On October 23-25, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, Co-Chair of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), hosted the 9th Annual West Virginia Governor’s One Shot Deer Hunt in Roanoke, West Virginia at the Stonewall Resort.
Supported by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, the annual event benefits Hunters Helping the Hungry in West Virginia – one of many Game Meat Donation Programs in the state – by donating venison harvested during the hunt to support local food shelters. The event has also raised over half a million dollars for the Hunters Helping the Hungry program since its inception in 2007 and provides the necessary funds and meat donation to continue the mission of the program.
“West Virginia is a beautiful state with bountiful natural resources,” said Gov. Tomblin. “It is with great pleasure that as Governor, we can continue utilizing the One Shot to highlight our state, our hunting heritage, and our helping tradition.”
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, Co-Chair of the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, initiated the event in 2007 and continues to support the event, serving as this year’s guest speaker. Sen. Manchin noted: “I am incredibly proud to be a native West Virginian and to see the continued success of this wonderful event. West Virginia is the best state in the country and, working together, we can ensure that those in need in West Virginia are taken care of.”
West Virginia native Brigadier General Charles “Chuck” Yeager, retired, was also special guest of honor at the event.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is proud to support the West Virginia Governor’s One Shot Deer Hunt and supports game meat donation programs around the country.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
