the businesses listed below who generously sponsored shooting stations.
Please support their businesses!
thank you to all of the businesses and individuals below for sponsoring one or more stations for our Sporting Clays Shoot on July 13!
LIUNA – Laborers’ International Union of North America
https://www.liuna.org/
Septrical
https://www.septrical.com/
Hamilton Equipment Services
https://www.hamiltonequipmentservices.com/
Clark Brothers Gun Shop
http://www.clarkbrosguns.com/
Cecil’s Tractors and Truck Repair
https://www.cecilstractors.c
Opal Tire Center
5333 Ritchie Rd
Bealeton, VA 22712
(540) 439-0377
Patsy McMillen
In Memory of Leon McMillen
Mitch and Lauren May
In Memory of Mark May
In Memory of Dr. Curtis Shockley
Supporting turkey hunting workshops
With Virginia’s spring turkey season right around the corner, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and volunteer instructors all over the state are holding turkey hunting workshops. Two classes on March 23 in Elkton, VA and Fries, VA, led by DWR Recreational Safety Coordinators Jason Miller (Region 4) and Jeff Pease (Region 3), respectively, helped adult and youth students get started.
VAHEA donated Bone Collector Starter Kit Turkey Call Combos to each of the 23 students.
Both classes covered turkey biology and life cycle, identification, habitat requirements and where to find birds, scouting and signs, turkey “talk” and calling, ethical and safe hunting practices, and hunting scenarios. The Elkton class included a live fire portion so students learned safe firearm handling and patterning of a shotgun.
In Fries, two Conservation Police Officers were on hand to discuss game laws and hunting safety. The class ventured outside to learn about setting up and hunting from a blind, and how to safely set up and use decoys. A mock set up and hunt was demonstrated and discussed as well.
Jeff Pease reported, “The students in the classes were very happy with the turkey calls they received from the Association!” We’re glad we could contribute to the effort!
